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Vajrasattva PurificationVajrasattva Purification

LongchenLongchen Nyingtik Nyingtik NgondrNgondröö

The Nectar FlowsThe Nectar Flows

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from the Hevajra Tantra

‘Sentient beings are buddhas, but they are temporarily obscured. Once their obscurations are removed, they are Buddha indeed’

‘All beings are Buddhas,

But this is concealed by adventitious stains.

When their stains are purified, their buddhood is revealed.’

Alternate translation: KLS pg 10

Purification Reveals Our True Nature

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• Vajrasattva embodies all the healing powers of all the buddhas.

• He is the embodiment of the purity and power of enlightened energy.

• He is inseparable from our own teacher

• Ultimately, he is no other than our true nature.

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I take refuge in you and prayI take refuge in you and pray——purify all our negative actions!purify all our negative actions!

With the deepest regret I With the deepest regret I acknowledge them all and ask acknowledge them all and ask your forgiveness:your forgiveness:

From now onFrom now on——even if my life is at even if my life is at stakestake——I shall refrain from I shall refrain from indulging in them again.indulging in them again.

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The Four PowersThe practice of Vajrasattva is to effect the purification of our negative

karma using the four powers.

1. The power of support: the outer power of support(meditation on the teacher as Vajrasattva) Essence is Faith

The inner power of support: (taking refuge, arousing bodhichitta and developing supreme compassion)

2. The power of regret: the feeling of remorse for all the negative actions done in the past Essence is remorse

3. The power of resolve: to remember the faults committed and to resolve never to commit them again from this very day on, even at the cost of your life. Essence is the vow not to commit negative acts in the future.

4. The power of action: first part of the first nectar flow outer, inner and secret purification

The power of action: the second part of the first nectar flow restoring our energy and immune system

The power of action: the second nectar flow receiving the four empowerments Essence is to develop a real wish to practice the dharma

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Ah!Ah!

I am in my ordinary form: above my headI am in my ordinary form: above my head

On a white lotus, in the center of a moonOn a white lotus, in the center of a moon--disc seatdisc seat

Is hung, which becomes the Lama Is hung, which becomes the Lama VajrasattvaVajrasattva

Brilliant white, with complete Brilliant white, with complete sambhogakaya adornments,sambhogakaya adornments,

Holding vajra and bell, and embracing the Holding vajra and bell, and embracing the consort consort VajratopaVajratopa. .

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Suspended in space an arrow’s length above your head, visualize an open white lotus with a thousand petals, and upon it the disc of a full moon.

Upon this lunar disc, visualize a brilliant white syllable hūm.

In an instant, the hūm is transformed into your glorious root teacher, that incomparable mine of compassion who in essence is the nature of all the Buddhas of past, present and future in one.

He appears in the form of the sambhogakāya Buddha, Vajrasattva. (KLS pg 267)

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White 1000-petalled lotus—represents the power of transmutation

Full moon—represents cooling compassion, it is perfectly smooth

HUNG—represents the wisdom mind of all the buddhas (the nucleus, the seed, the DNA) , in this case, of Vajrasattva. (SR)

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I take refuge in you and prayI take refuge in you and pray——purify purify all our negative actions!all our negative actions!

With the deepest regret I acknowledge With the deepest regret I acknowledge them all and ask your forgiveness:them all and ask your forgiveness:

From now onFrom now on——even if my life is at even if my life is at stakestake——I shall refrain from indulging I shall refrain from indulging in them again.in them again.

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Vajrasattva PurificationVajrasattva Purification

The First Nectar FlowThe First Nectar Flow

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Vajasattva Yabyum

Union of the deities symbolizes union of the relative & absolute(emptiness and form)—appearances are united with the truth; of the great emptiness and cognizance/clear light; of emptiness and bliss. (SR)

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• Above your head is a magnificent white lotus, it’s stem coming down into the crown of your head.

• Upon this lotus, in the centre of a moon disc-seat, is a white syllable HUNG, which melts into light and transforms into Lama Vajrasattva.

• He is brilliant white, like a snow peak lit up by the brilliance of one hundred thousand suns.

• His legs are crossed in the vajra-posture. His right hand holds a vajra at his heart, and his left holds a bell against his hip. And he is adorned with all of the ornaments of a Sambhogakaya Buddha.

• He is embracing the consort. Visualize their bodies appearing vividly and distinctly, yet lacking any true reality. They are just like the reflections of the moon in water.

• The visualization is not flat like a painting and it isn’t solid like a statue. Nor is it made of flesh or blood: it is a body of light and it is imbued with wisdom.

