Prayer Services

In Tibet it is common for lay people to request the local monastery to conduct prayer services for the benefit of themselves and their family members. People do this for many reasons, but most commonly prayer services are requested in times of uncertainty or difficulty. It may be that someone close is sick or dying, or simply feels the need for support and blessings. The reasons for requesting a prayer service can be both worldly and spiritual. Young children are often the dedicated recipient of prayer services, and new couples will make sure that they have the blessings of the lamas. Students taking exams can also benefit from services dedicated to their success.

It is part of the monastic ritual in Dzogchen for all the monks and nuns to assemble daily in the temple to hold prayer services. At this time any requests for general prayers are fulfilled and the blessings of the service dedicated to the person(s) or family requesting them.

It is customary in Tibet for a person who wishes to request a service to pass on a note to the monastery detailing the prayers they want and the name(s) of those to whom the service should be dedicated. This is presented together with a monetary donation for the monks and nuns involved. The details of the request are read out by the chief monk at the beginning of the service and, having completed the prayer service, the donated money is divided up equally between the participating monks and nuns. It is rare for the person making the request to actually attend, but they receive the dedication of the prayers and merit.

We wish to make this service available to the wider Buddhist community who may not have direct access to lamas. It is for this reason that we have set up a network to make it possible to make requests to the lamas of Dzogchen Monastery remotely. We have arranged so the details of prayer requests can be telephoned through to Dzogchen Monastery, and a reserve of money held so donations can be given at the appropriate time. This provides the facility to request services from anywhere in the world.

When requesting prayer services one needs to decide which prayers are best for one's particular circumstances. See below for a list of various prayer services and their benefits.

How to Request Prayer Services

We have made requesting prayers as simple as possible. All you need to do is send us an email detailing the service(s) you require and make a donation. We will try to arrange for the service(s) to be held on any day(s) you request, providing we have received both your email and donation in good time. If no date is specified we will request the service(s) be held at the earliest convenient time. We will reply by e-mail to confirm that your request has been received and that your service(s) will be conducted. Services for the dying or deceased can be pre-booked in advance. They can then be conducted at short notice whenever required. Please email for more details.

1st  Choose a prayer service. Select from the list below the service(s) you would like to request and copy the name(s) into an email. Write the name(s) of the person(s) you want the service(s) dedicated to. Write the date you would like the service(s) conducted on and the amount you wish to donate.

If you would like to request multiple services, or the same service once a day for several days, give clear instructions. Mention how much you wish to donate for each service. If you are pre-booking a service please state this clearly in your email.

Prayer Services:

Mantra Recitals:

• Guru Rinpoche - to invoke swift and powerful blessings (Tib. siddha).
• Avalokiteshvara - the Buddha of compassion (Tib. mani).
• Vajrasatva - the 100 syllable mantra of purification (Tib. yig brgya).
• Medicine Buddha - to increase the effectiveness of medicine (Tib. sman gzungs).
• Tara, the female Buddha - to bring fearlessness, increase fertility, find a good female partner (Tib. sgrol ma'i gzungs sngags).
• Manjushri - the Buddha of wisdom (Tib. 'jam dbyangs kyi gzungs sngags).
• Jambhala - the god of fortune and wealth (Tib. dzam+b+ha la'i gzungs sngags).

General Prayers:

• Seven Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche - to remove obstacles, especially  spirit harm (Tib. tshig bdun gsol 'debs).
• Amitayus Dharani - for longevity (Tib. tshe gzungs).
• Refuge Prayer - for protection (Tib. skyabs 'gro).
• The quick fulfillment of wishes (Tib. bsam pa myur 'grub).
• The accurate fulfillment of wishes (Tib. bsam lhun).
• Prayers to the dharma protectors, please select - Gesar,  Tseringma, dzi'u marpo, grib bzan, gza' (Tib. gsol ka).

Special Services for the Dying or Deceased:

(The following services can only be conducted by special arrangement, please email us for details.)

• Phowa - to transfer the consciousness to a pure land at the time of death.
• Empowerment of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities - to guide the  deceased through the bardo. The best times to  give this empowerment are 3 days after death, 3 weeks after death or once a week for 7 weeks after death. (Tib. zhi khro'i dbang).
• Suffering Naturally Released. This can be recited once, or as a series of recitations every 7 days for 7 weeks. (Tib. sdug bsngal rang grol).
• Prayer service for the deceased to be happy and free of suffering. (Tib. bsngo smon).
• Sur - to bring nourishment to someone in the bardo. (Tib. gsur).

Other Special Services:

(These and other prayer services may be arranged by special request, please email us for details.)

• Collection of Dharanis - to increase fortune. A two day recital. (Tib. gzungs 'dus).
• Prayer to Guru Rinpoche - to remove spirit harm. (Tib. bka' thang brgya  sher grags ma).
• White Parasol - to remove curses. (Tib. gdugs dkar).

2nd  Send your donation. To conduct a general service or mantra recital we need a suggested minimum donation equivalent to £10/€15/$20, but the greater the donation the greater the number of recitations that will be conducted. Donations can be made securely online with any major credit or debit card. Click below to go to our online donation page provided by the Co-operative Bank:

Make a donation by credit or debit card

If you would like to make a donation by bank transfer, cheque, standing order, or any other means please email the trust for information how to do so. Donations must be received before we can contact the monastery.

Dzogchen Monastery Community Trust processes all requests and makes sure donations go directly to Dzogchen. If your request is for a particular date(s) please give us as much notice as possible.  

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