8 Lines to Infinity
Dear Rinpoche,
Hope you are doing great! May I ask what is the 8 Lines Of Praises to VajraYogini? Can we recite it?
From CK Liew
Dear CK,
All the qualities of the Buddhas of the ten directions and three times (past, present, and future) are embodied in Vajra Yogini. So these 8 Praises praise all the Buddhas simultaneously through Vajra Yogini. In reality every Buddha embodies the qualities of all Buddhas in existence. So every Buddha is a complete and perfect object of refuge and worship. If you adopt any Buddha as your practice, this Buddha will totally embody every quality of every Buddha in existence. It’s just during degenerate times, when practice becomes harder for us due to ‘lack’ of time, more activities to waste our energies on, more distractions to sway us, more delusions we allow to arise to cope with, Vajra Yogini manifested to directly counter this… Vajra Yogini is not better than any other Buddha nor does She have more qualities than any Buddha. It’s just during degenerate times She specifically manifested to counter the inner obstacles we create for ourselves prompted by the outer environments we choose to habitat. For example, if you are in Thailand and your mother is in Thailand and you need help, but your Dad’s in Alaska… If you called both of them for help, they both can equally help you, but your mom can do it faster only because of proximity. Simililarily all the Buddhas have the power to help us, but because Vajra Yogini’s practice/tantra/methods are specifically for degenerate times, She is faster as She is ‘closer’ to us… that is just a rough example.
If you praise Vajra Yogini with this 8 Line Praise, the merit is equivalent to praising all Buddhas past, present and future. All the Buddhas have countless qualities if we praise them then we plant the seeds to obtain their very qualities. Hence to praise the qualities of even one Buddha brings immeasureable benefits, imagine praising all the Buddhas. How to do that when they have so many qualities? One lifetime would not be enough to praise the qualities of even one Buddha even if we recited their qualities day and night. When there’s so many Buddhas, how to praise all? Not enough time even in one lifetime to do all the praises of even one Buddha let alone all Buddhas. So when you praise Vajra Yogini using this praise, it is equivalent to praising all the Buddhas… Incredible… it says this in the root tantra of Heruka Cakrasamvara as expounded by Shakyamuni.
So praising the qualities of Sacred Vajra Yogini is equivalent to prasing all the qualities of all the Buddhas..and it’s 8 short lines!!! What a bargain!! There are so many qualities of this special Deity Vajra Yogini that is highly suitable for today’s people in today’s difficult predicament of lacking in time, patience, effort and strong will. Just the 8 Line Praise has all these qualities..imagine then practicing the whole Vajra Yogini tantra/practice thoroughly. Everyone should aspire to receive Her practice and go all the way with it. Vajra Yogini’s practice is specifically designed for people of this era (kaliyuga or degenerate age)… Do whatever you have to do to get her practice and never quit. If you quit, then you throw the keys to release yourself from prison away. Don’t do that … No frustrations, no anger, no laziness is worth throwing the keys away for ever.
Vajra Yogini embodies all the enlightened qualities of all the Buddhas past, present and future. When you praise Her with these special 8 Lines, it has the benefits of praising all Buddhas within 8 short lines because we need to collect vast amounts of merit in a short time. In order for us to have true success in whatever we endeavour, we need merits. This praise is the shortcut to great merits…it’s like the shortcut to riches when you strike the lottery. The chances of lottery is really chance, but when you practice Vajra Yogini, rely on this special Buddha all the way, you are in fact not taking any chances… as the outcome is assured. The outcome is GUARANTEED.
Prepare yourself for this practice… serve your teacher the right way, please your teacher by your transformations and be loyal to the practices your teacher gives you, then you will be on the right path to Vajra Yogini’s practice/results. Nothing in this world is more precious, lasting and permanent than Vajra Yogini’s practice… the results you get from Her practice will be permanent… it will be full Liberation.
