Dear Mitzi,
Dakini represents the manifestation of liberating energy in female form. However, just like all enlightened Buddhas, the enlightened dakinis do not confine to form. They can manifest in human form as well as other forms. Therefore, it’s possible for them to manifest in the form of an animal to help someone.

Dear David,

Different school of Buddhism holds different views of Nirvana. In Vajrayana Buddhism, Nirvana is a state of mind which nothing more than being awakened to the enlightened nature of our consciousness and it can be achieved in one instant.

While to Rinzai Zen, Nirvana is not a goal, Nirvana is already there, at that very moment, that very place. Nirvana exists in our mind, it’s a state where cause and effect no longer exist. Rinzai says:”The world and nirvana are one and the same, and one who makes even a small distinction between them is ignorant.”

Below is the link to an article introducing Professor Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki, who successfully introducing Zen Buddhism to the west. Perhaps you would be interested in knowing about his idea on Nirvana which is included in this article.

https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/d-t-suzuki-the-man-who-introduced-zen-buddhism-to-the-west.html

Dear Meg,

Thank you for your question and I am sorry that this happened, and that you are still feeling the effects of it even today. Unfortunately, the way the world works is that we all have expectations which cloud our mind and judge the way that we react. This is the true meaning of “ignorance” that the Buddha taught and should us a way out of. We react from this ignorance and when we do that, when things do not live up to our expectations, this makes us upset and in this case angry. This applies not only to you when took that original action, but also to your parent who became angry that you did not live up to their expectations as it were. However, this applies to all of us, in all our situations in life. That is what Buddha meant when he said, we all suffer.

There are two methods with which to come at this situation, and both should be used in conjunction. The first, which you may have probably already tried, is to discuss the situation with that particular parent. The best way is to create an peaceful environment and sit your parent down, and tell them you are being honest, apologise again for the incident, and then explain how you have been feeling since then. Though this sounds like it won’t probably work, if you are honest, this actually has a very big impact. This is something that I have done before with my own parents, so I know that it works. In the end we were able to move past the incident and the subsequent emotions that followed it.

The second is to engage in a practice, for this I would like to suggest you for you to engage in the practice of Lama Tsongkhapa combined with the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden. You can find the prayers here: https://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/diamond-path-a-daily-sadhana-of-dorje-shugden

The reasons for this particular set of prayers is that this incident has left an emotional toil on your mind, making you depressed. The practice of Lama Tsongkhapa is known to be extremely beneficial for such situations, while Dorje Shugden can help to remove the obstacles in your life so that you and your parent can move past this. Through a regular daily practice, it will also be source of strength for you. You should concentrate on the mantra recitation, and recite as many mantras as you can each day.

I sincerely pray that this will be of some benefit and you are able to move forward past this phase to something better.

Dear Rahul Banerjee,
In Tibetan Buddhism, Vajrayogini practice is one of the highest tantric practices which require initiation before you can engage in her practice. Therefore, if you would like to learn about Vajrayogini Tantra, the very first step is you will need to find a guru who can confer you the practice. When the guru-disciple relationship is established, a real guru will guide and assess you on sutric path first until he thinks that you are ready to receive the initiation. This process may takes years. Nevertheless, if you are serious about learning the Vajrayogini tantra, there are practices that you can do before you receive the initiation as recommended by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche. Below is the link to the article:

https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/starting-on-vajra-yogini-now.html

Thank you.

Hello Paulo Sérgio!

1. Prajnaparamita is not said to belong to any of the Buddha Families. This is because she is the embodiment of the Perfection of Wisdom herself, and is therefore known as the Mother of All Buddhas.

2. This will be explained below.

3. You can search online for these mantras, unfortunately I do not have a copy of these in Tibetan, as our prayer books use the transliterated versions, like you included in your questions.

4. You are correct. However, in practice one would still get the empowerment of the particular deity before engaging in the practice, and the empowerment plants within your mindstream the seed of gaining attainments using that particular deity as your path of practice.

