NamoGuru

In the distant past, when the Medicine Buddha was a Bodhisattva, he is said to have taken twelve vows out of his great compassion. These vows included the task of awakening people's minds to Bodhichitta, providing beings with the materials necessary for living, leading them to wisdom and wholesome actions, as well as relieving people from deformities, illness, and other physical sufferings. After many lives of working to fulfill his vows, the Bodhisattva attained complete enlightenment, becoming the one we know as the Medicine Buddha. He is depicted here seated in the lotus posture, his body the color of Lapis Lazuli, wearing the robes of a Buddhist monk. In his left hand he bears a lapis-colored jar of medicine nectar, while his right hand rests on his knee, holding the stem of the aruna fruit. The Medicine Buddha is the embodiment of all the Buddhas' healing qualities, associated with healing both physical and mental suffering. Making a connection with him by practicing medit...

Alternate names: Kinkara (Tibetan), Shri Shmashana Adhipati (Sanskrit) Status: Emanation of Heruka Chakrasamvara and Vajrayogini. Tradition: Sakya & Gelug. Known to protect: Special Protectors of the Heruka Chakrasamvara and Vajrayogini tantras. Description: Cittapati’s practice arises from the Heruka Chakrasamvara Tantras. They are a pair of skeletons, the male is considered the emanation of Heruka, whereas the female is considered an emanation of Vajrayogini. Apart from being a protector from the Heruka tantras, they are considered the special protectors of the Vajrayogini tantra stemming from the Mahasiddha Naropa. They are commonly referred to the ‘Lord and Lady of the Cemetary.’ In their role from the Heruka tantras they are propitiated primarily for wealth and conducive conditions for Dharma practice, and also for protection from thieves. As the special protector of the Vajrayogini tantra their role is two-fold. They primarily protect Vajrayogini practitioners from obstacles ...

 The Wheel of Life The Wheel of Life is a symbolic representation of true sufferings and true origins, delusions. The Wheel of Life is depicted within the jaws of Yama, the Lord of Death, since all living things must die in samsara. In the center are three animals that represent the three mental poisons of ignorance (pig), desirous attachment (pigeon), and aversion/hatred (snake). Since ignorance is the root delusion that leads to all other delusions, the pigeon and snake are coming out of the pig's mouth. The next circle shows the six types of beings trapped within samsara as they take the form of their next rebirth in the bardo. The next circle shows the six realms of samsara: gods, demi-gods, and humans in the higher realms, and animals, hungry ghosts, and hell beings in the lower realms. The outermost circle is a symbolic representation of the twelve dependent-related links, starting with ignorance depicted as a blind woman at the top, and working clockwise through compositiona...

Manjushri is one of the most important iconic figures in Mahayana Buddhism and is known as the Bodhisattva of Great Wisdom. He is worshipped as the "Meditational Deity" in Esoteric Buddhism. The Sanskrit name of Manjushri is "Prajna," which means "gentle glory," "He who is noble and gentle," "soft glory," "Wondrous Auspiciousness," and so on. Buddhist monasteries' meditation halls, libraries, and study rooms often consist of images of Manjushri Bodhisattva. Manjushri is a famous Bodhisattva respected greatly in Chinese, Esoteric, Tibetan Buddhism, etc. "Manjushri is the Bodhisattva of wisdom and insight, penetrating into all things' fundamental emptiness, universal sameness, and true nature. Manjushri, whose name means 'noble, gentle one,' sees into the essence of each phenomenal event."  Manjushri is represented as a male Bodhisattva with their right hand wielding a flaming sword, "Vajra Sword o...

The word Avalokiteshvara has been derived from the Sanskrit language. In Sanskrit, Ishwara means the lord, god, or the almighty and the loka means the world. Ava means to look down and the verb's past participle form is lokita. Thus, one can figure out that the combined meaning of Avalokiteshvara is the god who's looking down at the world. Of course, with compassionate eyes and attitude. The images of Avalokiteshvara are always captivating due to the reflections of calmness, compassion, and generosity. The iconography of The Eye Clearing Avalokiteshvara The Eye Clearing Avalokiteshvara (Mig-Jed Chenresik) originates with the Revealed Treasure of the Nyingma Tradition and the teacher Nyangral Nyima Ozer in the 12th century. Since the original text of Nyangral many authors from numerous traditions such as Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug have written follow up ritual and meditation texts, including figures such as Karma Chagme and Dagchen Kunga Lodro. This practice is simple yet extremely ...

