Shantideva's Dedication Prayer

Hello, dear ones,

This is my reading of Shantideva's beautiful dedication prayer. This is a beautiful dedication that some Buddhists add to the end of their meditation sessions.

This dedication is one of H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama’s favourite dedications, extracted from Chapter 10 of the Bodhicharyavatara.

You do not have to be a Buddhist to appreciate the beautiful sentiments and wishes for humanity in this prayer.

Music generously provided by Leigh Robinson of Nature's Eye.

I hope you enjoy it.

Take care dear ones.

Transcript

Hello dear ones and welcome to today's reading of Shanti Deva's Dedication Prayer.

This is a prayer that Buddhists recite at the end of a meditation session to dedicate the merit accumulated during their meditation to all beings everywhere.

The prayer is part of the 10th chapter of a Bodhisattva's way of life by Shanti Deva written around 700 AD and is a favorite of the Dalai Lamas.

So just taking a moment now to get yourself in a comfortable position feeling your body taking a few moments to arrive fully here and get ready to allow this beautiful prayer to wash over you.

So you can just listen to my words or you can repeat the prayer out loud or in your mind.

I hope you enjoy dear ones.

May all beings everywhere,

Plagued by sufferings of body and mind,

Obtain an ocean of happiness and joy by virtue of my merits.

May no living creature suffer,

Commit evil or ever fall ill.

May no one be afraid or belittled with a mind weighed down by depression.

May the blind see forms and the deaf hear sounds.

May those whose bodies are worn with toil be restored on finding repose.

May the naked find clothing,

The hungry find food,

May the thirsty find water and delicious drinks.

May the poor find wealth,

Those weak with sorrow find joy.

May the forlorn find hope,

Constant happiness and prosperity.

May there be timely rains and bountiful harvests.

May all medicines be effective and wholesome prayers bear fruit.

May all who are sick and ill quickly be freed from their ailments.

Whatever diseases there are in the world,

May they never occur again.

May the frightened cease to be afraid and those bound be freed.

May the powerless find power and may people think of benefiting each other.

For as long as space remains,

For as long as sentient beings remain,

Until then may I too remain to dispel the misery of the world.

Thank you for sharing in this prayer with me today beautiful souls.

Take care,

Have a beautiful day.