Brief Introduction
This image represents the understanding & application of internal & external tantric energy, by skilfully influencing & directing energies arising from everyday experiences [Skt. dharmas]. Vajradhara expresses not just the awoken mind but the direction of understanding which develops into a transcendent experience of the Dharmakaya. This is symbolised by the lightening [Skt. vajra] headed bell [Skt. ghanta] which represents the feminine creative wisdom and the double ended lightening sceptre representing 'energy', method & the masculine. Vajradhara personifies the ways [bell] & means [lightening sceptre] to objectively transform experience beyond everyday conception of space & time.



Dharmakaya is often taken to mean the 'truth body' & is one of the three Forms of or realms of understanding [Skt. Trikaya]. The Principle of Non-Duality i.e. the 'union of two' is represented in the Bell [Skt. Ghanta] & the Lightning sceptre [Skt. Vajra]. The bell embodies female wisdom & the Diamond Sceptre being compassion or method. The truth body of Vajradhara and Vajrayana tools will empower your journey in all places. This involves unlocking the mysteries or obscuration's of the material & inner world through methods of tantric practice & understanding. In fact Vajradhara represents latent power of transformation using tantric through wisdom to allow us to uncover Great Bliss. Vajradhara the realised way of method. Since Vajradhara personifies the essence of non dualitic union the figure represents a mastery of the symbols portrayed in other tantric deities & having understood their meaning does not need to bear them.

Iconography
The name Vajradhara means the bearer of the lightning sceptre. The inherent tradition of lightning representing transformation & energy originates 2,500 c. BCE. The term Vajra is a typical Sanskrit word being a composite of va- meaning to bear or carry, ja or ja whose syllable denotes the energy & ra meaning to rise, overcome or power. The vajra sceptre is a special object embodies the principle of change. Conjoined prongs at each end denote lightning bolts and their being conjoined denotes latent self reacting energy. In effect as important to Buddhism as the Cross to Christianity. The Vajra [Tib. Dorje] has four prongs enclosing a fifth central prong making five in total and at both end. The tridents is another representation of the lightening more associated with Hinduism. Varjadhara's arms are crossed in a gesture of Victory over the Three Worlds [Skt. Triolyavijaya mudra also called Skt. Vajrahumkara],with reference to the syllable 'Hum', & is seated in the lotus seat [Skt. Padmasana] The lotus seat & the crossed arms mudra are together called the Skt. Vajrasana or Position of transcendent change. The white sash draped across Vajradharas chest represents the purity and essence of the varjayana school of Buddhism. In fact Mahayana & Hinayana both arise from the ancient Vajrayana tradition of personal transformation.

Iconography
Vajrasattva is pure white in colour and is sometimes known as the Prince of Purity. His name means "Adamantine Being", or more poetically "Embodying Reality". He is a member of the Vajra family of Akṣobhya which also includes Vajrapāṇi.
He is depicted as a young man in the prime of life, with all the silks and jewels of a wealthy prince. In his right hand he delicately balances a vajra at his heart. In his left had he holds a bell at his waist. The vajra represents Reality, and Compassion; while the bell represents Wisdom.

Vajrasattva is said to have been originated from seed syllable Hum and is generally invoked for removal of obscuration of Kleshavarana and Jneya Avarana. His hundred syllable mantra is very efficacious in purifying our defilements through confession practice. It is said if confession is done with the four opponent powers, then non-virtuous actions or obscurations will be purified. The first opponent power is the force of reliance. This means looking upon the visualized image of Vajrasattva as the embodiment of one’' refuge. The second opponent power is the sincere regret for the non-virtuous action done by oneself. The third opponent power is desisting from evil deeds. The fourth opponent power is to apply power of good deeds; and specially regarding this case, practicing the meditation and recitation of Vajrasattva without parting from Bodhicitta while remaining in the state of emptiness. Vajrasattva is a very popular tutelary deity for Nepalese Vajracharya. He is worshipped very often by Nepalese Buddhists through Guru Mandala ritual.