  The word Avalokiteshvara has been derived from the Sanskrit language. In Sanskrit, Ishwara means the lord, god, or the almighty and the loka means the world. Ava means to look down and the verb's past participle form is lokita. Thus, one can figure out that the combined meaning of Avalokiteshvara is the god who's looking down at the world. Of course, with compassionate eyes and attitude. The images of Avalokiteshvara are always captivating due to the reflections of calmness, compassion, and generosity. The iconography of 1000 armed Avalokiteshvara He is especially favored in Tibet. Different Buddhist cultures revere many other forms of him. For instance, there are two-armed red Avalokiteshvara, sitting Avalokiteshvara, four-armed red Avalokiteshvara, four-armed white Avalokiteshvara, Standing Avalokiteshvara and among others. In Tibetan language, Chenrezig means gazing at something with compassion. He is said to have compassion for all the Buddhas in him and when he looks out...

The word Avalokiteshvara has been derived from the Sanskrit language. In Sanskrit, Ishwara means the lord, god, or the almighty and the loka means the world. Ava means to look down and the verb's past participle form is lokita. Thus, one can figure out that the combined meaning of Avalokiteshvara is the god who's looking down at the world. Of course, with compassionate eyes and attitude. The images of Avalokiteshvara are always captivating due to the reflections of calmness, compassion, and generosity. The iconography of 4 armed Avalokiteshvara Avalokiteshvara is dressed in silken robes, to depict the Indian royal look. He wears various jeweled ornaments, such as bracelets, necklaces, anklets, etc. They symbolize his mastery of the perfections of generosity and morality. As a prince, he wears his black hair long, upper half knotted high on his head, and the rest flowing down to his shoulders. Just as a prince, this bodhisattva is the spiritual son and heir to the king-like budd...

The protector deity Begtse Chen - the Great Coat of Mail, was popularized within the Sarma (new) Schools of Tibetan Buddhism by Marpa Lotsawa (1012-1096) and Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158), the respective founders of the Marpa Kagyu and Sakya Traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Colloquially Begtse is known as red Mahakala and ranks relatively high in the Sakya protector pantheon. However, in the various Kagyu Traditions it is now rare to even find Begtse Chen. The protector was later adopted and incorporated into the Gelug School of Tsongkapa and subsequently became popular in Mongolia - predominantly following the Gelug tradition since the 17th century. Begtse Chen is the main protector associated with the Hayagriva cycle of Tantric Deity meditation practice.  Begtse has red skin and orange-red hair, two arms (as opposed to other Mahākālas, who have four or six), three blood-shot eyes and is wielding a sword in his right hand. He also holds a human heart in his right hand. In the st...

Mahakala: The Great Black One Mahakala, also referred to as the Great Black, God of Time, is Buddhism's ultimate 'Protector of Dharma.' He plays a significant role in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. In Buddhism, he is the wrathful form of deity of compassion, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. He is highly revered in all schools of Mongolian Buddhism. In contrast, he is considered the manifestation of Lord Shiva, the universe's creator and destroyer, and consort of Mahakali in Buddhism. He is a wrathful form that takes on a variety of faces and names from many cultures. He is acknowledged as one of the eight protecting deities.  History of Mahakala The Noble Avalokitesvara, the Lord of Great Compassion, attained Enlightenment throughout countless eons; his merit was then amassed. He obtained the unique Great Light empowerment after advancing through the bodhisattva levels. Then, as he joined the Buddha's Noble Sons group, he made the following commitment. "Throughou...

 Yama Dharmaraja (Tibetan: shin je cho gyal. English: Yama - King of the Law [of Cause and Effect]): the special protector deity associated exclusively with the practices of Vajrabhaiarava. Both Yama Dharmaraja and Vajrabhairava are wrathful emanations of the deity Manjushri.  Dharmaraja, dark blue in colour, has one face and two hands. With the head of a buffalo and two sharp horns he glares fiercely with two bulbous eyes and a gaping mouth. His body is thick and fleshy with long nails and an engorged phallus. In the right hand he holds aloft a spine stick tipped with a gold vajra. In the left hand outstretched he holds a lasso. Embraced on the left side by the consort Chamundi, red in colour, to the Lord she offers up a skullcup with the left hand. Standing with the right leg bent and left extended mounted atop a buffalo, red corpse and multi-coloured lotus seat he is completely surrounded by the flames of pristine awareness. Yama Dharmaraja is a wisdom deity protector of th...

