Mewa 3 Birth Buddha: Vajrasattva
Introduction
Vajrasattva (Tib: rdo rje sems dpa’; རྡོ་རྗེ་སེམས་དཔའ) is a male meditational deity within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition who symbolizes the inherent purity of all the Buddhas.
Vajrasattva is widely practiced to purify one’s negative actions. Combined with application of the Four Opponent Powers, his practice is incredibly effective to purify even the heaviest karmas.
Benefits
- Purifies even the heaviest negative karmas
- Shortens the duration of our current difficulties
- Achieves a better rebirth
History
While Vajrasattva was still on the path of learning, he made a strong aspiration that those who hear his name, think of him, or recite his hundred-syllable mantra would be completely purified of all their harmful actions and their obscurations would be removed.
According to Shingon Buddhism, the only surviving Vajrayana lineage that took root in ancient China, it is said that Nagarjuna encountered Vajrasattva in Southern India, where he was initiated into Vajrasattva’s practice.
Iconography
Vajrasattva appears to us as a prince, richly adorned with ornaments, fine silks and a crown. He is white in color and sits in a meditative posture.
In his right hand, he holds a vajra which symbolizes the perfection of his methods in leading beings to the immovable state of Enlightenment. In his left hand, he holds a ritual bell which symbolizes the realization of Emptiness, which is the Perfection of Wisdom. Together, the vajra and bell symbolize the perfect union of wisdom and skilful means; two essential components to achieve perfect Enlightenment.
Prayer
Note: This short prayer can be recited daily on its own or as part of a longer set of prayers.
The negative karma I have accumulated from beginningless time is as extensive as the ocean. Although I know that each negative action leads to countless eons of suffering, it seems that I am constantly striving to create nothing but negative actions.
Even though I try to avoid non-virtue and practise positive acts, day and night without respite, negative and ethical downfalls come to me like rainfall. I lack the ability to purify these faults so that no trace of them remains.
With these negative imprints still in my mind, I could suddenly die and find myself falling to an unfortunate rebirth. What can I do?
Please Vajrasattva, with your great compassion, guide me from such misery!
Short mantra: OM BENZASATTO HUM
(Recite 108 times or more)
Long mantra: OM BENZASATTO SAMAYA MANU PALAYA / BENZASATTO TENO PATITA / DIDRO MAY BHAWA / SUTO KAYO MAY BHAWA / SUPO KAYO MAY BHAWA / ANU RAKTO MAY BHAWA / SARWA SIDDHI ME PAR YATSA / SARWA KARMA SUT TSA ME / TISHTAM SHRIYAM KURU HUM / HA HA HA HA HO / BHAGAWAN SARWA TATAGATA / BENZA MA MAY MUN TSA / BENZA BHAWA MAHA SAMAYA SATTO / AH HUM PHET
(Recite 21 times or more)
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