Explanation:
Due to the limitless amount of Buddhas there are, they are said to be grouped into “families”. There are actually many ways to classify them, however the three main classifications are according to:

1. 1,000 Buddha Families
2. 5 Buddha Families (As in the Dhyani Buddhas)
3. 3 Buddha Families (Tathagatha, Padma and Vajra)

More than anything, on our level, we should understand that they are classified as such because of the benefits of their practice. For example, Chenrezig belongs to the Padma family because, his practice is said to help us primarily develop compassion on the path to enlightenment. Similarly, those Buddhas who belong to the Padma family will in some way or form primarily develop compassion in our mindstream first, before other enlightened qualities.

Therefore, one Buddha may belong to one family, even though their emanation or different form can belong to another. The Buddhas can all grant us the same benefits, but according to the form they take for us to practice the path, we either develop a certain quality first or tackle a certain delusion first while engaged in their practice. That is before we move on develop other qualities and tackle other negative delusions. I hope this explanation helps.

Dear William,
As far as I know, Shangmo Dorje Putri although is an independent Dharma protector, she is under the control of the enlightened Dharma protector Kache Marpo and considered to be part of his entourage. In turn Kache Marpo is within the entourage of the Dharma protector Dorje Shugden. Therefore, she is related to but may not be a direct member of Dorje Shugden entourage.

If you would like to learn more about Shangmo Dorje Putri, here is an article:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/shangmo-dorje-putri-the-bamo-of-sakya.html

Dear Sanatkumara,
If you want to be part of the lineage, you can research and find a guru under the same lineage who lives near your area. If you can’t find one, you can start with following H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s teachings online and start engaging in Lama Tsongkhapa daily sadhana and Dorje Shugden daily prayer. Do this consistently and follow Rinpoche’s teachings online both on this blog and on YouTube and put them into practice. Start by doing that.

Tsongkapa’s daily practice commentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd1jQnEwNv4

NEW! Simplified Daily Prayer to Dorje Shugden
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/new-simplified-daily-prayer-to-dorje-shugden.html

Dear Michael,
As far as I know, Zen is a branch of Buddhism, they are based on Buddhist philosophy, but they are not interested in metaphysical theories and rituals and focuses entirely on the mindful practice. Zen is more like a practice of self-discovery through meditation.

This authour wrote quite a few books about Zen Buddhism, perhaps you can read some of them if you are interested:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/d-t-suzuki-the-man-who-introduced-zen-buddhism-to-the-west.html

Thank you.

Hello, Paulo Sérgio

1. Can you give me another definition of the expression. I am not familiar with this to see if we have it in Tibet.

2. Within out lineage, we recite the mantra as OM BENZA SATO HUM, without the PHET. I will attach a picture of this mantra for you.

3. Each of the tantras provide a different chronology of their practice. I do not think this has ever been worked out due to the large number of tantric practice. Neither have I read anywhere which is the oldest. Actually, it doesn’t matter which one came first or second, what matters is that they are all genuine and can lead us along the path to enlightenment. I hope this helps!

Dear Osbert DCunha,

Thanks for the inquiry. Gyenze is the “increase” form of Protector Dorje Shugden, his practice is very effective in bringing both inner wealth such as spiritual attainments and outer wealth such as material wealth, positive relationship, increased life span, etc. Engaging in Gyenze practice daily, diligently and with a sincere heart, you will observe a change in your life.

This article provides all the information you may need to engage in Gyenze practice:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/dorje-shugden-gyenze-to-increase-life-merits-and-wealth.html?nomobile

Dear David,

Thank you for your message. It seems like a very interesting read. Here is an article that might interest you somewhat: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/jesus-christ-and-gautama-buddha-similarities-and-differences.html. It examines the similarities and differences between the Buddha and Jesus. Thanks once again for letting us all know of this book.

Thank you

Hello Ling,

I remember that you asked a question about Chakrasamvara before. When you have certain physical experiences when practicing higher tantra, this necessarily includes the movement of psychic winds in your body. Therefore sometimes people may have strange sensations. When this happens, according to advice given by Tsem Rinpoche, you should ease off on the concentration of the particular part or visualisation that you are engaged in when it happens.

In order to ease these sensations, you engage in the practice of 35 Confessional Buddhas. Alternative, if you have the initiation, you engage in the practice of Heruka Vajrasattva (if you have this initiation, you should have been given the sadhana for this practice). Both these practices purify our karma, and everything that we go through in life, and even things like this in our practice is due to karma.

