Please note: This is the prophetic text compiled by the early 20th Century Tibetan Buddhist master, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, for the period 2026–2032.
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Underlined words and phrases in the text are linked to definitions and further detailed explanations, including evidence of the predicted events which are happening now. I have structured this article in this way so that you can study the actual prophecy text without any interruptions from me. But you can also get further information if you want to, especially if you have doubts about what is said here in the prophetic text compiled by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö and translated with the help of his senior student, Ngor Thartse Khenpo Sonam Gyatso Rinpoche.
One last very important point: in the first words spoken by the Buddha in this text, which starts with him saying "I have this to say about it,” he explains that “there is a teaching useful during the time when the dark age arises,” and then explains what one should do during this time that the prophecy speaks of — the teaching is not this prophecy. He is referring to a different text. Notice, please, that his phrase “there is a teaching,” refers to another text that teaches how to do the meditation practice he calls “Great Responsiveness Meditation,” and he also speaks of a recitation — which is a long mantra, or protective prayer — that one should recite. There is only one text that contains those two very specific things. It is the Surangama Sutra. I speak more about this in the article that follows this prophecy, which you can access via the navigation bars at the top or bottom of this text — use the hand emoji pointing to the right — or by using this link: The Rational Meaning Of This Prophetic Warning For 2026-2032.
ཨེ་མ་ཧོ། ཕན་ནོ་ཕན་ནོ་སྭཱཧཱ།
Introductory Background
While researching the widespread historical presence of the use of inner spontaneous sound as a meditation support, as presented in my book, Tranquillity’s Secret, I came across this prophecy compiled by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö¹ (1896–1959) that was notable for its inclusion of a specific practice — which was used by Avalokitasvara — that it prescribed for everyone, saying that it would enable one and all to overcome the tragedies and difficult events that are foretold in this prophecy, which according to the translator of the prophecy, Stephen B. Aldridge (Ka-rma gSung-rab rgya-mtsho, March 18, 1948 — March 1, 2018), is primarily focused on the approaching “collapse of the Earth’s biosphere and the terrible disruptions that will accompany this collapse.”
In fact, the prophecy indicates that this practice of Avalokitasvara’s, called “Great Responsiveness Meditation” is so powerful, it can benefit even those who do not do the practice themselves, if at least one person in each city does it. This is a remarkable statement. No other practice is described with such power to help others when someone practices it — that is, until that practitioner becomes a fully enlightened buddha. But we must remember that this is the practice used by Avalokitasvara — ‘he who hears the cries of the world’ — and his practice of Great Responsiveness Meditation very quickly begins to change any practitioner using it, because when they ‘turn their hearing around’ listening to the inner spontaneous sounds, there is an immediate pause in samsaric suffering that results in the ever-increasing manifestation of omninclusive loving responsiveness. This is the reason that having even one practitioner in each city can help reduce the suffering of all in that city.
Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö was referred to as the “heart of the Rimé movement” promoting non-sectarianism and universalism within Tibetan Buddhism. In fact, he was recognized as the emanation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, one of the founders of the Rimé movement. He was an authority on all Tibetan traditions and a holder of all lineages, and is widely regarded as the most outstanding Tibetan master of the twentieth century, and was widely known and celebrated as the “Master of Masters.” He was the greatest Tibetan spiritual luminary of the 20th century.
This prophecy, entitled, “The Light That Makes Things Clear: A Prophecy of Things to Come,” (“ma ‘ongs lung bstan gsal byed sgron me zhes bya ba bzhugs so”), was compiled by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö. In his benedictory verses for this prophecy, Chökyi Lodrö prays:
Through the virtue of the wholesome act
Of printing this prophetic teaching
Of the incomparable perfect Buddha
So that those with faith may uphold it,
May the ills of this degenerate time be dispelled,
May we all find the relief of a perfect, golden age,
May the jewel-in-the-sky of joy and happiness dawn,
And may we swiftly gain unsurpassable, enduring excellence.
