7/27/2019 72 Vajrabhairava Practice an Introduction
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Vajrabhairava Practice: An Introduction
Written by AdministratorSunday, 11 July 2010 07:51
{highslide type="img" url="Tsongkhapa_sangde_jigsum.jpg"
width=200 captionText='JeTsongkhapa, center; top row: Guhyasamaja -
Amitayus - Chakrasamvara; bottom:Tsongkhapa's disciples and
Yamantaka, center'}{/highslide}
Click on image to enlargeand for explanation
The Vajrabhaira practice (as a particular form of the Yamantaka
practice) is very importantbecause it deals with the two main
obstacles to attaining enlightenment: (1) the externalobstacle of
the Lord of Death and (2) the internal obstacle of ignorance.
Yamantaka is mostpowerful for destroying the external obstacles;
Manjushri for eliminating the internal ones.Yamantaka, as the
wrathful aspect of Manjushri, has two aspects, the interpretable
and the
definitive one. The actual definitive aspect is the deep
awareness of the great union of bliss andemptiness of all the
Buddhas. The interpretable aspect is manifest as a deity having
thirty-fourarms and sixteen feet in order to destroy the three
types of the Lord of Death.
The five unique features of Vajrabhairava, as told to Je
Tsongkhapa by Manjushri, are:
- If one does not have the practice of such a deity, with
incomparable power and might to
eliminate inner and outer interferences, in this degenerate time
one's practice of Dharma will notbe successful. Therefore, one must
rely on such a deity.
- The intestines and the brazier signify that this practice has
the features of the illusory bodyand the clear light, as explained
in the Guhyasamaja.
- Having the hand implement, the khatvanga , which is not in
other father tantras, indicatesthat this deity has the paths of the
dripping and blazing of the gtum mo, and of bliss andemptiness,
which are features of mother tantra, as explained in Hevajra
Tantra.
- The brazier also indicates that the practitioner of this deity
will acquire greater wisdom; thetwo threatening mudras indicate
that this deity has all of the ultimate essential points of the
father and mother tantras, and the impaled being signifies that
even if one has committedextremely non-virtuous deeds, one can
overwhelm all negativities and achieve enlightenment.
- The fifth feature is having the special practice of the
combination of the peaceful andwrathful Manjushri, which the Red
and Black Yamaris do not have.
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