Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

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Loto-Trueno
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Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Loto-Trueno »

Hello pals. I'm relatively new in buddhadharma (like 3 and half years), and it has been a major positive force and blessing in my life.

I just wnted to ask you opinion in these two questions:
First; what deity or practice each of you consider would be better to clean, revert, transform very dirty, thick and dense karma... Vajrasattva of course always help, but I feel his specialty is more to clean bad karma related to broken samayas and more specific things related to dharma practice.

I have a quite peculiar life history; I know I came into this life thanks to a really positive karma, cause I've had two wonderful beautiful parents, and pretty, fortunate things in life... but also a lot of pain from specific situations, emotional suffering and abuse, very dense experiences in life too which have lead to very horrible thoughts (harming myself, death thoughts, cause I feel unworthy and nasty), illnesses, etc... So I have all thiss black sludge thick negative karma in all my being and I transmit, without being my intentioon, this to others.

I sometimes practice Namgyalma, which is a very great purifier and also healer and protectress, but not always feel response, and I don't have the empowerment, nor the lung.

I have a Vajravidharan image, a present from my gueshe (which now is almost imposible to contact him because of the mercantilization of my community), felt drawn upon it, but haven't practiced it, because I haven't find a proper practice and I'd like to have atleast the lung. I mention this, because Vajravidharan is seen from many as the ultimte destroyer of accumulated negative karma and evil, I wonder if someone here has had success with Vajravidharan?

I practiced Vajrapani-Hayagriwa-Garuda and it has helped, but still haven't been able to stablisha very strong connection.

My main practices are Yellow Dzambhala, which has helped me enormously in his fields of action, very needed, and now Namgyälma and Vajrasattva.
I wonder if may be doing something not in the best way, or need to really find my Yidam. That is also difficult, because here in Mexico (I have some friends that post here and informed me about this site, and it is awesome, I'm grateful), to where I go, we have a great geshe, but now it's almst impossible to talk with him or being close to him, because the community has mercantilized a lot lately and most of the oment there are privte ceremonies and charge a lot for each class, retirement or phowa...

I'm also thinking on how could I find my root guru.. he's usually Dalai Lama, coupled with geshe-la, but I know I haven't find my true root guru.. I need help with healing, physical, emotional and mental issues (so maybe know a healer lama), to be able to sustain my economy and family, to strengthen my mind, body and discipline, and VERY important, to clean my awful thick, tar karma, it's not just any negative karma, I have made too much harm to dear beings, to myself, self harmed myself, cursed a lot, being trapped in the darkest dungeons of vicious cycle of negative actions, and it has reeflected on my poor physical and mind health -note: I'm not asking for health advises, to be clear, I'm just talking about my experience and how could I remedy or transform my karma-).. yet, it is difficult without a root guru... I don't know how I can find one here inMexico.. for example, Garchen rimpoche really appeals to me, but its very unprobable I'll meet him in person... And I want to learn deeper, I have not very continued teaching and complete teachings of tantra, just like half.. anyway, my community is great my gueshe wise and gentle, but I'm not finding myself or realization there...
Could Vajravidharana be a good option for me, or who? My friend told me about this amazing forum; he told me he asked some stuff about health practices and not received much advise because thats left here to specialists in health, and perfectly understand, but I think my questions are not specificlly about health or sickness, but of negative karma that sometimes doesn't let me breat and ways of transforming it. Also about teachers.

Thank you very much for your kind replies and for reading.
abcdef
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by abcdef »

These sutric practices have been said to be most excellent for purifying general negative karma:
- 35 Confession Buddha's (from The Sutra of Three Heaps) - You can find practice videos on Youtube to follow for this practice
- Akshobhya Dharani
- Ushnisha Vijaya Dharani (Namgyalma)

Personally I especially like the Ushnisha Vijaya Dharani and believe it to be very powerful.

You should really try to get time to talk to your local sangha's geshe for suggestion and also ask to receive transmission for any of these practices. Maybe you can go up to him after a practice session and ask.