The Khyentse emanation made this prayer of aspiration. May virtue and excellence thrive.
These prophecies of what is to come clearly foretold
By the supreme teacher, seer of the three times,
Were compiled by Chökyi Lodrö, Vajradhara in person,
Out of loving kindness for the beings of the degenerate age.
May all who practise this with faith and devotion
And a wholly positive intention towards teachings and beings,
Be freed entirely from the ten major forms of terror
And swiftly attain ultimate omniscience.
Maṅgalaṃ.²
And in the “mChan bu” Tibetan version of the prophecy these words are added at the end of the text:
May this Mahāyāna Dharma entitled The Clarifying Light: A Prophecy of the Future be fulfilled. Do not doubt this Dharma. This is spoken before the bodhi tree by all the buddhas and bodhisattvas for the sentient beings of the degenerate time of the five-hundred-year period in order to dispel the terrors of that evil age. May it spread throughout the whole of space. As the Bodhicaryāvatāra (X, 37) says: “From birdsong and the rustling of trees,/ From beams of light and even from the sky,/ May all embodied beings forever perceive/ The sound of dharma in a constant stream.” In keeping with this, this prophecy spoken by the Buddha first descended from the expanse of space in a former male Fire Horse year. Thereafter, noble Avalokiteśvara spread it throughout all lands for beings’ benefit. In future, from the male Fire Horse year onwards, since it is said that the various crises will gradually occur, it is important to pray to the Three Jewels, who are the unfailing sources of refuge, and especially Avalokiteśvara, protector of the Land of Snows. It is also vitally important to cultivate virtue and abandon wrongdoing, and above all to persevere in writing and reciting this text of prophecy as a means to avert the various crises that it foretells. May this be a cause of temporary protection from fear and the pacification of disease, famine and conflict, and ultimately the attainment of the state of omniscience. This note was written by the one named Chö. May it be virtuous. May it be auspicious.³
The Translation
This prophecy was first translated into English in 1988, by Stephen B. Aldridge (Karma gSungrab rGya-mtsho), with the admonition that it be freely reproduced. Tulku Urgyan Tenpa Rinpoche “elected to publish this work as received, with only slight editorial revision, as the translator prepared his version with the assistance of the late Khyentse Rinpoche’s learned students, and other qualified commentators.” The edits made were “of English expression; not content, which is unchanged, and basic meaning is left intact.”⁴
Starting in 1986, Stephen traveled on pilgrimage or for retreat in Tibet, Amdo and Kham. He visited monasteries and private homes looking for Tibetan texts. He later focused on pilgrimage (lam-yig) literature and high-altitude retreat texts (ri-chos) as a subset of research on high-altitude running meditation (rlung-sgom) and ru-shan practices. His main teachers were Chime Rinpoche, Hiroshi Sonami, the 16th Karmapa, and Lama Pema Dorje. His published works include Pilgrims’ Guide to Minyag Sacred Sites and The Incarnation from White Glacier Mountain. In his comments on the translation he shares his gratitude:
The translator would like to acknowledge generous assistance of the late Ngor Thartse Khenpo Sonam Gyatso Rinpoche for valuable suggestions and comments when this work was read with him. He would also like to thank the Venerable Lama Lodro Gyeltsen for also reading through and commenting on the text.
Ngor Thartse Khenpo Sonam Gyatso Rinpoche, also called Hiroshi Sonami because he lived and taught in Japan for some years, was a senior disciple of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö’s, who passed away in 1988. He was also one of Stephen B. Aldridge’s main teachers, so Stephen was not coming from outside of that powerful lineage. Khenpo’s brother is Lama Kunga Rinpoche, presently teaching in Berkeley, California, and his cousin Jetsun Sakya Kushola, is one of the highest woman Lamas in Tibet, presently teaching in Vancouver, B.C.
Thus, the source and lineage of this translation is of an irreproachable pedigree.