The 8 Line Praise is to be recited daily when:
- You meet your guru (silently to yourself) or when you meet the sangha
- See holy objects/temples/shrines
- Circumambulation around holy objects such as stupas
- During prostrations
- Making offerings
- Upon waking first thing… last thing just before sleep
- To bless an image of any enlightened beings
- Blessing others (ppl, animal, ethereal beings)
- Blessing an environment/office/home/land/space
- During retreats
- Bless the ill, dying or deceased
- Blessing wrathful disturbed environments
- When pressed for time and need something to praise short and effective
- During the time of death
- Or anytime you are free… as the benefits are tremendous
- Visiting places of pilgrimage
- When viewing a relics
- For protection
- Before and during travels
- Blessing ones on mind
- Removing fears from oneself
- Anytime, anyplace and as you like… It can be done in English, Sanskrit or Tibetan
You do need an empowerment into the Tantra of Vajra Yogini to recite unless your teacher gives you special permission.
It is a powerful practice.
You may place your hand on someone’s head and recite these 8 lines with conviction and that person will be highly blessed and seeds of enlightenment placed into their mindstream… in the future to plant the seeds of enlightenment or at least attainments in their mind.
You can recite this to your pet and then blow on them daily… powerful… you’ll be helping your pet’s future in a powerful way.
Thanks CK for asking such a good question.
Good luck,
Tsem Rinpoche
(A good question from CK Liew and I wanted to share it here)
Kandarohi, Vajra Yogini and Dorje Shugden. Kandarohi is one of the Four Heroines of the Cardinal Directions from Vajra Yogini’s mandala and is known as the “Goddess of Action”. Click on image to enlarge or click here for more beautiful thangkas.
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A sacred image of the rare form of Vajrayogini known as Ucheyma, the Buddha that shows us the path to eradicate the ego. For this and many other high-resolution images of the enlightened beings to download for free visit: https://bit.ly/2oxb4qU
Ucheyma (Severed Headed Vajrayogini) (Main figure)
(Top to bottom): H.H. the 7th Panchen Lama, Ucheyma (Severed Headed Vajrayogini), Vajra Varnani (green assistant), Vajra Vairocani (yellow assistant), Dorje Shugden and Citipati.
The central deity is known as Chinnamasta or Dorje Neljorma Ucheyma. Both Chinnamasta (Sanskrit) and Ucheyma (Tibetan) literally mean, ‘She Whose Head is Severed’. The meaning behind her form is to show practitioners that they need to completely remove the grasping and self-identification with the “I” or the ego. Generally, the identity of the self is strongly associated with our face more than any other part of our body. We usually recognise a person when we look at a person’s face. Hence, our self-identification or ego is strongly associated with our face. To show us that this self-identification needs to be overcome on the spiritual path to enlightenment, Vajrayogini uses her ritual chopper to decapitate herself. This is symbolic of her practice eradicating the ego.
The Severed Headed Vajrayogini, as she is also known, removes all afflictive mental constructs by removing the root cause – the identification of the self, the ego. We are either attached to or averse to people and circumstances because we have an ego to please, gratify and protect. But in the grander scheme of things, this self-identification with the ‘I’ is illusory and does not really exist. Therefore, Vajrayogini reveals this ultimate truth through the dramatic decapitation of her head and at the same time is still able to live and function. She is able to live due to her direct perception of emptiness and egolessness.
Contrary to what some people might think, the eradication of the self does not destroy individualism, our personality or make us into a mindless person. In fact, the eradication of the ego makes us become a vibrant and compassionate person, someone that has greater awareness of the suffering of others. In other words, we become much warmer, kinder, forgiving, tolerant, conscientious, generous, contemplative and we are become a joy to be with. The cutting of the ego or the ‘I’ brings us towards awakening our true self, the Buddha nature within.
The Severed Headed Vajrayogini has two dakini attendants. From the trunk of her neck, there are three severed blood vessels spurting three jets of blood that flow into the mouths of her own decapitated head that she carries in her left hand and into the mouths of her two attendants. Tsem Rinpoche explained that the three jets of blood represent that her practice purifies the three psychic poisons of ignorance, hatred and desire. In turn, this leads to the attainment of the three bodies of a Buddha – the emanation body, the enjoyment body and the truth body. In other words, the severance of the ego via her tantric path leads to the purification of all delusions and ultimately, the attainment of Buddhahood itself.
