Dipamkara Srijnana Atisha – The Revivalist
Dipamkara Srijnana Atisha (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Dipamkara Srijnana Atisha, Dromtonpa and Dorje Shugden.
Lama: Dipamkara Srijnana Atisha (Sanskrit)
Alternative name: Jowo Je Atisha (Tibetan)
Dipamkara Srijnana Atisha was a great Bengali (Indian) master, who travelled to Tibet in order to translate and propagate Buddhism at a time when the teachings had declined there. He is now known as a reviver of the Buddhist faith in Tibet. Having spent the majority of his life learning and studying the scriptures, especially during his 12-year stay in the Srivijaya Kingdom of Sumatra (Indonesia) where he focused intensely on teachings on compassion, he was perfectly able to bring about a renaissance of Buddhist practice in Tibet. Atisha’s main yidam or meditational deity was Tara and he had many visions of her. According to his biography, it was Tara who urged him to accept the invitation to travel to Tibet. While he was in Tibet, Atisha became famous for giving many extraordinary teachings. Amongst the many teachings he imparted, he is celebrated for starting the lineage of making wealth vases, for his mind training teachings and for starting the genre of teachings known as the Lamrim, which combine all of the Buddha’s teachings in a graduated path to enlightenment.
Lama: Dromtonpa (Tibetan)
Dromtonpa Gyelwe Jungne is the Tibetan heart disciple of Atisha and his main spiritual heir. Thus, he became instrumental in the formation of the Kadampa School in accordance to the teachings of his master Atisha. Although he remained a lay master, he was famous for his teachings on monastic discipline and founded Radreng Monastery. He had many disciples including a whole generation of Kadampa masters: Potowa Rinchen Sal, Chengawa Tsultrim Bar and Phuchungwa Shyonnu Gyaltsen.
Deity: Dorje Shugden (Tibetan)
Alternative name: Vajra Rudra (Sanskrit)
Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. He took the form of a Dharma Protector in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings, especially the important teachings on the Middle Way View. Reminiscent of Manjushri’s form, Dorje Shugden carries a meandering sword and rides a snowlion that represents the fearlessness of a fully enlightened Buddha. Thus, he has great strength to overcome obstacles of the body, speech and mind, and create suitable conditions for our spiritual practice to flourish. Furthermore, he carries a jewel-spitting mongoose and a vajra hook to symbolise that he has the tremendous ability to bestow wealth and resources.
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