In some mandalas Vajrasattva represents the Adi Buddha or the Primordial Principle of Buddhahood; in others he changes places with Akṣobhya in the East. In Shingon Buddhism it is Vajrasattva that passes on the initiation of the Dharmakāya Buddha Mahāvairocana to Nāgārjuna, thereby creating the Vajrayāna lineage.

Vajrasattav Purification
Purification of Body
Your disturbing attitudes and negativities in general and particularly those of the body, take the form of black ink. Sickness takes the form of pus and blood and afflictions caused by spirits appear in the form of scorpions, snakes, frogs and crabs. Flushed out by the light and nectar, they all leave your body through the lower openings, like filthy liquid flowing down a drain pipe. Feel completely empty of these problems and negativities; they no longer exist anywhere.
Purification of Speech
Your disturbing attitudes and imprints of negativities of speech take the form of liquid tar. The light and nectar fill your body as water fills a dirty glass: the negativities, like the dirt, rise to the top and flow out through the upper openings of your body: your eyes, ears, mouth, nose, etc. Feel completely empty of these problems; they no longer exist.
Purification of the Mind
Your disturbing attitudes and the imprints of mental negativities appear as darkness at your heart. When struck by the forceful stream of light and nectar, the darkness completely vanishes. It is like turning a light on in a room: the darkness does not go anywhere, it simply ceases to exist. Feel that you are completely empty of all these problems; they are non-existent.
Simultaneous Purification
Do the three above visualizations simultaneously. This sweeps away the subtle obscurations that prevent you from seeing correctly all that exists. Feel completely free of these obscurations.
The Power of the Promise
After reciting the mantra and doing the visualizations, make the following promise to Vajrasattva, specifying a period of time for which you intend to keep it:
"I shall not create these negative actions from now until ."
Vajrasattva is extremely pleased and says, "My spiritual child of the essence, all your negativities, obscurations and degenerated vows have been completely purified."
With delight, Vajrasattva melts into light and dissolves into you. Your body, speech and mind become inseparably one with Vajrasattva holy body, speech and mind. Concentrate on this.

Dedication
Due to this merit may I soon Attain the enlightened state of Vajrasattva, That I may be able to liberate
All sentient beings from their suffering.
May the precious bodhi mind Not yet born arise and grow. May that born have no decline,But increase forever more.

Mantra of Vajrasattva

Buddha Aparimita is invoked or worshipped for lengthening the life span or fast relief from dreadful diseases or from mortal danger. In Nepalese Mahayana tradition the dharani of Buddha Aparimita is often recited by the devotees in the presence of dying patients. the recitation of this dharani is said to be efficacious when carried out in utter sincerity. It is said that the famous Madhayamika Buddhist philosopher Arya Nagarjuna had escaped his early death after recitation of this dharani for one complete day and night.

Mantra of Amitayus

Iconography
Avalokiteshvara, Chenrezig, is visualized in many forms, with various numbers of faces and arms, and various colors and ornaments. He sits on a lotus and the flat disc of the moon, with another moon disk behind him, reflecting his total purity. Two of his four arms are joined in the prayer position holding the wish fulfilling gem. In his other left hand he holds a lotus flower and in his other right hand, a crystal mala (rosary), which he is using to count the repetitions of his mantra, "Om Mani Padme Hum", Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus, which liberates all beings from suffering. He wears the silks and ornaments of a Bodhisattva, representing all his special qualities, and the soft skin of an antelope over his shoulder, symbolizing his complete freedom from violence. He smiles with deep understanding, love and compassion as his eyes look upon all beings.

The four arms and hands signify the four immeasurable:
Immeasurable loving kindness
Immeasurable compassion
Immeasurable joy
Immeasurable equanimity.

Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Boundless Compassion, is the very embodiment and realization of the four immeasurable. The four immeasurable are the vehicles through which Chenrezig benefits beings.
The first two, the inner arms, have palms joined at the heart, holding a sky-blue, and wish fulfilling jewel. This symbolizes that in whatever way Chenrezig manifests to benefit beings, the quality of Chenrezig's mind is never separate from the all-pervasive primal wisdom.