The 7th Panchen Lama, Palden Tenpai Nyima is featured floating above because of his compilation of sadhanas from the ancient Sadhanamala texts. This includes a particular sadhana or collection of prayers, visualisation and mantra focused on Ucheyma. Incidentally, Dorje Shugden in many of his previous lives was a lineage master of the Vajrayogini tantras as well. These previous lives include the likes of the Mahasiddha Naropa and Tsarchen Losel Gyatso. The Lord and Lady of the Charnel Ground, known as Citipati, are one of the main protectors of the Vajrayogini Tantra.
Last of all, the ascetic meditator engaging in his devotional practices towards Ucheyma in the cemetery represents the ideal environment for tantric practice because such environments invoke deep renunciation towards worldly affairs and attachments. All Buddhist traditions advocate meditating on the bones of the deceased because it reminds us of our mortality and hence, we develop revulsion towards the transient nature of worldly or ordinary existence.
More free downloads: https://bit.ly/2oxb4qU
Read more about Vajrayogini: https://bit.ly/2iVLCuG
Ucheyma (Severed Headed Vajrayogini) (Main figure)
(Top to bottom): Maitri Kacho (Flying Vajrayogini), Maitri Kacho (One-Leg Up Vajrayogini), Naro Kacho, Sukhasiddhi, Ucheyma (Severed Headed Vajrayogini), Vajra Varnani (green assistant), Vajra Vairocani (yellow assistant), Citipati, Vajravarahi and Dorje Shugden.
The central deity is known as Severed Headed Vajrayogini, Chinnamasta or Dorje Neljorma Ucheyma. Both Chinnamasta (Sanskrit) and Ucheyma (Tibetan) literally mean, ‘She Whose Head is Severed’. The meaning behind her form is to show practitioners that they need to completely remove the grasping and self-identification with the “I” or the ego. Generally, the identity of the self is strongly associated with our face more than any other part of our body. We usually recognise a person when we look at a person’s face. Hence, our self-identification or ego is strongly associated with our face. To show us that this self-identification needs to be overcome on the spiritual path to enlightenment, Vajrayogini uses her ritual chopper to decapitate herself. This is symbolic of her practice eradicating the ego.
The Severed Headed Vajrayogini removes all afflictive mental constructs by removing the root cause – the identification of the self, the ego. We are either attached to or averse to people and circumstances because we have an ego to please, gratify and protect. But in the grander scheme of things, this self-identification with the ‘I’ is illusory and does not really exist. Therefore, Vajrayogini reveals this ultimate truth through the dramatic decapitation of her head and at the same time is still able to live and function. She is able to live due to her direct perception of emptiness and egolessness.
Contrary to what some people might think, the eradication of the self does not destroy individualism, our personality or make us into a mindless person. In fact, the eradication of the ego makes us become a vibrant and compassionate person, someone that has greater awareness of the suffering of others. In other words, we become much warmer, kinder, forgiving, tolerant, conscientious, generous, contemplative and we are become a joy to be with. The cutting of the ego or the ‘I’ brings us towards awakening our true self, the Buddha nature within.
The Severed Headed Vajrayogini has two dakini attendants. From the trunk of her neck, there are three severed blood vessels spurting three jets of blood that flow into the mouths of her own decapitated head that she carries in her left hand and into the mouths of her two attendants. Tsem Rinpoche explained that the three jets of blood represent that her practice purifies the three psychic poisons of ignorance, hatred and desire. In turn, this leads to the attainment of the three bodies of a Buddha – the emanation body, the enjoyment body and the truth body. In other words, the severance of the ego via her tantric path leads to the purification of all delusions and ultimately, the attainment of Buddhahood itself.
