Mandala Offerings

Precious Teacher, please accept
               this silver mirror, filled with shining sky.
Precious Teacher, please accept
               these climbing cliffs
               sharpened by the pearled teeth of ice.
               These outstretched wings
                              quartz and granite
                              circling round the planet.

Precious Teacher, please accept
               majestic cobalt mountain
               summit soaring o'er the clouds
               crown of stars sparkling
               in the rippled pool of heaven.

Please accept this turquoise dawn
               golden prairie
               coral canyon
               emerald forest washed by rain.

Please accept these azure isles,
               with beaches strewn in
               lapis grains of sand.

Also, two, these isles of spice,
               with fields ablaze
               in pink and yellow blossoms.

Please enjoy the cinnamon orchards
               the lands of tangerine and plum.

Please accept the jade archipelago
               the kingdom of the frosted moon.

Precious Teacher, please accept
               this fragrant peak
               forested in sandalwood,
               cedar and persimmon.

Please accept this tree of life,
               whose every branch and
               leaf and fruit and flower
               heals a different sorrow.

Please accept this tawny herd
                of buffalo, who frolic in
                a butter cup filled meadow.

Please accept these shallow lakes,
                where ripened boughs
                of wild rice
                overfill our baskets.

Precious Teacher, please accept
                this golden 8-spoked wheel;
                this rainbow coloured jewel;
                this queen of elegance;
                this wise and able servant;
                the wrinkled trunk
                                and living tusks
                                of this majestic elephant;
                this wind-blown mane
                                of appaloosa;
                embroidered wings and crown upon
                                sleeved shoulders of this warrior,
                                sharp, crisp and clean;
                this vase of cloisonné
                                that's filled to brim
                                with diamonds and rubies.

Now, here to greet you from the dawn
                comes a graceful Lady,
                clothed in sky blue raiments.

Now, here to greet you from the summer
                comes a Lady clothed in saffron,
                bearing flower garlands.

Now, here to greet you from the dusk
                comes a crimson Lady
                singing songs both sweet and soft.

Now, here to greet you from the winter
                comes a Lady in winged slippers
                dancing on an ion cloud.

Now, here to greet you from the garden
                comes a Lady clothed in petals
                offering magnolia.

Now, here to greet you from the desert
                comes a Lady holding feathers
                fanning fragrant clouds of smoke.

Now, here to greet you from the Autumn
                comes a tartan Lady,
                her lanterns burning brightly.

Now, here to greet you from the Spring
                comes a Lady fresh as dew
                offering elixirs.

Precious Teacher, please accept
                our nearest star,
                filling space with light.

Please accept this full, unblemished
                moon of night,
                shining in one thousand million lakes.

Please accept this parasol
                ornamented with
                the eight auspicious symbols.

Please accept this flag of triumph
                proclaiming fearless Truth
                throughout the ten directions.