Rigpa Sangha’s 24-hour Prayer for Peace

On 12 March, the global Rigpa sangha gathered for a 24-hour accumulation of the Vajra Guru mantra, with the intention of opening our hearts to the suffering in the world and dedicating our prayers so that peace may be restored.

Initiator of this event and youth advisor to the Vision Board, Yara Vrolijks, shares her experience.

In the face of conflict

Watching the recent developments in the world unfold, it’s incredible and heartwarming to see the many responses to reach out and relieve the suffering of those who are impacted. Whether we are directly affected or not, we can all experience fear and anxiety as we watch the images and listen to the news reports of the evolving conflict. Instead of losing hope in the face of the current war, economic instability and the climate crisis, the global Rigpa sangha came together to recite the mantra of Guru Rinpoche – OM AH HUNG VAJRA GURU SIDDHI HUNG—and will continue to focus on this practice intensively for at least the next month.

Yara Vrolijks and Aty Jansen kick off the first session of the mantra accumulation

The practice started auspiciously on 12 March, Guru Rinpoche Day and the Anniversary of Tertön Sogyal, the previous incarnation of Rigpa’s founder Sogyal Rinpoche. It truly felt like a collaborative sangha initiative as different Rigpa centres around the world, one after the other, guided sessions of practice on Zoom thereby creating a continuous, uninterrupted flow of mantra for 24 hours. The sessions were held by Rigpa’s teachers and practice holders in a personal and inspiring way, and joined by more than 1000 Rigpa students, who participated for a few minutes or several hours, many coming back several times throughout the 24-hour period.

The power of Community

I remember how Sogyal Rinpoche always used to emphasise the importance of being friends with one another. As we handed over the ‘baton’ of the mantra accumulation from Amsterdam to Germany, to California, to Brisbane and to Sydney and many other places in the world, this is exactly what it felt like: spiritual friendship. Like each of us being a unique bead of a single mala. While practicing, I felt a deep gratitude towards Sogyal Rinpoche who has given us this connection to Guru Rinpoche and to all the other lineage masters. Many in the world today don’t know where to turn in times of difficulty. It is a deep sense of refuge, within our own true nature, so rare, that Sogyal Rinpoche introduced us to and for which I feel grateful for.

Those who joined, expressed a deep sense of community and gratitude, realising the power of practicing together when it’s most needed. Here they express it in their own words:

“Thank you so much for organising and participating in this mantra accumulation event. It's powerful and arrives at the most crucial moment for world peace. This shows again how Rigpa can contribute to the whole world's peace, well-being and spiritual progress. Please continue uniting our Sangha by teaching and practicing.”

"Thank you very much for making this event possible. It moved me to tears practicing with all my sisters and brothers around the world. Again soon!"

”What a great and comforting event, it gives us so much hope.”

“Thank you for offering this incredible opportunity for good. I am full of tears of thankfulness. I am from a Sufi tradition but sometimes join your sisters and brothers on the one spiritual path.”

“Thank you so much for organising this accumulation event. It’s powerful at the most crucial moment for world peace.”

Praying as an antidote to fear

As a spiritual community following the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, our response to fear is to open our hearts, relying on our connection with the Buddha of our time, Guru Rinpoche and all the enlightened masters of our lineage. Recent practice advice given to the Sangha by Rigpa’s Vision Board reminded us of our connection with Guru Rinpoche. He embodies the love, wisdom and inner strength of our true nature and it is to him we can turn when we feel alone and hopeless. At the same time as the 24-hour mantra accumulation, Rigpa’s retreat centres, Lerab Ling and Dzogchen Beara, as well as the Berlin Rigpa Centre were holding drupchös of the practice of Tendrel Nyesel, a practice especially dedicated to averting the inauspiciousness of the times. The power of praying - invoking love and compassion for others, may not always be obvious. Yet, as an antidote to fear, it is one of the most profound contributions we can make to attain inner harmony and outer peace.

A group of people quietly praying together would seem to be capable of no tangible effect on such a vividly violent scene as a war with modern weapons. Those who choose prayer over more visible action may be regarded as passive. Yet, on the contrary, prayer is the greatest antidote to fearful, helpless attitudes. - Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

Continuing to Practice for Peace and Offering Our Accumulations

The Rigpa Sangha—and any other dharma friends who wish to join us—continue to accumulate Vajra Guru Mantra for Peace — aiming to accumulate 10 million mantras by 11 April (the next Guru Rinpoche Day). So keep practicing and dedicate your practice to peace in all the troubled parts of the world. You can offer your accumulations here.

Thank you to everyone who participated and continues to practice for peace, and let’s hope many such gatherings will follow. We hope that all the actions of individuals and groups intended to bring an end to conflict everywhere in the world succeed, be they humanitarian, spiritual or political endeavours for good. This mantra accumulation is one contribution to this global effort.

May this practice contribute to the presence of love and kindness in our own heart and in the world. May this gathering as a worldwide sangha inspire strength and inspiration in each one of us to continue our path to discover our true nature. 🙏🏼

Yara Vrolijks is one of the two Youth Advisors to Rigpa’s Vision Board.