Severed Headed Vajrayogini is surrounded by some of her other forms, including Naro Kacho, two forms of Maitri Kacho, Sukhasiddhi and Vajravarahi. These forms of Vajrayogini are more commonly practised compared to Severed Headed Vajrayogini and are prevalent in most Tibetan Buddhist lineages. Though they may look different, all forms are indivisible from her true nature and all her practices can lead practitioners to enlightenment. Naro Kacho arose from a vision beheld by the Mahasiddha Naropa, Maitri Kacho from a vision beheld by Maitripa, and Indra Kacho from a vision beheld by Indrabodhi. The Lord and Lady of the Charnel Ground, known as Citipati, are one of the main protectors of the Vajrayogini Tantra.
Last of all, Dorje Shugden is a protector with special affinity with Vajrayogini practitioners because he arose from an incarnation lineage that includes Naropa and Tsarchen Losel Gyatso who practised and proliferated her Tantra.
More free downloads: https://bit.ly/2oxb4qU
Read more about Vajrayogini: https://bit.ly/2iVLCuG
Vajrayogini (Main figure)
(Top to bottom): Naropa, Vajradharma, Hero Vajradharma, Naro Kacho, Maitri Kacho (Flying Vajrayogini), Dorje Shugden and Vajravarahi.
Vajrayogini is a female tantric Buddha and she has many forms that are derived from various lineages. She mainly embodies the fully enlightened female (shakti) aspect of a Buddha. She belongs to the Mother Tantra classification, which refers to her practice concentrating on the wisdom aspect of the path to Buddhahood. She is also the principal dakini, the compassionate female guides and nurturers of tantric meditation who lead practitioners to enlightenment. In the thangka, the main figure in the middle is Naro Kechari as she arose from the pure vision of the Mahasiddha Naropa.
In Anuttara (Highest) Yoga Tantra, principal dakinis normally appear in union with a male consort and this can be seen in the cases of deities such as Guhyasamaja, Hevajra, and Kalachakra. In the case of Vajrayogini, she is the principal female Buddha of the Chakrasamvara Tantra and therefore, she is normally in union with Heruka Chakrasamvara. Furthermore, Vajrayogini is also considered a Vajradakini, who are yidams or meditational deities in their own right. Their practices have evolved from the main practices of their consorts, simplifying the otherwise complicated original practice by reducing it to a single-deity meditation without sacrificing the main benefits and features of the original. Hence, Vajradakini practices such as Vajrayogini and Nairatmya are derived from the original Chakrasamvara Tantra and Hevajra Tantra respectively.
In essence, Vajrayogini is known as “Sarvabuddha-dakini” or the Dakini Who is the Essence of all Buddhas. Her mantra is known as the King of All Mantras as it has the most powerful ability to bless us with spiritual attainments even without any visualisation or meditation. There are 11 Yogas in the generation stage of her practice and a few which have the power of transforming ordinary actions like sleeping, waking and ordinary daily tasks into a collection of merits. Ultimately, her Tantra offers salvation for ordinary practitioners at death with her special promise of guiding practitioners towards Kechara, or the Paradise of the Dakinis, in which we can continue deep practices to become a Buddha without fear, obstacles and interruptions.
Within Vajrayogini practice, soliciting the blessings of the lama and the lineage master are of paramount importance in order for our practice to bear results. Hence, the lama is visualised as the red Vajradharma with arms crossed at the heart, holding the vajra and bell. The lineage masters are visualised as Hero Vajradharma, holding a damaru and skullcup while cradling a khatvanga. Aside from the main Naro Kechari form, Vajrayogini also appears in the form of Maitri Kechari, who is known as Flying Vajrayogini, and arose from the vision of Maitripa. Another common form is known as Indra Kechari, or Vajravarahi, who arose from the vision of Indrabodhi.
Last of all, Dorje Shugden is a Dharma protector with a special affinity with Vajrayogini practitioners. This is because he himself arose from an incarnation lineage that includes the likes of Naropa, the progenitor of Naro Kechari practice, and Tsarchen Losel Gyatso who had practised and proliferated her Tantra and is listed as one the lineage masters invoked upon every day by Vajrayogini practitioners.