In the outer right hand, Chenrezig is holding crystal beads and moving them the way we use a mala to count mantras. This symbolizes that there is not one moment when Chenrezig does not benefit beings. Like the steady movement of counting the beads, Chenrezig is continuously benefiting sentient beings and turning the wheel of enlightened activity.

In the outer left hand, Chenrezig holds a lotus flower. This symbolizes that in benefiting sentient beings, Chenrezig manifests in whatever forms are necessary in accordance with the mental capacities, circumstances, and aptitudes of sentient beings. Chenrezig may appear in any of the different realms, such as the hell realm or the hungry ghost realm. However Chenrezig may appear, he remains free from any of the worldly stains of the various realms of life, the way a lotus flower growing in a swamp appears free of the stain of the mud. The left hand of Chenrezig, holding the flower, symbolizes that stainlessness.

All the various features of this image have meaningful connections to the wonderful qualities of Chenrezig, and by focusing on these details as we visualize the image in the meditation, we can gradually awaken our own awareness of those same qualities in ourselves.

Practicing of Avalokiteshavara
The image of Chenrezig that is visualized in the meditation practice is not a real person who happens to be perfect in every imaginable way. It is an image, an imaginary form with wonderful qualities. Chenrezig glows in the dark, Chenrezig even glows in the daylight.
Kalu Rinpoche said, "One does not think of the deity's body as solid or material, made of flesh and blood like one's ordinary body, or made of metal or stone like an idol. One thinks of it as appearance that is inseparable from emptiness, like a rainbow or like a reflection in a mirror."

The particular wonderful qualities that Chenrezig manifests for us are just the ones we need to get more in touch with, as aspects of our own nature, if we want to become an enlightened Buddha, or even if we just want to become a truly compassionate person. We and the image of Chenrezig are two extremes we have flesh and blood bodies, but not as much compassion as we would like to have, and Chenrezig has a body made of rainbows, and boundless impartial compassion. When we put those two extremes together, in the Chenrezig meditation, we move in the direction of manifesting as a being with a physical body, a body of rainbow light and unlimited compassion.

Various aspects of the form we visualize remind us of the most important qualities of this particular manifestation of awakened mind, the qualities we are trying to connect to.
In visualization practice we imagine ourselves to be a Buddha, in this case the Buddha of Compassion, Avalokiteshvara. By replacing the thought of yourself as you, with the thought of yourself as Avalokiteshvara, you gradually reduce and eventually remove the fixation on your personal self, which expands your loving kindness and compassion, toward yourself and toward others, and your intelligence and wisdom becomes enhanced, allowing you to see clearly what someone really needs and to communicate with them clearly and accurately.

Avalokiteshvara, Chenrezig is the embodiment of that unselfish urge to look upon each other as loving equals. If you are in need of guidance in healing, unity, unselfishness, or the mastering of fears, you may meditate on the qualities of Avalokiteshvara, Chenrezig {as above}, say the mantra" Om Mani Padme Hum".
In most religious traditions one prays to the deities of the tradition in the hopes of receiving their blessing, which will benefit one in some way. In the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition the blessing and the power and the superlative qualities of the enlightened beings are not considered as coming from an outside source, but are believed to be inborn, to be aspects of our own true nature. Avalokiteshvara, Chenrezig, and his love and compassion are within us.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama said, "Thus the six syllables, "Om Mani Padme Hum", mean that in dependence on the practice which is in indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech and mind into the pure body, speech, and mind of a Buddha."

Mantra of Avalokitesvara

Contrary to common assumptions, this statue of Shakti is not only created through the ceramic mold casting process but is also 100% hand-finished in Nepal. Skilled artisans in Nepal bring their expertise and attention to detail to add the final touches and refine the sculpture by hand. The city of Patan, renowned for its artistic heritage and craftsmanship, takes pride in being the place where this statue is entirely made. This adds a touch of authenticity and cultural significance to the artwork, as it carries the essence of the artistic traditions and craftsmanship of Patan. The combination of the modern ceramic mold casting process, the meticulous hand-finishing in Nepal, and the artistic legacy of Patan ensures that this statue of Shakti is a unique and captivating piece of art.

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