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In your heart upon a full moonIn your heart upon a full moonIs the letter HUNG, encircled by the mantra.Is the letter HUNG, encircled by the mantra.Reciting the mantra invokes your wisdom mind, andReciting the mantra invokes your wisdom mind, andFrom the point of union of the blissful play of From the point of union of the blissful play of yabyab--yumyumA cloud of bodhichitta nectarA cloud of bodhichitta nectarFlows down like a shining stream of milk. Through this,Flows down like a shining stream of milk. Through this,For me and all sentient beings of the three worldsFor me and all sentient beings of the three worldsMay our negative karma and destructive emotionsMay our negative karma and destructive emotions——the the

causes of sufferingcauses of suffering——Illnesses, harmful influences, negative actions and Illnesses, harmful influences, negative actions and

obscurations, along withobscurations, along withWrong doing, downfalls, and blockages due to breakages ofWrong doing, downfalls, and blockages due to breakages of

samaya,samaya,Be purified, till not a single one remains!Be purified, till not a single one remains!

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Vajrasattva Hundred Syllable Mantra

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The nectar itself is called ‘the nectar of compassion,’ ‘a cloud of nectar, the nature of which is bodhichitta.’ (SR)

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Main Aspects of Purificationof The Nectar Flows

CleansingPurifies Outer, Inner & Secret Negative Karma

Satisfies Karmic Debtors

Spiritual Healing &Receiving

The Four EmpowermentsHealing & Restoring

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Three Methods of the Nectar Flows

Vajrasattva PurificationThe Nectar Flows

Method 1The First Flow has 2 parts

The Second has 1 part

Method 2The First Flow has 1 partThe Second has 2 parts

Method 3The First Flow has 1 part

The Second has 1 part

The main point is that the ground beneath closes up after cleansing, and before healing and restoration. If cleansing and restoration are combined, (Method 3), then the ground closes up after both are completed.

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In Vajrasattva’s heart, upon a full moon, is the letter HUNG, encircled by the letters of the hundred syllable mantra mala. Reciting thehundred syllables of the mantra causes rays of light to emanate from the mantra mala, invoking his wisdom mind. From the point of union of the bliss-emptiness play of yab-yum, a cloud of nectar, the nature of which is bodhichitta, flows down like a stream of milk (or camphor) and enters my body through the top of my head and the heads of all sentient beings of the three worlds. Through this, my past negative karma and more immediate destructive emotions—the causes of suffering—are purified.

All illnesses are expelled through the pores of the skin and the two lower orifices of your body, in the form of pus and blood. All harmful influences (dön) are expelled in the form of creatures such as spiders, scorpions and snakes. All negative actions and obscurations are expelled in the form of black liquid, smoke andsoot. The ground beneath you opens up to reveal Yama, the Lord of Death, surrounded by his entourage, the controllers of karmic debts. All the impurities flow into their open mouths. They are satisfied. All your karmic debts are repaid and untimely death is averted. Yama turns away and the earth closes up again.

Chökyi Drakpa’s Commentary, pg. 177 from A Guide to the Practice of Ngöndro.

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Yama Lord of Death

The Dharmachakra

The Wheel of Life

As these obscurations flow out of your body, the earth below you opens, down to seven levels below the surface. There, in the form of a red bull with mouth gaping open, is Yama, the Lord of Death. The dirty liquid enters his mouth, and, as he swallows, it turns into nectar. Now all your karmic debts, your past actions, have been totally purified and transformed into wisdom.Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche: Excellent Path To Enlightenment

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The earth beneath you opens up and in the depths appears Death, personification of your past actions, surrounded by all the male and female beings to whom you owe karmic debts and all those who seek to venge themselves on your flesh. While you recite the hundred syllable mantra, visualize all those impurities pouring down into their open mouths and into the hands and arms they raise expectantly toward you.

At the end, imagine that Death, the embodiment of past actions, and all the others below the earth―every kind of karmic creditor and all those who seek vengeance on your flesh―are appeased and satisfied. Past scores have been settled, debts have been repaid and vengeance has been appeased. You are cleansed of all past negative actions and obscurations. Death closes his mouth and hands and lowers his arms. (KLS pgs 279-270)

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Vajrasattva PurificationVajrasattva Purification

The Second Nectar FlowThe Second Nectar Flow

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O protector! In my ignorance and delusionO protector! In my ignorance and delusion

I have gone against and corrupted my samaya.I have gone against and corrupted my samaya.

Lama protector, be my refuge!Lama protector, be my refuge!

Chief of all the Chief of all the mandalasmandalas, vajra holder,, vajra holder,

Embodiment of great compassion:Embodiment of great compassion:

Chief of all living beings, in you I take refuge!Chief of all living beings, in you I take refuge!

I confess all my impairments of the root and I confess all my impairments of the root and branch samayas of the body, speech and mind.branch samayas of the body, speech and mind.

I implore you: let my negative actions, I implore you: let my negative actions, obscurations, wrong doing and downfallsobscurations, wrong doing and downfalls——all all my flawsmy flaws——be completely cleansed and purified!be completely cleansed and purified!