More free downloads: https://bit.ly/2oxb4qU
Read more about Vajrayogini: https://bit.ly/2iVLCuG
Original illustration and text posted by Eric D Hatchell as a reply to H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s facebook post on Vajrayogini here: http://bit.ly/VYogini0001
The Dākiṇī with the Essence of all Buddhas, Vajrayoginī
Her practice includes methods to end the otherwise repetitive states of Bardo and rebirth, by transforming the process into a journey, which may lead to full enlightenment. In preparation for which, Vajrayoginī further offers the omnipresent ability to reconstruct the nature of the most, mundane everyday experiences, such that they may reveal higher destinations, via the spiritual paths she may choose to reveal. [1] Vajrayoginī being defined as, “The Dākiṇī who is the Essence of all Buddhas”, [2] is amplified by scholar Miranda Shaw when she implied that this deity is no less than, the supreme nature of the very Tantric pantheon. No male Buddha, including her divine consort, Heruka-Cakrasaṃvara, further advances her in metaphysical implications. [3]
Vajrayoginī’s sādhanā originates from India circa 10/12th C, [4] when summoned as Heruka-Cakrasaṃvara’s Yab-Yum consort [5], with later forms including Vajrayoginī as “Solitary Hero”, she may be visualized with the deep red complexion of a 16-year-old female, whose stance is nude amidst a blazing fire of pristine awareness and most exalted wisdom. Her head is adorned with a crown of five skulls and upon her forehead, the third eye of wisdom is set vertically (represented here by an auspicious jewel). She drapes a necklace of fifty dried human skulls and is depicted with her traditional vajra-handled knife in her right hand; with a blood filled kapala in her left, she drinks with upturned head while looking above, toward the pure realm of Khechara. This seemingly gruesome gesture is actually symbolic of her clear light in great joy, known as “mahasukha” (the great bliss), [6] [7] thus the blood she drinks may be offered to us all as if a fine wine.
Resting on the left shoulder is a Katvanga staff as she stands tall with her two feet, trampling the bodies of red Kalaratri and black Bhairava (with heads bending backward), representing the embodiment of illusion and ego-awareness. The composition, all of which rests above a sun disc and multicolored lotus pedestal, she is rendered here after a thankga of Naropa Tradition (passed down from a special teaching of the Indian Mahasiddha Naropa). Vajrayoginī herself may be classified as the personification of “Wisdom” or “Mother” and her practice originates with the Chakrasamvara Cycle of Tantras, which is one of the five principal tantric practices of the Sakya School, although found in one form or another, she is included in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. [8]
Vajrayoginī also appears in versions from the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, with one popular system having the practitioner visualize themselves as Vajrayoginī, as such, their guru taking the form of Milarepa. [9] Thus depicted above the central deity here we see Milarepa on our right, with his great Guru Marpa left (whose guru was Naropa himself, and other great Indian masters). [10]
Vajrayoginī is a simplified, single most form of the female Buddha, who is otherwise a collection of alternate forms. From her sādhanās she is visualized in English terms as “Vajra Sow”, “Wrathful Lady”, “Fierce Black One”, and other such similar manifestations of female energy found in numerous iconographic renderings and traditions. Each feature of Vajrayoginī’s visualization conveys important spiritual concept. For example, her three eyes indicate her ability to see all (past, present and future); her red-colored body symbolizes the blazing of her ”inner fire”, and the curved knife she wields, demonstrates the power to sever the delusions and obstacles of her followers and of all living beings. [11]
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Wordmarque Design and Photography
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References:
[1] Gyatso, Kelsang. Guide to Dakini Land: The Highest Yoga Tantra Practice of Buddha Vajrayogini. London: Tharpa, 1996, p.xii.
[2] “The Berzin Archives.” Bonding Practices for Mother Tantra. Accessed February 18, 2016. http://www.berzinarchives.com/…/bonding_prac_mother_tantra_….
[3] Shaw, Miranda Eberle. Buddhist Goddesses of India. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2006, p. 8.
[4] English, Elizabeth. Vajrayoginī: Her Visualizations, Rituals & Forms: A Study of the Cult of Vajrayoginī in India. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2002.
[5] “Vajrasattva (Buddhist Deity) – White (with Consort).” Vajrasattva (Buddhist Deity). Accessed February 18, 2016. http://www.himalayanart.org/items/77598.