Shridevi is a wrathful form of Tara. Shridevi is typically depicted as a blue-skinned woman with one face and two arms, riding a mule or a donkey. She holds a skull cup filled with blood in her left hand and a lasso in her right hand, which she uses to capture and subdue negative influences and obstacles on the path to enlightenment. In one hand she holds a peacock feathered triple blade dagger, symbolizing the goddesses triumph over the three poisons. She is also often shown standing on a prostrate figure, symbolizing her subjugation of the forces of evil. Shridevi is considered a powerful and fierce protector deity, invoked to protect against negative influences and to destroy obstacles on the path to enlightenment. She is also associated with the practice of tantra and is considered the embodiment of the Buddha's power. In Tibetan Buddhism, Shridevi is considered one of the eight main dharmapalas, or protectors of the teachings, along with Mahakala, Kalarupa, and other...

Sinhamukha a wrathful meditation deity of Vajrayana Buddhism, is a female spirit or sky dancer with a white head and blue color body that personifies the supreme realization of the spiritual path and nature of a fully enlightened being, usually shown in a dancing pose, surrounded by flames of primordial wisdom. In Nyingma tradition, however, Sinhamukh is connected with the secret form of guru Padhmasamva. She is considered a protector of the teachings and is invoked to overcome obstacles and negative forces. Sinhamukha is typically depicted as a fierce and powerful woman with the head of a lion and a body of a woman. She is usually shown holding a curved knife and a skull cup filled with blood in her right and left hands, respectively. The knife symbolizes the cutting of attachments and delusions, while the skull cup represents the transformation of negative emotions into wisdom. She is often shown standing on a prostrate figure, symbolizing her subjugation of the forces of evil. Sinha...

Kalachakra is a tantric deity in Tibetan Buddhism. The name Kalachakra means "Wheel of Time," and the deity represents the ultimate reality of the universe and the nature of the mind. The Kalachakra tantra is considered one of the most advanced and profound teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism, and it is said to reveal the secrets of the universe and the ultimate nature of reality. The Kalachakra deity is typically depicted as a blue-skinned man with two faces and four arms. He sits in a relaxed posture on a throne or lotus seat. The right face represents the peaceful aspect of the deity, while the left face represents the wrathful aspect. The right-hand holds a vajra, a ritual object symbolizing indestructibility, and the left hand holds a bell. The upper right-hand holds a wheel, which symbolizes the "Wheel of Time" and the upper left hand holds a sword, which symbolizes the cutting of ignorance. Kalachakra is considered a powerful and fierce deity, associated with the...

Vajrayogini is a meditation deity in Vajrayana Buddhism. She is the manifestation of the clear light of bliss of all the Buddhas. Her name literally means the ‘diamond female yogi’. Therefore, she is the victorious Diamond Queen of Dakini Land. She represents the essence of all Buddhas. Vajrayogini is the principal female deity of the Chakrasamvara Tantra. Later, her sadhana evolved to become a stand-alone practice. The most famous practice associated with Vajrayogini is chod and the six yogas of Naropa. Vajrayogini has many different forms. She is usually depicted in red color with one face and two hands holding a curved knife and skull cup. The curved knife represents the fact that she cuts all defilements. The cup represents what in Sanskrit is called mahasukha, which means “the great bliss”. Vajrayogini is sometimes visualized in a form of Vajravarahi with a sow’s head. This form is associated with triumph over ignorance. The pig is associated with ignorance in Buddhism. The practi...

Vajrapani is a bodhisattva, a being who has attained enlightenment but chooses to remain in the world to help others reach the same state, in Mahayana Buddhism. He is considered the protector and guide of the Buddha, and is often depicted holding a vajra, a ritual object symbolizing indestructibility and the power to cut through ignorance. Vajrapani is known for his fierce and powerful appearance, often depicted as a muscular figure with a fierce expression and dark blue skin. He holds a vajra in his right hand and a lasso in his left hand, which he uses to capture and subdue negative influences and obstacles on the path to enlightenment. He is also often shown standing on a prostrate figure, symbolizing his subjugation of the forces of evil. In addition to his protective role, Vajrapani is also associated with the practice of tantra and is considered the embodiment of the Buddha's power. He is often depicted in mandalas, intricate diagrams of the universe that are used in tantric ...

