Question asked by Demian
Would the Himalayan Art website be a trustworthy website?
As for T'siu Marpo, this website:
http://taramandala.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Dzinpa-Rangdrol-Protectors-for-Complete-Transmission.pdf
says that he's a worldly protector and the son of a demon when here it says that he's an emanation of Hayagriva.
Would prayer wheels with mantras in English have the same effect as traditional ones?
Is it okay to visualize Guan Yin bodhisattva illuminating on you when chanting "Om Mani Padme Hum" or "Om Mani Peme Hung"?
I read about the oracle of Delphi who took possession of the sun god Apollo. Would that mean that Apollo is an enlightened being?
Are Hayagriva and the 2 armed Mahakala the wrathful forms of Avalokitesvara? I found that Mahakala is a form of the Hindu god Shiva. If Kalratri is a form of Vajrayogini, wouldn't that mean Vajrayogini is also the Hindu goddess Kali?
How does one purify meat? How does one make holy Buddhist water and blessed/concentrated objects and statues?
Dear Demian,
Thank you for your interesting questions. It nice to see you are reading a lot and learning well. I’ve answered your questions in sections again to make it easier for you to read.
A) Yes, the people who make the website do a lot of research into the information they include. From the looks of the website their research is in depth and very clear. However not all the information on the website may be correct. For that you would need to check the sources they cite for further clarification. When possible it is good to check the original source. That being said it looks trustworthy.
B) Tsiu Marpo is definitely an emanation of Hayagriva, who in turn is an emanation of Chenresig. His practice is prevalent in two traditions, the Nyingma and the Gelug, in which he is known as Kache Marpo. Tsiu Marpo is actually the special protector of Samye Monastery. Originally Gyalpo Pehar was the special protector of this monastery. However, when Gyalpo Pehar moved to Nechung Monastery, located near Drepung Monastery, Tsiu Marpo became Samye’s special protector. As a protector in his own right, he has his own prayers, rituals and ceremonies, etc.
After Dorje Shugden manifested, Tsiu Marpo saw that Dorje Shugden and his practice can benefit many sentient beings. Therefore he took an oath to become one of Dorje Shugden’s attendant ministers. He helps Dorje Shugden to aid practitioners in their spiritual journey. In this form he is known as Kache Marpo and his practice was encouraged by the Great 5th Dalai Lama who is known to have written prayers to him.
He was originally one of the Seven Blazing brothers who are ‘tsen’ spirits or yakshas. It is said that in a previous life he was a great practitioner living in a forest. But due to his unusual appearance and also a misunderstanding he was thought of a dangerous man. Fearful, the locals hunted him down and decapitated him, cutting him into pieces. Out of the various body parts arose the Seven Blazing Brothers of which Tsiu Marpo is the chief.
Emanations of the enlightened beings who appear in worldly form take a body that exists with samsara. For example there are three types of protectors. The first are enlightened protectors who appear in forms outside of samsara. For example the various Mahakalas or Kalarupa for example. Then there are worldly protectors who are beings who have taken oaths to protect the Dharma but are not enlightened, such as Gyalpo Pehar/Nechung. The third type are the enlightened beings, who emanate within worldly forms, for example Dorje Shugden, Kache Marpo, etc. This is because due to karmic affinity, being in a form within samsara, the enlightened beings are closer to us. This allows them to help us quicker.
This is the same as tulkus, who are emanations of the enlightened beings in the form of humans. Similarly Kache Marpo is an emanation of Hayagriva in the form of a tsen spirit. You can read more about Kache Marpo here: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/blog/who-is-kache-marpo.
C) In regards to prayer wheels. I have not come across the prayer wheels that have mantras written in English. However written mantras are the expression of the actual sound of the mantra, which is where the energies of the enlightened beings are. Traditionally speaking the mantras are written in Tibetan or Sanskrit. Therefore I do not see anything wrong with having a prayer wheel with mantras written in English as long as the mantras are written correctly, and the prayer wheel is constructed properly as mantras are very sacred.
D) Yes, there is nothing wrong with visualising Guan Yin while reciting ‘Om Mani Peme Hung’. This is because Guan Yin is none other than Chenresig in the form of a woman. In India, Chenresig appeared in a male form. In China, however, since culturally speaking women were more associated with compassion than men, Chenresig appeared in the form of a female – Guan Yin.
However, if you want to engage in more advanced forms of visualisation during mantra recitation and prayers after taking tantric empowerment, the visualisations would need to follow the traditional forms, in which Chenresig appears as man.
E) You are right that the Delphic oracle took trance of Apollo. However this does not mean that Apollo was an enlightened being. The tradition of oracles has existed within cultures all over the world for centuries. Oracles usually take trance of worldly deities and beings.
This is different from taking trance of the enlightened protectors in worldly form such as Dorje Shugden. This is because these beings are enlightened beings, they are able to help us in our spiritual journey. In the case of Dorje Shugden, he is an enlightened being in worldly form. His mind is Manjushri. Apollo on the other hand is a powerful god, but he is not an enlightened being.
F) Yes, both Hayagriva and 2-armed Mahakala are both emanations of Chenresig. Mahakala is also the name of a form of the Hindu god Shiva. While they share the same name they are not the same being. Similarly, Vajrayogini is not the same being as Kalratri. Buddha Shakyamuni arose in the form of Heruka and Vajrayogini to counter the energies of Shiva and Kalratri that were having a negative effect on the world at that time. Buddha Shakyamuni took a similar form as Shiva and Kalratri but infinitely more powerful due to his enlightened state. Similarly, Vajrayogini is not the same as Kali. You can read more about this here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/twenty-four-holy-places-eight-great-charnel-grounds.html.
G) In regards to meat, there is a mantra to recite:
OM ABIRA KHE TSARA HUNG (x7)
After reciting this mantra, blow on any meat that you eat. This purifies the actual fault of eating meat (the non-virtuous act of killing) and blesses the mind of the sentient being whose flesh you are eating to have a good rebirth.
However, as Buddhist practitioners who are developing compassion, this would extend to all sentient beings, including animals. Therefore from a higher perspective, one should strive to live a vegetarian lifestyle. This is the more compassionate option that we should strive to achieve as a physical expression or our compassion.
H) In regards to blessed water, at Kechara this is usually done by His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche or advanced practitioners who have learnt to do so. This process involves the recitation of many prayers and also meditations. In regards to the consecration of statues, there are many ways to do this. One of the best ways is to have trained practitioners invoke the enlightened beings to reside in the statue. This includes having a Rabnye-Soongdrup consecration performed, with the actual statue/image present during the puja.
The Soongdrup puja purifies Buddha images, mantras and other holy items that are usually placed into a Buddha statue. This is followed by the Rabnye puja, which invokes, blesses and seals the energies and blessings of the enlightened beings within the statue. This is one of the best methods of consecrating Buddha statues. This puja is performed by Kechara Puja House, and is available here: http://www.vajrasecrets.com/rabney-soongdrup-consecration-puja-fund. You can also visit Kechara House if you are based in Malaysia to arrange this puja. I hope this helps.
Thank you.