Zhapten Palden Gocha by Ngakpa Orgyen Drime Ozer

Like gold among granite
Rare and valuable,
We don our radiant armor (Palden Gocha)
To protect ourselves with the truth of Dharma in action.
Boundless in patience you quell the fears of beings
Dharma brother, Bodhisattva, may your life force only increase.

Zhapten Tika

Like gold among granite
Rare and valuable,

– The qualities of a bodhisattva are rare in this world of ignorant selfish beings, like a precious metal found among common rock, valuable because only the paramitas can protect living beings from the danger of their deluded minds.

We don our radiant armor (Palden Gocha)
To protect ourselves with the truth of Dharma in action.

– We too should follow the example of the bodhisattva Palden Gocha, right here in our midst! And protect ourselves and others with these same qualities, uncontrived and without pretense, patience and generosity spontaneously, spring from the meditative experience of a true practitioner.

Boundless in patience you quell the fears of beings

– Never tiring or shying away from the vow to benefit all that lives, the bodhisattva acts as teacher, guide, and caretaker, holding ignorant beings like us close and bringing us to enlightenment on their mighty shoulders.

Dharma brother, Bodhisattva, may your life force only increase.

– May the compassionate activity that is inseparable from the life of the great bodhisattva never slow, never waver and never fail, but only increase until all beings are brought to comfort and ease, resting in total, unsurpassed enlightenment!
– May all your wishes be fulfilled!