An aspect of the goddess Tara in the Buddhist pantheon, White Tara is worshipped primarily in Nepal and Tibet as a compassionate figure associated with longevity, good health and healing. Known by a variety of epithets in Sanskrit and Tibetan such as Sita Tara, Drolma Karma or simply Drolkar, Drolkar Yeshinkorlo or Chintamanichakra Tara meaning “Wish-Fulfilling Wheel White Tara” and Mrityuvanchana Tara or “One Who Cheats Death,” White Tara is identifiable in thangkas and other painted representations by her white colour, and in sculpture, by her padmasana posture on a lotus. The ability to avoid death forms the central attribute around which the c. tenth century CE Buddhist scholar Vagishvarakirti based his three texts on White Tara, ordered under the title ‘Cheating Death’. In c. eleventh century, the cult of White Tara was introduced to other regions, notably Tibet, by the Buddhist scholar Atisha. Due to her ability to bestow longevity upon worshippers and through her powers that pro...

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Amitayus is depicted as holding a vase of amrita, the precious nectar of immortality which confers longevity, and the leaves of the ashoka tree, which symbolize long life without misery (shoka) of disease. His body is said to be akin to a ruby mountain, radiant like a brilliant pure jewel, eliminating the ignorant and suffering of beings.   OBJECTIVE & BENEFITS OF THE PRACTICE: Buddha Sakyamuni has spoken about the power and the great benefit of Buddha Amitayus's mantra. According to the Sutra, it's said that the merits accumulated from offering Buddha with the most precious stones that fill the universe can be counted, but the merits of recitation the mantra of Amitayus is far too vast to be measured. Lord Buddha also given the example that reciting Amitayus mantra is liken a ninety nine millions Buddhas remain in Samadhi and chanted the mantra in one voice … thus it's extremely powerful. Amitayus is the Buddha of boundless life, merit and wisdom. By...

  Tara is the most beloved of all the female enlightened beings in the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon. The essence of awakened love and compassion, she is known as “the mother of all the buddhas” and “she who ferries beings across the ocean of samsara.” As a fully enlightened female buddha, Tara is the actuality of compassion and wisdom, and meditating on her helps us awaken our own buddhanature. Her right foot is slightly extended because she is ready to leap to the aid of beings. Her right hand is opened out on her right knee, in the gesture of generosity. Her left hand holds the stem of a lotus flower, which is blossoming next to her left ear. We need to approach Tara with an open heart and mind. In order for Tara to be able to benefit us, we need to approach her with an open heart and mind. Through continued meditation practice on Tara, we can establish a relationship in which we are able to trust and rely on her, and the more we are able to open to Tara, the more she is able to ben...

Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama and Lord Buddha, is regarded as the founder of Buddhism; his followers are referred to as Buddhists. Gautama Buddha is also commonly referred to as Buddha, which means an enlightened one who has attained freedom from the state of suffering and ignorance, having attained the state of nirvana. Gautama Buddha was born in a kingdom just below the foothills of the Himalayas on the edge of the eastern Indian subcontinent. Lord Buddha was born into the prestigious family of the Shakya Clan. His father was the head of the Shakya clan, and his mother was a Koliyan Princess. Early life of Gautama Buddha  Gautama Buddha was born in the province of Lumbini, located in Southern Nepal, in 623 BC. He was born into a noble family of the Shakya Clan residing in the Himalayan foothills. The head of the Shakya clan, Suddhodana, was his father, while his mother Maya was a Koliyan princess. It is said that the court astrologers predicted that he would be...

Brief Biography His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. He is the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet. At the age of two, the child, then named Lhamo Dhondup, was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and the patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are realized beings inspired by a wish to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings, who have vowed to be reborn in the world to help humanity. Education in Tibet His Holiness began his monastic education at the age of six. The curriculum, derived from the Nalanda tradition, consisted of five major and five minor subjects. The major subjects included logic, fine arts, Sanskrit grammar, and medicine, but the greatest emphasi...

   A BRIEF LIFE STORY OF LAMA TSONG KHAPA Lama Je Tsong Khapa (1357-1419) was born in Amdo, in northeast Tibet. Interested in the miraculous events that occurred at Tsong Khapa’s birth, the master Choje Dondrup Rinchen took charge of his education when he was seven, giving him many teachings and tantric empowerments. Tsong Khapa left Amdo at sixteen to further his studies, studying under fifty teachers (some biographers say 100) and gaining a wide knowledge of both sutra and tantra, being especially impressed with Dignaga and Dharmakirti’s system of reasoning. There followed an intense period of study and meditation, during which he experienced visions of Manjushri. It is traditionally said that he did four great deeds during his life: the renovation of the Maitreya statue at Dzingji monastery and the great prayer festival that accompanied its completion (1400); his extensive work on the vinaya (code of monastic discipline) which is said to have revitalized the tradition ...