The following is a prayer from the Bodhisattva Vow Ceremony as translated in the Nam Cho Daily Practice Book from Palyul Ling International:
Alas! Fortunate ones!
Do not let ignorance overwhelm you.
Wake up now and be diligent.
Since beginningless time to this very moment
You have been sleeping in ignorance. Enough!
Now sleep no more and devote your three doors to the practice of Dharma.
Don’t you understand the suffering of birth, old age, sickness and death?
No moment of what is called “today” is permanent.
Now the time has arrived to practice diligently.
This is the moment to accomplish permanent happiness.
And not the moment to fritter away in the state of laziness.
Contemplate death and strive to accomplish your practice.
Life is uncertain, as the causes and conditions for death are innumerable.
If you do not attain the confident state of fearlessness in this very life,
Then what is the use of being alive?
All phenomena are selfless, empty by nature and free of elaboration.
They are like magical illusions, mirages, dreams, reflections, the cities of Ghandarvas, echoes,
Reflections of the moon in water, bubbles, optical illusions and manifested illusions.
By these ten known examples of the illusoriness of phenomena,
Understand all worldly and transcendental phenomena as these.
Thus sang the wisdom dakinis who then dissolve into space with sharp whistling sounds. By being mindful of the meaning and importance, generate awareness and determination to wake up immediately from the slumber if ignorance.