Other sutric practices you could try is to recite Amitayus Long Life Sutra, Ksitigarbha Sutra and The King of Aspiration Prayers
Samantabhadra’s Aspiration to Excellent Conduct. Recurrent life release is always a great practice to start feeling better about yourself and create great merit. It could be such a simple thing as releasing live bait used for fishing.
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Konchog1
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Konchog1 »

Lama Tsongkhapa recommends reading the fourth chapter of the Golden Light Sutra out loud as well as the The Sutra of Three Heaps.

https://fpmt.org/education/prayers-and- ... /download/

Garchen Rinpoche has a huge online presence and streams his activities here:

https://www.youtube.com/c/GarchenBuddhistInstituteAZ

You can find his schedule here: https://garchen.net/annual-events/
Equanimity is the ground. Love is the moisture. Compassion is the seed. Bodhicitta is the result.

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"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.
Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.
Through the qualities of meditating in that way,
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tobes
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by tobes »

I suspect we've all spent some time in the 'which deity can fix this problem' kind of boat. I can definitely relate.

But what I've learned over the years is that it's not which deity you practice, but how well you establish Dharma in your mindstream, from the ground up. For example, even the most simple, entry level practice of taking refuge will accomplish everything you are trying to accomplish here - if you practice it correctly, with great energy and effort and diligence. Likewise, developing bodhicitta - if you put effort into this, none of that karmic sludge will survive.

Two other posters have mentioned The Sutra of Three Heaps: I third it. Do it everyday with prostrations and the opponent powers, your karmic burden will definitely lift.

Alongside this, recite the various prayers for the gurus you have some connection to. i.e. seven line prayer for Guru Rinpoche, Mig Me Tse for Tsong Khapa etc. Whatever you have already received from the Dalai Lama, put it into practice 100%. Everything will follow from this.

And: be patient. It's a long game. You chip away everyday.
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Lingpupa »

Each to their own, of course, but there is no obvious reason to go beyond Dorje Sempa, is there? Assuming you've received a proper transmission, and assuming you get your teacher's go-ahead, start with one round of 100,000. If it helps, then do more.
All best wishes

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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Kai lord »

Well yamantaka has the ability to help even sentinel beings with five unforgivable sins to reach buddhahood and its best suited for this degenerating age of fallen morals and anti dharma.

Its even stated as one of its five unique properties.
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Malcolm »

Loto-Trueno wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 12:40 am
First; what deity or practice each of you consider would be better to clean, revert, transform very dirty, thick and dense karma
Guru Yoga, followed by samadhi.
rupam
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by rupam »

Loto-Trueno wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 12:40 am Hello pals. I'm relatively new in buddhadharma (like 3 and half years), and it has been a major positive force and blessing in my life.

I just wnted to ask you opinion in these two questions:
First; what deity or practice each of you consider would be better to clean, revert, transform very dirty, thick and dense karma... Vajrasattva of course always help, but I feel his specialty is more to clean bad karma related to broken samayas and more specific things related to dharma practice.

I have a quite peculiar life history; I know I came into this life thanks to a really positive karma, cause I've had two wonderful beautiful parents, and pretty, fortunate things in life... but also a lot of pain from specific situations, emotional suffering and abuse, very dense experiences in life too which have lead to very horrible thoughts (harming myself, death thoughts, cause I feel unworthy and nasty), illnesses, etc... So I have all thiss black sludge thick negative karma in all my being and I transmit, without being my intentioon, this to others.

I sometimes practice Namgyalma, which is a very great purifier and also healer and protectress, but not always feel response, and I don't have the empowerment, nor the lung.

I have a Vajravidharan image, a present from my gueshe (which now is almost imposible to contact him because of the mercantilization of my community), felt drawn upon it, but haven't practiced it, because I haven't find a proper practice and I'd like to have atleast the lung. I mention this, because Vajravidharan is seen from many as the ultimte destroyer of accumulated negative karma and evil, I wonder if someone here has had success with Vajravidharan?

I practiced Vajrapani-Hayagriwa-Garuda and it has helped, but still haven't been able to stablisha very strong connection.

