Dedication

Dedication (Skt. pariṇāma; Tib. བསྔོ་བ་, ngowa, Wyl. bsngo ba) — the dedication of one's merit towards the temporary and ultimate happiness and wellbeing of all sentient beings. It is the third of the three noble principles, and last part of the seven or eight branches for the accumulation of merit.

Making a proper dedication is said in the teachings to seal the practice, ensure that none of its pure power can leak or seep away, and so ensure that the merit of our practice is never wasted, but goes on growing ever greater. In The Sutra Requested by Sagaramati, the Buddha said:

Just as a drop of water that falls into the ocean

Will never disappear until the ocean runs dry,

Merit totally dedicated to enlightenment

Will never disappear until enlightenment is reached.

Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

• Sogyal Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, 14 July 2012

Further Reading

• Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang, A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher (Boston & London: Shambhala, 2004), pages 273-274.
• Patrul Rinpoche, The Words of My Perfect Teacher (Boston: Shambhala, Revised edition, 1998), pages 325-328.

Internal Links

• Dedication Prayers
• Four circumstances which destroy one's source of virtue

External Links

• Dedication Series on Lotsawa House
• The Dedication “Fulfilling All Aspirations”
• The Dedication “Protecting All Beings”
• Lhasey Lotsawa translations. A series of dedication and aspiration prayers.