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At these words of mine, Vajrasattva is At these words of mine, Vajrasattva is pleased and smiling, says, pleased and smiling, says, ““Son/daughter Son/daughter of an enlightened family, your negative of an enlightened family, your negative actions, obscurations, wrongactions, obscurations, wrong--doing, and doing, and downfalls are all purifieddownfalls are all purified””..

Granting his forgiveness, he melts into light Granting his forgiveness, he melts into light and dissolves into me.and dissolves into me.

Through this, I too become Vajrasattva, Through this, I too become Vajrasattva, appearing yet empty, like a reflection in a appearing yet empty, like a reflection in a mirror.mirror.

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•As you recite the 100 syllable mantra, visualize the second flow of nectar coming in through the crown of your head and filling every cell of your body down to your fingers and your toes, restoring health and vitality.

•Consider that through this, your body is completely healed and appears like a crystal vase filled with milk.

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•The second nectar flow is for spiritual healing

•As you recite the 100-syllable mantra shining white bodhichitta nectar fills the central channel and the chakras at the crown of your head, at your throat, at your heart and at your navel.

•Through this practice all breakages of the vows and samayas are restored.

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Vajrasattva PurificationVajrasattva Purification

The Six Syllable MantraThe Six Syllable Mantra

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The DissolutionThe Dissolution

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Granting his forgiveness, he melts into light and Granting his forgiveness, he melts into light and dissolves into me.dissolves into me.

Through this, I too become Vajrasattva, appearing Through this, I too become Vajrasattva, appearing yet empty, like a reflection in a mirror.yet empty, like a reflection in a mirror.

At my heart is HUNG, around which are the four At my heart is HUNG, around which are the four brilliantly radiant syllables: brilliantly radiant syllables:

OM, VAJRA, SA TVA emanate rays of light.OM, VAJRA, SA TVA emanate rays of light.

Whereby the three worldsWhereby the three worlds——the whole universe of the whole universe of the environment and beings within itthe environment and beings within it——attain attain enlightenment all together as the buddha fields enlightenment all together as the buddha fields and buddhas of the five families of Vajrasattva.and buddhas of the five families of Vajrasattva.

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Six Syllable Mantra

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Tibetan syllable Hung

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Then visualize that from your whole body and from the syllables of the mantra, boundless rays of light emanate, filling the whole universe around you. The universe is now no longer an ordinary, impure place, but the perfect Buddhafield of Vajrasattva, the Buddhafield of Pure Joy. The sentient beings in it are also no longer ordinary: all the males have the form and nature of Vajrasattva, and all the females the form and nature of Vajratöpa, his wisdom consort. To the east all beings become white Vajrasattvas and Vajratöpas of the Vajra or Diamond family; to the south they become yellow Vajrasattvas and Vajratöpas of the Ratna or Jewel family; to the west; they become red Vajrasattvas and Vajratöpas of the Padma or Lotus family; to the north they become green Vajrasattvas and Vajratöpas of the Karma or Action family; and in the center, they become blue Vajrasattvas and Vajratöpas of the Tathagata or Buddha family. All these beings are continuously reciting the hundred-syllable mantra, the sound of which fills the whole of space.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche: Excellent Path To Enlightenment

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Dissolution

• At the end of the practice the outer environment dissolves into the bodies of the Vajrasattvaswithin it.

• All their bodies dissolve into you.

• You melt into light, which is absorbed into the mantra mala.

• The mantra mala dissolves into the HUNG.

• The HUNG then gradually dissolves and you rest in the state of shunyata.

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Through the positivity and merit of this, Through the positivity and merit of this, may I swiftlymay I swiftly

Attain the realization of Vajrasattva, and Attain the realization of Vajrasattva, and therebythereby

Every single sentient beingEvery single sentient being

Reach his state of perfection too.Reach his state of perfection too.

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Conclusion• Visualizing oneself in the presence of all the

Buddhas and bodhisattvas, dedicate the merit, together with all the merit accumulated from positive actions in the past, present and future.

• Dedicate completely free of any notion of something to dedicate, someone dedicating and even the act of dedicating—or emulate the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, thinking: “In the same way as all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas made a completely pure dedication, free of the dualistic concepts of subject, object and action—so, in the same way, I dedicate the merits.”

• Recite the Dedication and Long Life Prayers

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Resources

• Sogyal Rinpoche: The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

• Patrul Rinpoche: Kunzang Lama’I Shelung and the Brief Guide to the Stages of Visualization for the Longchen Nyingtik Ngondro(Mikrin Düpa or Zur Gyen

• Chöki Drakpa’s Commentary on the Longchen Nyingtik Ngondro: A Torch for the Path to Omniscience.

• Jamyang Khyentsé Wangpo’s Notes on the Longchen Nyingtik Ngondro: Illuminating the Excellent Path to Omniscience.

• Dilgo Khyentsé Rinpoche’s written works which include advice on the practice of ngöndro, including: The Excellent Path To Enlightenment.

• Rigpa Shedra Wiki: www.rigpawiki.org/

36Vajrasattva Hundred Syllable Mantra Carving