Personally, I find Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö’s text to be a serendipitous affirmation of the effort that I have undertaken in this book to share the practice that I have benefited from over the course of my life, that of Avalokitasvara’s Great Responsiveness Meditation.
Avalokitasvara’s practice is described in the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, and is greatly expanded upon in this book, based upon my lifelong use of the practice, and my extensive research into this lost — but now rediscovered — treasure.
There are three activities being prescribed in this prophecy: the meditation practice itself, sharing information about this prophecy and promoting it, and, of course, writing about the practice.
As well, there is a further prescription to “sincerely make offerings to the text,” thus, to hold it within your heart as a precious blessing.
May all beings be comforted — no longer suffering in fear, resentment, or anger.
And may each one of us become the perfect vehicle of great responsiveness in service to the liberation of all sentient beings from suffering.
ཨེ་མ་ཧོ། ཕན་ནོ་ཕན་ནོ་སྭཱཧཱ།
The Prophecy Text
Homage to the Three Jewels. The Victorious One (Shakyamuni Buddha) once related this teaching applicable to a time when the evil period would arise. It is like a path because all sentient beings are connected to it.
When the Victorious One was sitting under the bodhi tree and thinking of all sentient beings of the world, he saw that at the end of five hundred years, an evil age would begin. As to the deeds and thoughts of all these beings, those with great merit would come into contact with this teaching while those with little merit would not. The pain from conflicting emotions would be great indeed.
Because it seemed that humans living on the surface of the earth would be as if cut to pieces with swords due to this, the venerable Ananda pleaded with the Victorious One:
“Victorious One, because you consider things with great compassion, spare humankind this torment.”
And the Victorious One replied to the venerable Ananda:
“I have this to say about it. While I was residing in the great expanse of space, I was thinking of and gazing on the beings of the world. So, listen! There is a teaching useful during the time when the dark age arises. If one writes of it, propagates it, and practices the “Great Responsiveness Meditation” and recitation, impurities and obscurations will be quickly purified. If one sincerely makes offerings to this spiritual text with flowers and incense, all sentient beings will benefit. By propagating this text and writing about it, one will obtain a good existence throughout all of one’s lives.”
Then, near the base of a tree, there was a great lake. On its shores sat the Greatly Responsive One (Avalokitasvara) (in the form) he appears with and for others. While considering all beings in his responsiveness and compassion, he began to shed copious tears. Then the Victorious One said:
“Listen carefully, oh Greatly Responsive One! It is not necessary to shed tears, so heed my words well. During the month of the Tiger in the new year, I intend to go to many places. At that time during the evil age all sentient beings will be freed from the ocean of existence’s miseries. All evil conduct will be abandoned and I will lead sentient beings away from evil states (they have fallen into). At that time, this spiritual text will be well known. Because of this text and by making it known, all sickness will end. If written about by one person, it will benefit one city. If proclaimed by one city, it will benefit all states. The merit of humankind will be increased and secondary evil influences averted. One will be free of hellish torments, and it will be of benefit for both this life and the next one. This path is desirable for all sentient beings of the six classes. For example, it is like taking a boat across a river or the ocean. This is truly a most beneficial text until Maitreya arrives in the world of humans. By writing of this teaching and spreading it to other areas, in one lifetime, in one embodiment, one’s merit will increase limitlessly. The bloody ocean of life as a (vicious) circle will dry up.
First, because of the ten impure practices, sentient beings will come under the power of conflicting emotions. Oh, pity on these sentient beings! After this, an area (valley) in the human realm will be (as if) filled with blood. Three, when it comes to reaping your own merits you will be powerless to do so. Four, human suffering will become very great. Five, people won’t be able to perceive the “path.” Six, cities will become filled with carnivorous animals. Seven, the residences of politicians will become deserted. Eight, individuals will be unable to cope with one another. Nine, hungry ghosts will be seen wandering about the cities.
