Calling the Guru from Afar eBook

By FPMT

Calling the Guru from Afar (extensive and brief versions) are heartfelt requests for blessings from the guru to realize all the stages of the path to enlightenment, as well as a meditation on the guru’s nature.

The extensive version was composed by Phabongkha Rinpoche, author of Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand, at the request of Ven. Losang Rabya.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche suggests that the brief version was composed by Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche’s root guru, Rongphu Sanggye (Ngawang Tenzin Norbu, 1867–1940/42).

2020 edition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: FPMT
• Release date: Nov 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463722053

FPMT

The FPMT is an organization devoted to preserving and spreading Mahayana Buddhism worldwide by creating opportunities to listen, reflect, meditate, practice and actualize the unmistaken teachings of the Buddha and based on that experience spreading the Dharma to sentient beings. We provide integrated education through which people’s minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility and service. We are committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion. Our organization is based on the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe and our spiritual director, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.

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Technical Note

Instructions or advice by Lama Zopa Rinpoche are marked by the symbol ❖. For example:

❖ Then recite the following verses and meditate on the guru entering your heart.

A Guide to Pronouncing Sanskrit

The following points will enable you to easily learn the pronunciation of most transliterated Sanskrit terms and mantras:

Ś and Ṣ sounds similar to the English sh in shoe. The difference between the two is where the tongue is positioned in the mouth.

C is pronounced similar to the ch in chap. CH is similar but is more heavily aspirated.

Ṭ, ṬH, Ḍ, ḌH, Ṇ are retroflex letters and have no exact equivalent in English. These sounds are made by curling the tongue towards the front section of the palate. They correspond roughly to the sounds tra (Ṭ), aspirated tra (ṬH), dra (Ḍ), aspirated dra (ḌH), and nra (Ṇ).

All consonants followed by an H are aspirated: KH, GH, CH, JH, TH, DH, PH, BH. Note that TH and ṬH are pronounced like the t in target and tr in trap respectively, not like the th in the. The PH is pronounced like the p in