Click on image to enlarge
and for explanation

The Vajrabhaira practice (as a particular form of the Yamantaka practice) is very important because it deals with the two main obstacles to attaining enlightenment: (1) the external obstacle of the Lord of Death and (2) the internal obstacle of ignorance. Yamantaka is most powerful 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 and emptiness of all the Buddhas. The interpretable aspect is manifest as a deity having thirty-four arms 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 not be successful. Therefore, one must rely on such a deity.
• The intestines and the brazier signify that this practice has the features of the illusory body and the clear light, as explained in the Guhyasamaja.
• Having the hand implement, the khatvanga, which is not in other father tantras, indicates that this deity has the paths of the dripping and blazing of the gtum mo, and of bliss and emptiness, 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; the two 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 committed extremely 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 and wrathful Manjushri, which the Red and Black Yamaris do not have.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/hide comments

Write comment

Show/hide comment form

Email Name Website		Title Comment smaller | bigger
		Subscribe via email (registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage. Write the displayed characters Add Comment