Prayer Requests
Rigpa’s retreat centre, Lerab Ling in France, is home to a thriving community of monastic and lay spiritual practitioners, following one of the most ancient lineages of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
When you encounter difficult times — illness, loss, or life’s many challenges — or you wish to celebrate a special occasion, our prayers can support you.
Make a Prayer Request
We also offer prayers for the suffering caused by war, natural disasters, and other hardships affecting communities everywhere. You can request prayers for yourself, those close to you or your projects.
All prayer requests will be included in our daily practices. Read more about the specific practices we do. Prayer requests can be made by anyone, regardless of your faith or world view.
According to tradition dating back to the time of the Buddha, making a donation when requesting prayers strengthens the connection between the person for whom we are praying and the practitioners. Your donations also enable us to maintain this powerful service for everyone to benefit from it.
Everyone is welcome to request prayers for yourself, those close to you or your projects.
Rigpa Sangha members can request more specific prayers and practices.
Additional Options For Rigpa Sangha Members
Sponsoring Tendrel Nyesel Tsok or other specific practices
For Rigpa students:
- if you would like to sponsor a Tendrel Nyesel Tsok practice held at Lerab Ling in general or for a specific day,
- request prayers for a specific practice (using the familiar prayer request format) or
- make a donation to another project in Rigpa, you can do so here.
Prayer Requests in other Rigpa Centres
It is also possible to request prayers through Rigpa’s other centres: Dzogchen Beara in Ireland, Dharma Mati in Berlin and national centres.
If you have made a Prayer Request through one of these centres, the prayers are done and the donations are received locally. You can contact those teams for any questions about these prayer requests.
About the Practices We Do
Each of the practices the Rigpa community performs has a specific focus, and we make sure that each prayer request is included in the most appropriate practice.
Prayers for ill health, approaching the end of life, averting difficulties
Requests for this practice are read out or projected for 7 days during the daily Tendrel Nyesel practice which is the main practice of the Rigpa community.
Tendrel Nyesel is a special teaching and practice for eliminating, preventing, protecting against, and transforming harm and conflict of every kind, inner, outer and secret, including that created by negative actions, disturbing emotions and mistaken perception. Tendrel Nyesel is said to be one of the most powerful practices for bringing peace and stability in the world. With global events hanging in the balance, this powerful practice is considered by many lamas to be particularly timely and of very great significance.
Practices for the deceased
Prayers for someone who has passed away are included in several different practices during the traditional 49 days after their passing.
Riwo Sangchö: The name of the deceased is read out or projected during the daily Riwo Sangchö practice for 3 days in a row and then for 7 consecutive weeks on the weekday of their passing. The terma of Riwo Sangchö (Mountain Smoke Offering) is a profound practice of offering and purification.
Dukngal Rangdrol: Additionally, the name is included for 7 weeks in the Dukngal Rangdrol practice, held once each week by a specialist group of senior members of the monastic community and lay practitioners in Lerab Ling. This practice is especially meaningful when someone has passed away.
Narak Kong Shak: Each day, a specialist practice group in different countries include all those who have passed away in their practice of Narak Kong Shak. Narak Kong Shak is a famous practice of confession and fulfilment within the Nyingma tradition, and is a particularly powerful practice for those who have died or are ill.
Please send a photograph of the deceased via the prayer request form, so we can make a connection with the person who we are praying for.
Practice for the Swift Accomplishment of Activity
Requests for this practice are read out for two weeks during our daily practice of Zabtik Drolchok, the Profound Essence of Tara. It is considered to be especially beneficial for the accomplishment of one’s projects and activities.
Practice for Long Life
Requests for this practice are read out for two weeks during our daily practice of Chime Pakme Nyingtik, the Heart Essence of the Sublime Lady of Immortality. Many masters have been able to remove obstacles to their long life and enhance their accomplishments through this sadhana.
Dharma Protectors Practices
Dharma Protectors are emanations of the Buddha whose role it is to protect the teachings and those who practise them and to support practitioners in attaining spiritual realisation. These practices are performed every day by a group of specially trained practitioners in Lerab Ling and Dzogchen Beara.
Divinations for Prayers and Practices in the East
In addition to the prayers and practices that you can sponsor in Lerab Ling and Rigpa, the Prayer Request team facilitates divination requests to determine which practices would be appropriate and favourable for you to sponsor in monasteries in the East.
For these particular practices, before you make a donation, please contact us using the form below. Depending on the outcome of the divination, you can sponsor prayers and practices that will be carried out by the monastic community at Nubri Gompa in Nepal.
If you need help with any of the above, please contact us.
Donations and Charitable Projects
Since ancient times, the spirit of generosity has been a defining characteristic of the Buddhist tradition. Today, as the Buddha’s teachings spread throughout the modern world, your support is needed more than ever. Find out about Rigpa’s current projects here. Donate Here