Things will be like this as a result of ten impure practices. One will not compliment or praise another person; there will only be praise of oneself and putting down others. There will basically be four social groups: the politicians, the rich, common people, and the well-educated. If all of these peoples have confidence in this text and devotion toward it, a good time period will result.
“But,” the Victorious One said, “If people have an irrational trust in it, they will follow one another and fall straight into the most intolerable of hells. The earth and heavens will be filled with the cries of those who have not heard this teaching. A time of epidemics will result. But as soon as one hears this spiritual message and then writes it down and distributes it, these epidemics will be brought under control. All famine that might exist will be pacified and people will achieve a good existence.
Furthermore, there are seven miseries that humans might suffer. First there is the misery like that of a denizen in hell. Second, the misery of hunger and thirst for a hungry ghost. Third, the misery of disputes and warfare as an anti-god might experience. Fourth, the frustration resulting from having no leisure, and constant hunger and want. Fifth, the misery of having erroneous views. Sixth, the misery of having a long life like a god, and seventh, the misery in potential existence when in the after-death state. This text is of benefit for these (situations), for if one trusts in it, one will achieve success in all that one may strive for. All diseases will be destroyed, and there will be a return to good times. If one is to ask how these will come about [it is like this]:
Out of deep space, in the Fire-Male-Horse year (2026), a large meteor will strike down on the shores of a large body of water. This spiritual text will appear when the meteor cracks open. Having appeared, it is very important, when teaching this document, that there are no secret or hidden meanings. There is but one, no secondary meaning. It has been put together for the benefit of all sentient beings. May all the torments of existence end!
The Evil “Five Hundred Time”
After 500 years will be a time when the teachings of the Spiritually Awakened One will be on the decline and monks’ ethics and general conduct will become corrupted. When evil thoughts will occupy the mind, and food supplies will be contaminated. A time when the ten unwholesome deeds will be practiced and practitioners of advanced spiritual techniques will recite only evil mantras, and the five poisons will overwhelm one’s perceptions. It will be a time when body and speech acts will be perverted; teaching of spiritual values will deteriorate. A time when feathers will grow on mountains (sic!), and a person will travel about in wooden and metal vehicles. All of one’s actions will merely contribute to evil happenings, a time of fearfulness when evil will manifest most definitely. This text will reverse the contributory evil causes of this time. By so much as seeing it, writing of it, proclaiming it, there is no doubt that these evil times will end. It is sufficient to see what is true and what is not true. And to say what one knows to be the truth. In those people who say it is untrue, from the tops of their heads to the bottom of their feet, signs that they will be seized by sickness will appear.”
After the Victorious One had spoken these words, Avalokitasvara, Maitreya, Ananda, gods, anti-gods, humans, and spirits who live on odors, all rejoiced and offered great praise of his words. The Victorious One touched his right hand, marked with certain signs and characteristics, to the earth, and (by this act) conquered the dark forces of spiritual death, along with their retinue. I experienced an unbelievable happiness and joy and decided to (always) engage myself with this discriminative appreciation that goes beyond itself, that tames (beings) by pacifying all sickness and evil. Then the Spiritually Awakened One, the Victorious One, after remaining in meditative enstasis, uttered this summary of his discourses, as part of the teachings (as a whole). Again, Ananda asked of the Victorious One:
“Victorious One, since you have delivered this teaching, turn around the obstacles and evil conditions within existence. In the Earth-Male-Monkey year (2028) an epidemic will occur and its impact will be very profound. If all sentient beings do not think that this is true and have no confidence in this letter and are not able to propagate it, then the dark evil forces of spiritual death will be satisfied. If there is confidence and they do publish this, then great well-being will arise. Great benefit will come from this spiritual text. That’s it! Great! That’s for sure! May you always teach it! May most excellent good and wholesomeness arise! May capabilities and merits always increase! This has been taught by all of the Spiritually Awakened Ones. You yourself are energetic to this truth, of benefit to beings. At the end of a future time, the qualities of this will be beyond imagination. For the person who is confident in this, all desires will be fulfilled. Evil conditions and obstacles will be diverted. The person who is confident in the teachings of a spiritually awakened person should make offerings of flowers and incense.”
