The Foundation of All Good Qualities, by Tsong Khapa 

The foundation of all good qualities is the kind and venerable guru.  Correctly devoting to him is the root of the path.  By clearly seeing this and applying great effort, May I rely upon him with great respect.

By understanding that the precious freedom of this rebirth is found only once, is greatly meaningful and difficult to find again, May I generate the mind that unceasingly, day and night, takes hold of its essence.  

This life is as impermanent as a water bubble - how quickly it decays and death comes!  And after death, just like a shadow follows the body, the results of black and white karma follow.

Finding firm and definite conviction in this, May I always be careful to abandon even the slightest negativities and accomplish all virtuous deeds.  

Seeking samsaric pleasures is the door to all suffering.  They are uncertain and cannot be relied on.  Recognizing these shortcomings, May I generate the strong wish for the bliss of liberation.

Led by this pure thought, mindfulness, alertness and great caution arise.  The root of the teachings is keeping the pratimoksha (individual liberation) vows.  May I accomplish this essential practice.

Just as I have fallen into the sea of samsara, so too have all mother migratory beings.  May I see this, train in supreme bodhicitta, and bear the responsibility of freeing migratory beings.
By clearly recognizing that developing bodhicitta, without practicing the three types of morality, I will not achieve enlightenment, May I practice the bodhisattva vows with great energy.

By pacifying distractions to wrong objects, and correctly analyzing the meaning of reality, May I generate quickly within my mindstream the unified path of calm abiding and special insight.

Having become a pure vessel by training in the general path, May I enter the holy gateway of the fortunate ones, the supreme vajra vehicle.

At that time, the basis of accomplishing the two attainments is keeping pure vows and samaya.  Having become firmly convinced of this, May I protect these vows and pledges like my life.

Then, having realized the importance of the two stages, which are the essence of the vajrayana, by practicing with great energy, never giving up the four sessions, May I realize the teachings of the holy guru.

Like that, may the virtuous gurus who show the noble path, and the spiritual friends who practice it have long lives.  May I pacify completely all outer and inner hindrances.

In all my rebirths, never separated from perfect gurus, May I enjoy the magnificent Dharma.  By completing the qualities of the stages and paths, May I quickly attain the state of Vajradhara.