Mila the “Cotton Clad”: the glorious story of Milarepa, great singing sage of the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition
Tantra, Vajrayana
Milarepa (Mi la ras pa in Wylie [Wylie is a method of turning Tibetan script into Roman characters]) was an incredibly wise Tibetan yogi, master, and poet who reached enlightenment in his lifetime. Widely considered to be the ...
What are the nine benefits of mantras and how do they work? His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Garchen Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen
Mahayana, Mantra, Vajrayana
Why are mantras so popular? What are the nine benefits of mantras? Why are mantras considered a complete practice? How do they work? What are they? This is a lot to cover, but with the help of His ...
What are deities? Not other than “the qualities of the fully awakened… latent within us.” Who is Guru? “the pointer to these qualities”
Dalai Lama, Deities, Vajrayana
The concept of "deity" is the most misunderstood aspect of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. Buddha did not discuss a creator God. Why, then do we speak of "deities" in Buddhism? The concept of "Guru" is another largely misunderstood ...
21 Taras in the Narjuna, Atisha and Nyingma lineages: a profound, powerful, precise, pleasing daily practice
Mahayana, Tara, Vajrayana
Tara practice is among the most beautiful and inspiring practices in Mahayana Buddhism, but — why are there so many Taras? In every Mahayana tradition, there are many aspects or emanations of Tara — seemingly one for every ...
Shabkar “the greatest yogi after Milarepa” (Dalai Lama) becomes the object of his disciples attachment — from his autobiography
Koans and Riddles, Teachers, Vajrayana
Among the most loved of the sages from the land of Tibet was the great Shabkar. His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained Shabkar's unique appeal in the forward to the book the Life of Shabkar: "Regarded by many ...
Prajnaparamita Yum Chenmo, the Face of Perfection: Wisdom Personified, “Emptiness is Form” Manifested: Great Mother of Wisdom
Bodhisattvas, Buddha, Buddhist Practices, Sutras & Sutta, Vajrayana
Why do we call Prajnaparamita — and Her Emanations, such as Tara — the Mother of the Buddhas? Is Prajnaparamita a Sutra or a Goddess or both? Venerable Zasep Rinpoche explained, "Prajnaparamita means 'The Perfection of Wisdom’ in Mahayana ...
Mother Tara’s supreme form: Chittamani Tara (Cittamani)- the “Mind Jewel” Green Tara – a Highest Yoga Tantra practice
Bodhisattvas, Buddha, Deities, Mahayana, Tantra, Tara, Vajrayana, What the Buddhist Teachers Say
Many Tara practitioners wonder why there are so many Taras: 21 Taras, 108 Taras, 1008 Taras — and more. Peaceful Taras. Motherly Taras. Green, White, Black, Blue, Red, Yellow, Gold, Orange Taras. And Taras in all four of ...
In Vajrayana, the Four Directional Dignities — Garuda, Snow Lion, Tiger and Dragon — are not just for prayer flags; they are profoundly powerful guardians of our mind
Buddhist Practices, Vajrayana
The dragon rises out of the clouds, mouth open, teeth the size of swords, eyes glittering like jewels. You are flying on the back of a giant black raven, as this vast dragon circles around you, shaking all ...
Tsog dates 2022 on Western Calendar: and, the meaning of Tsog (Tsok) — the non-ordinary blissful offering
Dakini Wisdom, Special Days, Tantra, Vajrayana
What is Tsog, and why is it so precious and important? From the Heruka Root Tantra: Quickly attempt to make offerings Every waxing and waning of each month do tsog. NOTE: Tsog Dates for 2022 below in table. ...
“Awaken the seeds of our innate wisdom” or Buddha Nature — embodied in the Yidam: “Conscious realism” and the profound Vajrayana
Vajrayana
Buddhism speaks in terms of "Innate Enlightened Potential" or "Buddha Nature". Cognitive Science speaks in terms of "Unified Single Mind." Emptiness, or Shunyata, is also a Oneness perception of reality. Removing "ego" from our perception results in Oneness ...
Embracing the visual and all the senses in Vajrayana and Tantra is designed to transform the ten poisons — especially attachments and cravings — skillful means to realizations
Tantra, Vajrayana
The symbolism of Vajrayana spans every facet of life — and imagination — from the mundane, to love-making, to demon-slaying, to wrathful conquering. Every aspect of practice is expressed in visualization — in the vast expanse of imagination ...
Tara the Windy Liberator, the Mother, the Activity Heroine: “Green Tara functions throughout our world” the activity of all the Enlightened Ones
Tara, Vajrayana, What the Teachers Say
Green Tara is famous for her windy activity — faster than the fiercest hurricane — sweeping to the rescue of sentient beings. In Vajrayana Buddhism, Female Buddhas represent Wisdom. Tara represents the unique and awesome intersection of Activity ...