Prayer enlightens one’s intentions.

To become a protector, Bodhisattva or Buddha, one must supplicate for blessings from existing protectors, Bodhisattvas and Buddhas. I’m sure there are other methods, but I’d like to give you a taste from a Tibetan Buddhist point of view, because this is what Tibetan Buddhism is all about – the power of prayer and supplication, and the nature of mind.

I’m just going to present extracts of prayers, and embolden the relevant sentence, to give a feel of the approach. We, in our present state, have no power but we can work as conduits and at some time in the future, if we work with a correct view and intention, we can become protectors, Bodhisattvas and Buddhas. That is our potential.

Prayer to Buddha Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche)

Guru Rinpoche
Buddha of the three times
Lord of all siddhis
Embodiment of great bliss
Dispeller of all obstacles
Wrathful tamer of Mara
We supplicate you.
Please grant your blessings
That outer, inner and secret obstacles be subdued
And our wishes be spontaneously accomplished.

Prayer to protector Dorje Yudronma

In primordial purity and wisdom
Free from elaboration
Is the luminous awareness Dorje Yudronma
Accompanied by her retinue, the unceasing expression of awareness
We supplicate and make offerings.
Accomplish our desires as wished.

Prayer to Manjushri

Lovingly, your supreme knowledge light rays
Fully dispel the dark ignorance of my mind.
Please grant me the courageous intelligence
To fully understand the scriptures of the sutras and shastras.
Glorious, preciouis root guru
Please be seated on a lotus seat above my head.
With your great kindness, please guide me
And bestow the siddhis of body, speech and mind.

From The Sadhana of Vajra Kilaya

Samantrabhadra, Vajrasattva, Great Glorious Heruka,
Vajradharma and Dakini Karmashvari
Prabhasti and Dhanasanskrita,
I supplicate you. May obstacles be defeated…

…Purifying my being by practising the general and special preliminaries,
As well as the main part of the path,
May my physical body ripen into the wisdom body,
Thus realising the state of Demon-Vanquishing Daka.

All these activities come under the heading of Guru Yoga: one practises imagining oneself as the deity, with all the their qualities of the deity. Before we become a Buddha, we have to practise and train in being a Buddha.

It is up to each individual to recognise whether these prayers work or not, but the main point is that they enlighten our intention.