My main practices are Yellow Dzambhala, which has helped me enormously in his fields of action, very needed, and now Namgyälma and Vajrasattva.
I wonder if may be doing something not in the best way, or need to really find my Yidam. That is also difficult, because here in Mexico (I have some friends that post here and informed me about this site, and it is awesome, I'm grateful), to where I go, we have a great geshe, but now it's almst impossible to talk with him or being close to him, because the community has mercantilized a lot lately and most of the oment there are privte ceremonies and charge a lot for each class, retirement or phowa...

I'm also thinking on how could I find my root guru.. he's usually Dalai Lama, coupled with geshe-la, but I know I haven't find my true root guru.. I need help with healing, physical, emotional and mental issues (so maybe know a healer lama), to be able to sustain my economy and family, to strengthen my mind, body and discipline, and VERY important, to clean my awful thick, tar karma, it's not just any negative karma, I have made too much harm to dear beings, to myself, self harmed myself, cursed a lot, being trapped in the darkest dungeons of vicious cycle of negative actions, and it has reeflected on my poor physical and mind health -note: I'm not asking for health advises, to be clear, I'm just talking about my experience and how could I remedy or transform my karma-).. yet, it is difficult without a root guru... I don't know how I can find one here inMexico.. for example, Garchen rimpoche really appeals to me, but its very unprobable I'll meet him in person... And I want to learn deeper, I have not very continued teaching and complete teachings of tantra, just like half.. anyway, my community is great my gueshe wise and gentle, but I'm not finding myself or realization there...
Could Vajravidharana be a good option for me, or who? My friend told me about this amazing forum; he told me he asked some stuff about health practices and not received much advise because thats left here to specialists in health, and perfectly understand, but I think my questions are not specificlly about health or sickness, but of negative karma that sometimes doesn't let me breat and ways of transforming it. Also about teachers.

Thank you very much for your kind replies and for reading.
If you received Namgyalma transmission and teachings from a teacher, I'd stick to Namgyalma if I were you until things are better. Generally, any wrathful or semi-wrathful deity that many people practice would be the best if it's difficult to receive teachings in person. Gelug's Solitary Yamantaka comes to mind since commentaries and visualization aids for Yamantaka are freely accessible and available on the internet but it would take serious dedication to learn and practice Yamantaka from what I heard. You should choose one deity(?) and stick to it until you visibly make a lot of progress(your attitude towards difficulties in life gets better). I don't practice Yamantaka but I know people who do and some of them took Yamantaka because they heard that Yamantaka supports the material needs and emotional needs of serious practitioners(your mileage may vary and I don't know if this is really the case. You have to see for yourself). I wish you good luck and more dharma.
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Chenda
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Chenda »

rupam wrote: Fri Jun 24, 2022 8:57 am
Loto-Trueno wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 12:40 am Hello pals. I'm relatively new in buddhadharma (like 3 and half years), and it has been a major positive force and blessing in my life.

I just wnted to ask you opinion in these two questions:
First; what deity or practice each of you consider would be better to clean, revert, transform very dirty, thick and dense karma... Vajrasattva of course always help, but I feel his specialty is more to clean bad karma related to broken samayas and more specific things related to dharma practice.

I have a quite peculiar life history; I know I came into this life thanks to a really positive karma, cause I've had two wonderful beautiful parents, and pretty, fortunate things in life... but also a lot of pain from specific situations, emotional suffering and abuse, very dense experiences in life too which have lead to very horrible thoughts (harming myself, death thoughts, cause I feel unworthy and nasty), illnesses, etc... So I have all thiss black sludge thick negative karma in all my being and I transmit, without being my intentioon, this to others.

I sometimes practice Namgyalma, which is a very great purifier and also healer and protectress, but not always feel response, and I don't have the empowerment, nor the lung.

I have a Vajravidharan image, a present from my gueshe (which now is almost imposible to contact him because of the mercantilization of my community), felt drawn upon it, but haven't practiced it, because I haven't find a proper practice and I'd like to have atleast the lung. I mention this, because Vajravidharan is seen from many as the ultimte destroyer of accumulated negative karma and evil, I wonder if someone here has had success with Vajravidharan?