These sensations could be heightened due to the medrup you are eating, but I cannot know because I don’t know what type it is. If it is not a requirement of your practice to eat them as given to you by your guru, may I suggest that refrain from eating them while you engage in the purification practices. Then once you get back to the main practice and you no longer have any sensations, you can resume eating them.

All of the above is just advice. To get a better, clear and definitive answer, you should actually consult the guru that gave you the initiation and practice of Chakrasamvara. I hope this helps.

Dear Jason Chau,

Thank you for your question. The Dutsi Chomen pill is commonly known as the nectar pill used to consecrate the tantric inner offering within some lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. It is made from 8 main ingredients, and 1000 secondary ingredients. This pill also includes the actual five meats and the actual five nectars.

This pill is not widely used within the Gelug tradition. The pill used in the Gelug tradition is known as the Gaden Nectar Pill. This pill uses medicinal herbs and plants to replace the actual five meats and the actual five nectars. This includes the use of the famed Arura. Within tantric practice if you use the actual five meats and nectars without having high realisations then there is a danger of incurring faults. Some of the most famous Gaden Nectar Pills come from the lineage of His Holiness the 4th Panchen Lama Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen who was famous for making them through a ritual called “The secret fire-blazing nectar pills of Tashi Lhunpo”. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Nudi,

Thank you for your interesting question. As to the actual ring, I’m not sure, but in regards to the Fasting Buddha I can provide some information. The form of this Buddha reminds practitioners of the six years that Prince Siddhartha spent undergoing strict spiritual austerities after he left the palace and his royal life. This was the period of his life just before he gained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and became the Buddha.

The meditational practices that he undertook were so intense that his body withered away and he survived only on a single grain of rice a day. The Buddha wanted to cut away all attachments from his life, and he started with the attachment to food. When the Buddha is depicted in this form, he is known as the Fasting Buddha. It is an inspiration and reminder to practitioners to overcome difficulties on the spiritual path to achieve something greater, complete enlightenment.

You can read more about this here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/art-architecture/fasting-buddha.html

I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Bhagdro Pasang,

Thank you for your questions. According to traditional belief, during the time of the Buddha there was man who tried to engage in good deeds but for nine days bad things would always happen. So these nine days became known as the 9 Bad Omens Days. But following that he continued to engage in good deeds and good things happened to him for ten days. So, these days became known as 10 Good Omens Days. Though most people who follow the Tibetan calendar believe in these days, it is actually more of a story to learn from. When we are on the spiritual path, we learn that bad things always happen, but when we put effort into doing good things then in the end, only good things will happen. It is a teaching for us to have perseverance and strength in our practice. After all, ten is bigger than nine, so in the end things will be better for us.

In terms of Tibetan Astrology, everything happens in cycles of either good and bad. This is due tot he collective karma of all sentient beings within samsara. Therefore, there are good days and bad days. You can find a calculator here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/tibetan-astrology/tibetan-astrology.html.

However, even though there are good and bad days, we can overcome all of that by engaging in the practices of the Buddhas, and especially practising the Dharma protectors. Praying to the Buddhas and enlightened protectors such as Dorje Shugden not only purifies karma but collects merit as well. At the same time, the practices help to block any negative influences like bad astrological days. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Paulo Sérgio,

It is good to see you back here, I hope you have been keeping well. I will try to answer your questions according to your points.

1. Yes, if you want to keep your practice short and concise then it is more than acceptable for you to begin with the practice of Vajrasattva and follow this with the practice of Dorje Shugden.

2. If you have tantric initiation then you are not only meant to visualize yourself as the deity during your sadhana only but also 24/7. Everything you see is supposed to be Vajrasattva, everything you hear is the mantra of Vajrasattva, and even the thoughts of others are considered the mind of Vajrasattva. If you have initiation you are meant to blend your reality with the reality of the deity. In this case, of course you visualize yourself as Vajrasattva and during the practice of Dorje Shugden, lights go out to invite Dorje Shugden from his various abodes.

However, if you do not have initiation, you do not need to focus on this too strongly. Simply invite Dorje Shugden in your mind and as he is an enlightened being, he will come.

