ATIKOPA


Prostration

The most supreme method to counteract "conceit"

The "Uncommon Preliminary Practices" include the practice of "Great Prostration" between taking refuge and generating bodhicitta. "Great Prostration" is a form of prostration in which the whole body is laid prostrate on the ground, a unique method of worship in esoteric Buddhism. As for the common Buddhist method of worship, the prostration in which five points touch the ground—both knees, both palms, and the forehead—is called "Small Prostration."
The greatest suffering a person can experience comes from attachment to themselves. The most excellent way to completely purify "self-attachment" and "arrogance" is to prostrate oneself with body, speech, and mind.
The "Great Prostration" posture is as follows: Stand with your feet together and your hands clasped together near your heart chakra.
The method of joining palms, as described in the tantras, is: "The hand mudra is like a lotus bud, with the thumbs bent inwards towards the palms." Joining palms close to the heart chakra represents our unwavering faith arising from within as we pay homage to the Buddha. With empty palms joined, visualize eleven wish-fulfilling jewels in your palms, jewels that can grant the wishes of all beings. These wish-fulfilling jewels are called "wish-fulfilling jewels."
When paying homage to the Buddha, move your joined palms from the heart chakra to the head chakra, and visualize: "We offer our body, speech, mind, and wish-fulfilling jewel, including wealth, lifespan, and blessings, to the wisdom body of the Three Jewels." Through the merit of this offering, the karmic obstacles created by the "body" of sentient beings are completely purified and eliminated, and they receive the blessings of the wisdom body of the Three Jewels.
Next, move your palms to the throat chakra, and simultaneously visualize offering your body, speech, mind, and wish-fulfilling jewel, including wealth, lifespan, and blessings, to the wisdom speech of the Three Jewels. The merit of this offering can completely purify and eliminate the karmic obstacles, afflictions, and habitual tendencies created by sentient beings through their speech, and receive the blessings of the wisdom speech of the Three Jewels.
Then, move your palms to the "heart chakra" and visualize offering your body, speech, mind, and wish-fulfilling jewel, including wealth, lifespan, and blessings, to the "wisdom mind" of the Three Jewels. The merit of this offering can purify and eliminate all the karmic obstacles, afflictions, and habitual tendencies created by the "mind" of sentient beings, and receive the blessings of the "wisdom mind" of the Three Jewels.
Finally, prostrate yourself on the ground and visualize offering your body, speech, mind, wish-fulfilling jewel, blessings, lifespan, and wealth—all the "merit" and "activities"—to the Three Jewels. Through this merit, the karmic obstacles, afflictions, and habitual tendencies created by your own and all sentient beings through body, speech, and mind are completely purified and eliminated, and you receive the wisdom blessings of the Three Jewels. This practice of bowing to the Buddha while simultaneously visualizing is the most supreme method for eliminating "self-attachment" and "conceit."
When our minds are completely free of afflictions and filled with unwavering faith, in a state similar to meditation, without clinging to ourselves, the object of our actions, or merit, and we perform prostrations with this pure mind, we will naturally accumulate wisdom.
The "uncommon preliminary practices" of Tantric Buddhism involve two types of prostrations. One is to prostrate while reciting the refuge prayer. The other is to perform prostrations while reciting the seven-limb offering prayer ("Homage to the Buddha, Offering, Confession, Rejoicing, Requesting the Turning of the Wheel of Dharma, Requesting the Buddha to Permanently Remain, Dedicating Merit") during the practice of Guru Yoga.
The practice of the "Uncommon Preliminary Practices" has two forms: a "long form" and a "short form." When practicing the long form, one recites the "Seven-Branch Offering to the Buddha" while performing prostrations. When practicing the short form, one recites the "Refuge" while performing prostrations. The accumulation of merit and wisdom through these two methods is the same. It depends on each person's circumstances and time, and on the teachings they encounter.

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