[6] Gyatso, Kelsang. Guide to Dakini Land: The Highest Yoga Tantra Practice of Buddha Vajrayogini. London: Tharpa, 1996 p. 123-127.
[7] Glenn H. Mullin
[8] “Item: Vajrayogini (Buddhist Deity) – (Naropa Tradition).” Vajrayogini (Buddhist Deity). Accessed February 18, 2016. http://www.himalayanart.org/items/290.
[9] English, Elizabeth. Vajrayoginī: Her Visualizations, Rituals & Forms: A Study of the Cult of Vajrayoginī in India. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2002, p. xxiii.
[10] Drinking the Mountain Stream: Songs of Tibet’s Beloved Saint, Milarepa … by Mi-la-ras-pa, Rinpoche Lama Kunga, Brian Cutillo, p.305.
[11] Gyatso, Kelsang. Guide to Dakini Land: The Highest Yoga Tantra Practice of Buddha Vajrayogini. London: Tharpa, 1996, p.123-127.
The current form of Naro Kacho Vajra Yogini appeared to the Indian Mahasiddha Naropa after he meditated intensely on her practice inside a cave. He beheld her glorious form in a vision. This unique form became known as Naropa’s Vajra Yogini or Naro Kacho, as it had never existed before. Later, in Tibet, His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche also had visions of Vajra Yogini. His vision differed slightly from the vision of her that Naropa beheld. In the original Naro Kacho form, Vajra Yogini looks towards her pure land named Kechara. However in Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s vision, she looked straight at him, symbolic of the deity empowering him to bestow her practice to many people in order to benefit them. The practice of Vajra Yogini belongs to the Highest Yoga Tantra classification that leads to tremendous inner transformation and can even grant enlightenment within just one lifetime.
Video of Tsem Rinpoche’s shrine taken July 16, 2018. Very beautiful, well done and meticulous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPAfpMoN2bA
Video of Tsem Rinpoche’s shrine taken July 16, 2018.
Very beautiful, well done and meticulous.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1531752637.mp4
Vajra Yogini has many different forms and in each of these forms, the positioning of her sacred body, the various implements she holds and the expressions on her face have profound meaning into various aspects of enlightenment. The implements she holds, the expressions on her face, and her body symbolise specific aspects of enlightenment that suit people during a particular time and place according to their karma. So, therefore, Vajra Yogini’s pose, forms and emanations change over time in order to suit different karmically-connected practitioners. It will keep changing because enlightenment is fluid, compassionate and skilful. To gaze upon Vajra Yogini is to look at a complete ‘roadmap’ to enlightenment as every aspect of her body is a manifestation of enlightenment. Therefore to have her form, picture, painting or statue is very blessed. We should make offerings to her daily diligently.
After the great Mahasiddha Naropa had served his guru the Mahasiddha Tilopa for 12 years, Tilopa conferred the Vajra Varahi (another form of Vajra Yogini) initiation with full instructions unto Naropa. Then, Naropa diligently meditated on Vajra Varahi and had a vision of her, and when she appeared to him directly, she appeared in the form of Vajra Yogini. Normally, when he engaged in the Vajra Yogini (Vajravarahi) practice, she was in the form of facing him directly, holding a skull cup and a curved flaying knife in front of her heart. One leg was up and one leg was down as in a dancing pose. That was the form of Vajra Yogini that he had meditated on to gain the highest attainments.
After he had meditated on Vajra Varahi and gained visions of her, she appeared to him in a different form, with her face looking up at Kechara Paradise instead of facing him directly. Her left hand holding the skullcup was thrust in the air and her right hand holding the curved flaying knife, also known as a cemetery knife was facing down at sentient beings or samsara to help beings cut their bonds to suffering. Her left leg was bent, and her right extended while standing in a pose of looking towards Kechara Paradise like she is about to take off there. This form signifies she will take you there and out of suffering. That form of Vajra Yogini became special and that was called Naro Kacho or the Vajra Yogini of Naropa. This Naropa’s Vajra Yogini was initiated to the Nepalese Pamtingpa brothers and they meditated diligently and this tradition of Naropa’s Vajra Yogini just became prevalent and took off from there. Naropa started initiating his other disciples as well into this special form of Vajra Yogini and she became known as Naropa’s Vajra Yogini till this day and it is considered a highly blessed lineage. That is the lineage we have now and most prevalent.
