Homage & statement of purpose
The opening homage of Gyalse Tokme Zangpo’s 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva. Below: the verse in three translations and what seven teachers say about it.
Open in the study browser →Namo Lokeshvaraya! Though seeing that all phenomena neither come nor go, you strive solely for the benefit of beings. Supreme Guru and Protector Chenrezig, at all times, I humbly pay homage to you with my three doors!
The perfect buddhas—source of all benefit and happiness—arise through accomplishing the sublime Dharma. Since that depends on knowing how to practice, I will explain what bodhisattvas do.
Namo Lokeśvarāya!
You see that all things are beyond coming and going, Yet still you strive solely for the sake of living beings— To you, my precious guru inseparable from Lord Avalokita, I offer perpetual homage, respectfully, with body, speech and mind.
The perfect buddhas, who are the source of all benefit and joy, Come into being through accomplishing the sacred Dharma. And since this in turn depends on knowing how to practise, I shall now describe the practices of all the buddhas' heirs.
You who see that experience has no coming or going, Yet pour your energy solely into helping beings, My excellent teachers and Lord All Seeing, I humbly and constantly honor with my body, speech, and mind.
The fully awake, the buddhas, source of joy and well-being, All come from integrating the noble Way. Because integration depends on your knowing how to practice, I will explain the practice of all bodhisattvas.
The homage frames everything within Avalokiteshvara's compassion; the statement of purpose establishes the bodhisattva path as learnable — buddhas emerged from accomplishing the Dharma, accomplishing depends on knowing the practices, so the practices must be taught. "The complete buddhas, source of benefit and ease, have emerged from having accomplished the true Dharma."
The homage goes to Avalokiteshvara because the whole text is grounded in great compassion, of which he is source and embodiment — bowed to through the three doors as inseparable from the guru. The line about seeing that phenomena neither come nor go while still striving for beings announces the union of emptiness-wisdom and compassionate activity that the entire text will teach.
The gurus are named before Avalokiteshvara: without teachers there is no access to any buddha's qualities (he tells the Naropa–Marpa story). "No coming or going" = they see voidness, that nothing exists in impossible self-established ways — and precisely that seeing frees them to work single-pointedly for others. Buddhas were once ordinary confused beings; the stains are "fleeting stains," removable. "The gurus, from their side, aren't going to save us. Rather, by following their instructions… we can gain liberation." Part 1
Prostration to Chenrezig inseparable from the guru. The point held up: enlightened beings see phenomena as neither coming nor going — empty of inherent existence — and still work ceaselessly for beings. That union is the foundational attitude for all 37 practices.
The root teacher is honored as inseparable from Avalokiteshvara: perfect wisdom (no coming or going — emptiness beyond fabrication) united with compassion that never rests in a private nirvana. "They have achieved the profound wisdom of emptiness… and become so filled with compassion that their sole desire is to help others."
No standalone homage commentary online; her free commentary book PDF covers it. Root text + chanted audio at thubtenchodron.org.
Tricycle introduction frames the text as practical guidance usable across traditions; homage material is in Talk 1 of the 2006 retreat (background on Tokme Zangpo, translation choices, emptiness and compassion).
everyone reads the homage as the text in miniature — wisdom (no coming or going) and compassion (striving solely for beings) as one movement, transmitted through a guru. A strong opening theme for session 1: the text will never separate these two. ---
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche — The Heart of Compassion (Shambhala). A purchased book — no text is reproduced here.