The Detailed Prophecy for the period 2026–2032
Then Maitreya looked back from the expanse of space. He saw blood coming from the eyes of humans so he went to the Victorious One and asked:
“Victorious One, I pray that you give a teaching of great sustaining power as to what is to come, gathering the meaning in (only) a few words.”
The Victorious One replied:
“Very well, Maitreya. Listen to what I say. I choose this for the benefit of all sentient beings as well as Brahma, Indra, and so on. I will convey my words and their meaning for the sake of beings. It is certainly very positive to be energetically devoted to this. In the autumn of the Fire-Female-Horse year (2026), and in the year of the Earth-Male-Monkey (2028), all of those evil persons who have no confidence in this teaching will die. But, if one writes of it and propagates it, then one will live for a long time, without sickness, and merit will become very great. All the harmful forces of this evil time will quickly gather in the cities. They will run and hide themselves so that humans will not be able to see where they are. At that time, the power of this spiritual text will scatter those noxious demons and they will run away. So it is important to spread this text to all areas. One should not entertain any doubts and think that it is not true. The Spiritually Awakened One, incomparable teacher of gods and men, is the tamer of beings, sensitive to the world, gone into well-being, head of the spiritually aware ‘family.’
“Those persons who do not have any confidence in this teaching will experience a great earthquake in the year of the Fire-Horse (2026). When the evil times come in the Fire-Female-Sheep year (2027), there will be death due to overcrowding. Some will die on the road; some from heart (disease). In the year of the Earth-Male-Monkey (2028), there will be terrible floods. In the summer, death will come from famine-induced epidemics. At that time, demons will be all over the place. If one writes of and propagates this text, there will be no harm from obstructions or demons.
“In the Earth-Female-Bird year (2029), there will be no harm. Nonetheless, it will be very important to guard one’s discipline and not eat red meat. In the Iron-Male-Dog year (2030), all cities and surrounding areas will be filled with carnivorous animals such as tigers, bears, wild dogs, wolves, and the like. At that time it will be very important to write of and propagate this text as a method for liberating humans. In the Iron-Female-Pig year (2031), all sentient beings will lose self- control, and will be like paper blown about in the wind, or as if carried off in a flood. Then, those who lack belief in this text will die.”
Then the Victorious One said to the Greatly Responsive One:
“During the year of the Mouse (2032-?), a sound with spiritual qualities will be heard coming out of the depths of space. And, like the light of the sun and moon, because of the strength in the sustaining power of the Spiritually Awakened One, if one writes of and propagates this text which illuminates all of the four directions and eight points in between, then it will be of benefit until Maitreya comes. If one writes of and propagates this, one will obtain merit like a mountain (in size). In the palace at Potala, a transformative form of the Spiritually Awakened One’s communication dwells, surrounded by a retinue of those in whom pure and total mind has taken over. All sentient beings, above and below, in all the ten directions, are placed in well-being. This well-being is intensified for the sake of all sentient beings on account of the compassionate intentions of the Greatly Responsive One for all humans. By thinking that this is untrue, or if one entertains doubts, a period of plagues will become widespread in the middle of summer. People will die from dawn to dusk. At that time, calculating from when the evil period of time increases, all the forest (ecosystems) will collapse. All the rocky mountains will crumble at their bases. One will not be able to bear the leveling (process) of the earth’s (mountains). For every ten persons, only one will be left. If one thinks that this is not so, it is the word of the Victorious One. Oh, pity sentient beings!