She is looking up because this Naropa’s Vajra Yogini is indicating she will lead her practitioners to her Kechara Paradise within one lifetime if you are diligent in her practice. Realizing enlightenment is harder for people in today’s world and needs more time during Kaliyuga degenerate period, she leads you to her paradise where you can practice undisturbed to Buddha-hood.
In this brilliant artwork, what you see is the Mahasiddha Naropa having a direct vision of Vajra Yogini. It’s the first time she has appeared to Naropa in this form. This form is associated with Naropa. Prior to Naropa, this form of Vajra Yogini did not exist. She in this vision is initiating him into this form (Naro Kacho) of herself indicating this form will be most efficacious now according to our karmic period. In the background, you will see a cave with a light in it because when Naropa used to meditate in that cave, it is said that from his body would emit a light and people could see it from afar. You can also see animals surrounding Vajra Yogini, they can feel her compassion and her great blessings and they are at peace around her.
Vajra Yogini brings peace, love, compassion, wisdom and freedom to everyone who practices her incredibly powerful tantra. Therefore, this artwork is a very beautiful representation of the time when Naropa had a vision of Vajra Yogini in this form for the first time and it is now known as Naropa’s Vajra Yogini. This artwork was offered to me as a gift from a very talented artist. I deeply appreciate this piece of visual spirituality very much.
Tsem Rinpoche
To download for your shrine, please click here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=62528
From Tsem Rinpoche: Every person who has Maha-anuttaratantra empowerments (Eg. Heruka, Guhyasamaja, Yamantaka, Vajra Yogini, Chittamani-Tara, Kalacakra, Hevajra, Gyalwa Gyatso Chenresig, etc) should keep a copy of this on their shrine or prayer book. These are all the ritual items tantric practitioner must keep by commitment. If it is in picture form, it is alright also.
很感谢CK liew 的发问和仁波切详细的讲解 !
看到这编文章后, 让我明瞭赞叹金刚瑜伽母就如赞叹一切佛 ! 持修其法门力量和这八句赞叹文是那么的强大和广泛的 !上师的依止心是那么的重要 ! 祂是那么的靠近我们和迅速的帮助我们 !在现在这时代, 祂的持修法门是那么的简易的 !
如果有此荣幸和功德可以得到其法门和持修这八句赞叹文, 无论对任何需要的人或众生,任何事情或状况, 任何情况或任何时间, 都可以为他们加持和帮忙 ! 此赞叹文在我们生活上无时无刻都可以利益众生 ! 太美好了 !
希望可以尽快的完成前行持修, 尽快的净化业障, 累积更多的功德, 可以有此功德得到金刚瑜珈母法门的修持, 利益众生 !
愿仁波切健康, 长寿, 常转法轮, 吉祥如意 !
感恩合十
Yeo Kwai Gin
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these information on Vajrayogini. May those who have her practice benefits many.
[…] 8 Line praise to Vajra Yogini that has many benefits: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/vajra-yogini/8-lines-to-infinity.html […]
Thank you for the explanation and the beautiful, electric modern painting of Vajrayogini – I think it sits beautifully for our times, a kind of post-modern rendition of a practice that’s as old as Buddha himself! Having read Rinpoche’s explanations, the benefits of the practice and all the places that it can be recited for us to gain merit and a powerful connection, I realise all more how very precisely relevant and incredible Vajrayogini is for all of us today – for in only 8 lines, we can create a connection so powerful that we can’t even really fathom it yet. How compassionate the Buddhas are to even create something so succinct for the lazy, distracted practitioners of this age who wouldn’t be able to do sit and do an equivalent 8 pages! Thank you Rinpoche and may every one of us who even see this post have the opportunity to connect to Vajrayogini, her practice, her heaven and her state of enlightenment.
