Hommage and Praise of the Twelve Acts of the Teacher, the completely pure and perfect Buddha Through

the skillful means of compassion born in the Shakya clan, Subduer of the hords of mara who noone else could overcome, Your body shining like a mountain of gold, King of the Shakyas - to You I pay hommage. To you who first generated the heart of bodhicitta and perfected the two accumulations of merit and wisdom, accomplishing vast activity, becoming the protector of beings - to You I pay hommage. Benefitting the gods, you knew when the time to discipline (humans had come). Coming down from the gods in the aspect of an elephant, You looked for a family and entered Mayadevi's womb, to You I pay hommage. Ten months completed, the Shakya prince took birth in the auspicious Lumbini gardens. With the perfect signs, praised by Brahma and Indra, You manifested the enlightened family - to You I pay hommage. Powerful youth, lion among men, who showed his magnificient skill with the Angamaga-dharani, putting an end to the disputes of the arrogant, being without equal - to You I pay hommage. In order to act in accordance with the rules of the world and to avoid their violation You took a wife with retinue, and skilfully ruled over the kingdom - to You I pay hommage. Seeing the futility of samsaric preoccupations You left the household life and set out into in the open, taking upon yourself in front of the Pure Stupa the vows of a renunciant - to You I pay hommage. Endeavouring to attain enligthenment through effort, for six years at the banks of Nairanjani river You diligently persevered in ascetic practice and achieved great absorption - to You I pay hommage. To accomplish the purpose for which You prepared since beginningless time, sitting in front of the bodhi-tree in Magadha unwaveringly in vajra posture You manifested buddhahood, the perfection of enlightenment - to You I pay hommage. At once surveying all beings with compassion, You turned at Varanasi and other venerated places the wheel of dharma for disciples, establishing them in the three vehicles - to You I pay hommage. To put an end to evil contentions of others, the six heretic teachers, Devadatta, and so on, You defeated the demons at Kormodjig. Muni, victor in the battle - to You I pay hommage. Through qualities without equal in the three worlds You demonstrated great miracles at Sravasti. Deeply revered by gods, men, and all beings, propagator of the teaching - to You I pay hommage. In order to arouse the lazy ones quickly, You left at the pure place of Kushinagar Your immortal vajra-like body and went beyond suffering - to You I pay hommage.
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Because the ultimate is not perishable, and so that future beings could obtain merit, You then manifested many relics, Your sacred body being preserved in eight parts - to You I pay hommage.
The first sloka of this praise was composed by the Venerable Drikungpa, while the reminder is the composition of Master Nagarjuna.

Second Praise to Buddha Skakyamuni At the time when You, Lord, took birth in human form, after taking seven steps on this earth, You said "I am the Supreme One of this world", I pay hommage to the Sage of this time. Having first descended from Tushita heaven, entering the queen's womb in the palace of the king, the Muni took birth in Lumbini gardens, I pay hommage to the Bhagavan revered by the gods. You were cared for by eight nurses in Your royal home, and as a youth enjoyed Yourself as a Shakya prince. At Kapilavastu You accepted Gopa as your wife, I pay hommage to You without equal in the three worlds. Weariness arising at the four city gates You cut off Your hair in front of the Pure Stupa and practised austerities in Nairanjani's banks, I pay hommage to You unstained by the two veils. At Rajagriha You subdued the furious elefant, at Vaisali a monkey offered You honey, at Magadha the Muni actualized buddhahood, I pay hommage to You who ignited allknowing primordial awareness. At Varanasi You set the wheel of dharma in motion, and showed great miracles at Jetavana grove. At Kushinagar Your Mind passed beyond all suffering, I pay hommage to Enlightened Mind equal to space. Thus, the deeds of the Lord of Teaching, the Bhagavan, are briefly praised. Through its virtue may the actions of all beings come to equal the deeds of You, Sugata. Tathagata, may a Body just like Yours, a following, lifespan, pure land, and perfect, sublime signs similar to Yours likewise come about for others and myself.
Translated by Snam Lhundrup at Thongdrl Ling, Auvergne, 1993.