“In the Fire-Female-Sheep year (2027), and in the Earth-Male-Monkey year (2028), the evil “five hundred time” will emerge. This disruption will come from every direction and the eight subdivisions as well. People will be defiled by quarrels and restlessness. This spiritual text will liberate one from these omens of the evil time merely if one has confidence in it, sees, writes about it, propagates it. Agitation will thereby be pacified. If one does this, limitless good will come about. May beings be free of all terror and fear! This spiritual work which has one, no secondary meaning, has been composed for the benefit of all sentient beings. This spiritual text will spread fully to all realms and all humans will be happy. May virtuous sentient beings be free of misery! If one is not energetic in making the text an object of sustained attention for five or six months, then a period of sickness and diseases will come. Some will die from fever; some from chills; some from stomach ailments; some from madness; some from skin diseases. Some from heart disease, others from liver disease. There is a remedy for these harms. When impermanence (begins to show its mark) in the body, if men and women tie this [mantra], which will protect them, to their bodies, this protecting mantra will free them from all plagues and the harms of demons, water spirits, and gods. [It is (pronounced):] e-ma-ho pen-no pen-no so-ha!
“It should be worn on the right side of the body for a man and on the left for a woman.
“If one does this, one will be freed from these diseases and plagues, and will have a good life. If one writes about, propagates and is confident in it, there is no doubt that one will be liberated from the bloody ocean of life’s miseries. Oh, pity for all humans, everywhere! May all torments that come with an untimely death be completely pacified. May there be good-times, as before! May one obtain limitless merit! For all those beings who have no confidence in the spiritual text, as before, there will be no chance for them to believe, and so diseases will spring up everywhere in the cities. Even if there is nutritious food, one will not, at that time, be able to eat it.”
Then the Greatly Responsive One, the Noble Avalokitasvara, in order to produce compassion in the hearts of sentient beings, spoke this portion of the teaching:
“I pray, Victorious One, that you empower this text. I pray that you empower it with your consecration.”
Again, the Victorious One said:
“If one performs religious service to this text with devotion and confidence, then the whole evil time will stop. It would be beneficial for all disease and illness. May all humans who dwell on the surface of the earth obtain limitless merit. When they are liberated from all the unhappiness, epidemics, sickness, and unrest which are signs of the evil age, may they come to experience good times as before. On account of the positive nature in making a wish such as this, the qualities of the benefit if a person should do this, especially during the month of the Rabbit and of the Horse, is beyond imagining. If people come to write of and propagate this, they will come to possess a long life, free of illness, and will find happiness and well-being. Even if they write of one part of this, all noxious influences of the evil age will be pacified in their own time. What has occurred before will increase once again in the year of the Dragon. It will show itself, but will be unable to expand out into the realms of the world because of the evil time’s arising. After that, in the Fire-Male Horse year (2026), this text will increase.
This work is a technique for diverting the evil time. If one is not able to spread (its ideas) to all countries, ripening crops will be destroyed by three frosts, or hail. Secondly, the specter of famine will arise. And when disease with no apparent etiology occurs, there will be much suffering and unhappiness. But, if one writes of and propagates this, there is no doubt that one will be liberated from all this misery. Until Lord Maitreya arrives in this world, this text is the refuge for sentient beings. If one is confident and devoted to it, all obstacles and obscurations will be cleansed, and one will be purified. May there be most excellent good! May the jewels of necessity and wishing come into being! May all countries have good fortune! May the whole earth be made pleasing! When unrest, sickness, famine in all countries is pacified, may there be a most excellent rain for the crops, and may one spontaneously obtain one’s wishes! May the glorious wealth of nations increase widely. May the turning of the wheel of spiritual teachings be steadfast, always!”
After the Victorious One had spoken, all the gods, Avalokitasvara, Maitreya, Ananda, anti-gods, humans, and the world including those who live on scents, rejoiced and praised the speech very much.
This ends the prophecy text.
ཨེ་མ་ཧོ། ཕན་ནོ་ཕན་ནོ་སྭཱཧཱ།
👈 || UNSAYING | CONTEMPLATION | TRADITION | MEDITATION | DISCUSSIONS | BACK MATTER || 👉