Hi Tsem Tulku.
I just want to say that I am very impressed with some of your work and I truly think it is amazing that u are putting all this free sadhanas for people to practice and that you are braking some traditionsl limitations which are no longer needed. I love that u called Vajrayogini the Diamond queen because she truly is.
what happens if we chant the 8 line praising Vajrayogini without being inisiated? would she get angry with us?
Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing this precious and inspiring advice on Vajrayogini Practice.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for the detailed explanation. Whenever I hear Rinpoche reciting the 8 line praise during rituals, blessings and during audiences, it gives me the goose bumps, knowing how powerful it is, and how rare it is for us to hear it. During the pilgrimage to Nepal in 2008, I was extremely happy when Rinpoche’s allowed the group of pigrims to recite this prayer as we visited the different holy Vajrayogini shrines. Not many realised how lucky they were, or that the prayers would be taken back after the pilgrimage was over! I guess were did not collect enough merit to keep the prayers for the rest of our lives as yet!
I will do more dharma work to purify my accrued negative karma so that I may gain the merits to receive Lady Vajrayogini’s powerful practices in this life.
Rinpoche, please live long to continue teach the dharma.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us this wonderful information. will work towards achieving it.
Such immeasurable merits and benefits from reciting just eight lines of praise to Vajrayogini, the Buddha for this degenerate age! Thank you Rinpoche for this explanation of the eight line s of praise and also the occasions when we can recite this, after we have received the empowerment or the permission to recite it from our Guru.
May I quickly create the causes for this to take place.
Just can’t imagine with only 8 lines of praises to Vajrayogini, one is actually praising all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the ten directions and so much merits accumulated. Rinpoche thanks for the detailed explanations 🙂 and CK thank you for bringing up this question cheers mates
So much benefits we can gain and we can do for others by doing Vajra Yogini’s practice.
What to say more if we want to liberate ourselves now at this very distracted era. Really aspire to receive Her practice.
Got to work for it.
Thank you Rinpoche for the explanation.
Dear Margaret, I don’t know what this artist is trying to convey, although it’s beautiful. Traditionally She is not stepping on the heart.
I do like the city-scape background to Vajra Yogini as it shows She is really the Yidam for today’s times…She is the perfect Buddha for our self created business that leads to nowhere.
TR
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for the explanation again on these 8 lines and the many occasions that we can recite it if given the initiation or permission.
I am drawn to the depiction of Vajrayogini in the abstract painting you have attached. May I know what is the meaning of Vajrayogini stepping on the lotus with the heart organ in the center?
I would love to paint one like this, it is modern, abstract, and with a city as background, it will easily attract city dwellers and many to want to get to know her better, and thus planting the seed to enlightenment.
p.s. Thank you CK for asking..
Thank you very much for this knowledge Rinpoche. Really really appreciate it !
Wow ! -> “8 short lines!!! What a bargain!!”
: )
Dear Ck, I like the way you put a …”What a bargain!!” Malaysians love bargains..hehehehe…perfect bargain..you are right. TR
Yeah… we ( Malaysians ) really do ! Check out the malls all over Klang Valley for the past 2 days. Havoc ! Its like everything is FREE !
Thank you Rinpoche for the explanations. Pray that 1 day we can recite these 8 lines to Vajrayogini.
May i Know where can i get the 8 lines Praise text? so that i can recite it everyday to collect more merit. Tq.
Hey Eric, I think the question is more, “What can I do to collect the merit, so I can receive the empowerment to recite the 8 Line Praise?” 😉
ok. thks for yr advice, may be we can do both so that can collect merit faster. hehe….
Hi Eric,
A simple way is to engage in the VY tea offering as a daily practice. You can follow the instructions by clicking Prayers and Sadhanas section in this blog. So kind for Rinpoche to give us this.
The lithurgy is short and easy to recite and no complex rituals to follow.It is my daily connection with the Diamond Queen and prayer to receive her embrace in this and future lives.
Thks, mr.ngeow. i already add in varja yogini tea offering prayer in my sadhana, thks for yr command.