3. Yes, you can do the same as the above for Manjushri.

4. If you have received initiation into Vajrasattva’s practice, the offerings are automatically part of the daily sadhana. All tantric sadhanas have the offerings in some form or another, and the reason for this is two-fold: (1) to generate merit so that we overcome ordinary view and (2) to fulfill the Paramita or Perfection of generosity.

I hope these answers help. Thank you.

Dear Spencer,

Within Dorje Shugden’s mandala, there are many high level beings. In fact, Lord Setrap resides on the first floor above Dorje Shugden and Buddha Amitabha on the second floor. Therefore, they are intimately related and when you propitiate Dorje Shugden, Lord Setrap is also propitiated automatically. Whatever offerings including prayers are made, it is to Dorje Shugden and the whole mandala including Lord Setrap. This is evident in the serkyem or tea offering practice of Dorje Shugden, where you also make an offering to Lord Setrap.

Kechara in the past propitiated only Lord Setrap openly because we have not gotten permission from Dorje Shugden to come out with out practice (via the oracle). Since, Dorje Shugden had given us permission (via the oracle) to openly practice Dorje Shugden and so, we are now openly practicing Dorje Shugden as well. At Kechara House, we still conduct a joint protector puja between Dorje Shugden and Setrap. Setrap is an enlightened being and very close with Dorje Shugden. In fact the same oracle takes trance of Setrap and Dorje Shugden. So if you wish to focus on Dorje Shugden practice, that is fine.

Or, you can continue to propitiate Dorje Shugden and Setrap simultaneously or you can streamline your practice to just Dorje Shugden. You do not have to worry that It will offend Setrap because they are both emanations of enlightened beings and are therefore beyond jealousy and competition.

I hope this helps you to understand our situation a little better so you can make an informed decision on the matter. Thank you.

PS – I have included a picture of the Dorje Shugden Mandala to illustrate my point.

– You can watch Dorje Shugden and Setrap take trance of the Panglung Oracle in this video (below) of the opening of Serpom Monastery. Dorje Shugden enters the oracle at 1:55 and Lord Setrap at 2:26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu17CKW0lMQ

Dear Will,

Please can you elaborate further as to your definition of ‘authenticity’ on the side of a practitioner? I understand that you do not mean the authenticity of the teachings but of the practitioner. But I would like to understand what exactly you are referring to. Teachings can be authentic or not, but are you asking if practitioners can be authentic in terms of practice or in terms of understanding the self? If I know in which regards you are asking then I can help to answer better. Thank you.

Dear Vritra0912,

Thank you for your interesting questions. Lord Buddha showed us the path to Nirvana or Moksha through meditation, contemplation and practice. In doing so he did not rely on any external deity that he prayed to or relied upon to achieve that state. Neither did Lord Shiva, as he is a god.

Yes, you are right that Lord Shiva and his consort Kalaratri (a form of Parvati) are depicted under the feet of Heruka Chakrasamvara. The reason for this is to show the world and practitioners that you need to overcome desire. The story goes that Lord Shiva and Kalaratri manifested a lot of desirous energy which was affecting all beings. Their energy was so strong, it was affecting people to the point that they acted in very desirous ways. Lord Buddha saw this and knew that he had to teach a method to overcome desire and lead people to Moksha. So he manifested in a form that looked like Shiva, but more powerful, with more arms. That is why Heruka looks like Shiva, with matted hair, the crescent moon on top of his head, covered in ash and wearing a tiger skin loincloth. When Shiva and Kalaratri saw Heruka, they realised he was more powerful (in the sense that he has overcome desire) and they offered themselves under the feet of Heruka to show sentient beings that they need to overcome desire. In this regard, you can regard the event as a Divya Leela or divine play, to show practitioners that they need to overcome desire in order to reach Moksha.

Within Buddhism there are actually multiple deities that look like Ganesha. One is the god Ganesha, who is the son of Parvati. Another known as Ganapati Ragavajra is actually a form of Avalokiteshvara, also known as the Buddha of Compassion. Therefore there is are different forms of Ganesha, some of who are considered enlightened. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Parth,

Thank you for your very spiritual question. We are publishing an article that will explain everything you need to know about blessing any Buddha image soon, including the prayers you should use. Do keep an eye out for the article and once published I will update this message with the link to the post.