Question asked by Luke
Hi pastors
I have been doing the Guru Yoga of lama Tsongkhapa and Dorje Shugden for almost 2 years now and I still struggle with it I've done everything I can to learn migstema in Tibetan but intellectually I just can't seem to pick it up. The Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa is very long the torma mantras are long I can't pronounce them properly and it makes me stressed then I quit and start again then quit over and over.
Dorje Shugdens practice is easy the short version I can do very well and I love Dorje Shugden, my question is, can I take a different yidam? Tara is a yidam I feel strongly attached to I love lama Tsongkhapa but I just don't feel any connection. I have noticed many kecharians have different yidams. I'd appreciate your advice.
Dear Luke,
Thank you for your question. His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche has advised all members and friends of Kechara to take the Diamond Path prayer text as their daily sadhana. This includes the Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa and the practice of Dorje Shugden. Those who have other practices to follow insert them between the Guru Yoga and Dorje Shugden’s practice. This would be the best and is followed by those in Kechara who practice other deities.
In fact, within our tradition all prayers and pujas begin with Lama Tsongkhapa’s Guru Yoga. That being said, if you cannot engage in the full Guru Yoga, then it is permissable to condense the Guru Yoga to just 7 recitation of the Migtsema Mantra, then continue on with other deity prayers, and then the practice of Dorje Shugden. In regards to sadhanas, we should engage in them daily without break to get the best benefit from doing them. Consistency is the key to success in daily prayers.
So, in your case, you can condense the Guru Yoga to 7 recitations of Migtsema, followed by Tara practice and mantra, then conclude with Dorje Shugden practice. I hope this helps.