A Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist Praise Prayer To Manjusri (Also Known as Jampel Yang, the Gentle-Voiced Bodhisattva of Wisdom)

A Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist Praise Prayer To Manjusri (Also Known as Jampel Yang, the Gentle-Voiced Bodhisattva of Wisdom)

I solemnly prostrate to the Lama and the Protector Manjusri

Whose knowledge, devoid of the clouds of the two obscurations,

Is very pure and clear as the sun. 

He holds the book before his mind,

So that all beings may see exactly all subtle meanings, 

For those persons imprisoned in the darkness of ignorance, confused and troubled in suffering.

From compassion for all, the one Son expounds in sixty kinds of eloquent speech.

His thundering Dharma voice awakens all from sleepiness, 

Releasing them from the iron chains of passion. 

Holding the Sword of Wisdom, he clears away the suffering and obscurations. 

Pure from the first, after passing through the ten stages

All become the body of the victorious Son, 

Clearing away 112 kinds of mental obscurations.

To Manjusri I pay homage.

(repeat this prayer 3, 7, 21 or as many times as you are able)

OM AH RA PA TSA NA DHI

(repeat the mantra as many times as you are able, then sit silently) 

Then, when ready, pray as follows:

By the rays of your kind, supreme knowledge, 

Clear the darkened ignorance of my mind.

In order to understand the teachings and the commentaries, as in traditional canon, 

I beseech you to grant the luminosity of confident wisdom. 

Originally posted on our Random Religion and Spirituality blog at:

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What are Catholic Last Rites, and How are They Administered?

What are Catholic Last Rites, and How are They Administered?

The term "Last Rites" refers to the Sacrament which Catholics receive at the end of their lives. Specifically, Last Rites include Confession, Holy Communion, and the Anointing of the Sick, as well as the prayers accompanying each of those. 

Linguistically, "Last Rites" were more commonly referred to in past centuries than they are today. While the term is sometimes used to refer to only one of the Seven Sacraments (the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick), that limited application of the term is technically incorrect. In truth, the Anointing of the Sick is only part of the Last Rites, rather than the entirety of them. 

These final prayers and Sacraments were collectively known as Last Rites because they were usually administered when the person who was receiving these Sacraments was in grave danger of passing away. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick was also previously known as "Extreme Unction." It is administered both to the dying and to those who are gravely ill, or about to undergo a serious or highly risky operation. The Anointing of the Sick is given to the gravely ill patient for the recovery of their health, as well as for spiritual strength. 

The Catholic Church also developed the ritual of Last Rites to prepare the soul of the dying person for death and the Judgment to come. Such preparations are believed to help the soul in the next world. Thus, confession of one's sins is another essential part of the Last Rites. Having confessed his or her sins, the dying person is absolved by the priest and receives the sacramental grace of Confession.

The exact ritual of Last Rites may vary from situation to situation. For instance, how close to death the confessor is, whether they are capable of speaking, and whether they are a Catholic in good standing with the Church, can all weigh into what rites an individual may be entitled to receive. 

The priest will begin the Last Rites with the Sign of the Cross. Then, if the person is Catholic, conscious, and able to speak, he will administer the Sacrament of Confession. Otherwise, he will lead the person in an Act of Contrition (something non-Catholics can take part in, as well as those who cannot speak). The priest will then lead the dying person in the Apostles' Creed, or in the renewal of his or her baptismal promises, depending again on whether or not the person is conscious. Non-Catholics can take part in this aspect of the Last Rites as well. 

At this point, the priest anoints the dying person, using the form of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for Catholics. For non-Catholics, the priest will do a simple anointing with holy oil or chrism.

After reciting the Our Father, the priest will then offer Holy Communion to the dying Catholic, if he or she is conscious. This final Communion is referred to as "viaticum" or "provision for the journey" into the next life. The ritual of Last Rites concludes with a final blessing and prayers.​

Originally posted on our Random Religion and Spirituality blog at:

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