I practiced Vajrapani-Hayagriwa-Garuda and it has helped, but still haven't been able to stablisha very strong connection.

My main practices are Yellow Dzambhala, which has helped me enormously in his fields of action, very needed, and now Namgyälma and Vajrasattva.
I wonder if may be doing something not in the best way, or need to really find my Yidam. That is also difficult, because here in Mexico (I have some friends that post here and informed me about this site, and it is awesome, I'm grateful), to where I go, we have a great geshe, but now it's almst impossible to talk with him or being close to him, because the community has mercantilized a lot lately and most of the oment there are privte ceremonies and charge a lot for each class, retirement or phowa...

I'm also thinking on how could I find my root guru.. he's usually Dalai Lama, coupled with geshe-la, but I know I haven't find my true root guru.. I need help with healing, physical, emotional and mental issues (so maybe know a healer lama), to be able to sustain my economy and family, to strengthen my mind, body and discipline, and VERY important, to clean my awful thick, tar karma, it's not just any negative karma, I have made too much harm to dear beings, to myself, self harmed myself, cursed a lot, being trapped in the darkest dungeons of vicious cycle of negative actions, and it has reeflected on my poor physical and mind health -note: I'm not asking for health advises, to be clear, I'm just talking about my experience and how could I remedy or transform my karma-).. yet, it is difficult without a root guru... I don't know how I can find one here inMexico.. for example, Garchen rimpoche really appeals to me, but its very unprobable I'll meet him in person... And I want to learn deeper, I have not very continued teaching and complete teachings of tantra, just like half.. anyway, my community is great my gueshe wise and gentle, but I'm not finding myself or realization there...
Could Vajravidharana be a good option for me, or who? My friend told me about this amazing forum; he told me he asked some stuff about health practices and not received much advise because thats left here to specialists in health, and perfectly understand, but I think my questions are not specificlly about health or sickness, but of negative karma that sometimes doesn't let me breat and ways of transforming it. Also about teachers.

Thank you very much for your kind replies and for reading.
If you received Namgyalma transmission and teachings from a teacher, I'd stick to Namgyalma if I were you until things are better. Generally, any wrathful or semi-wrathful deity that many people practice would be the best if it's difficult to receive teachings in person. Gelug's Solitary Yamantaka comes to mind since commentaries and visualization aids for Yamantaka are freely accessible and available on the internet but it would take serious dedication to learn and practice Yamantaka from what I heard. You should choose one deity(?) and stick to it until you visibly make a lot of progress(your attitude towards difficulties in life gets better). I don't practice Yamantaka but I know people who do and some of them took Yamantaka because they heard that Yamantaka supports the material needs and emotional needs of serious practitioners(your mileage may vary and I don't know if this is really the case. You have to see for yourself). I wish you good luck and more dharma.
You most especially don't practice wrathful/semi-wrathful deities if you don't have the necessary transmissions even if "many people practice" them. Ubiquity does not equate to unrestricted. Bad advice. You can't learn this and won't benefit from just reading books and materials.
With the wisdom of threefold purity, dedicate all the virtue gained from having made such effort toward enlightenment. Dedicate it to clear away the suffering of infinite beings. This is the way of a Bodhisattva.
Gyalsé Ngulchu Tokmé (རྒྱལ་སྲས་དངུལ་ཆུ་ཐོགས་མེད་), The Thirty-Seven Practices of All the Bodhisattvas
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nyonchung
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by nyonchung »

This deity this, this deity that, is a confused and confusing approach
Malcom's approach is sound and simple: praying the Guru and keeping mind in equipoise
The guru is in essence the three jewels and the three roots - the three roots including yidam / deities
And the source of blessings.

Even if there is an obvious problem with who is the root-teacher, as seems to be the case, but if you have trust in HHDL, that will do

In such cases, my old teachers would have also recommanded refuge prayers for some time (100 000) while really trying to develop devotion and trust in the qualities of the three jewels and three roots and a sincere renouncement to samsara.

And same, keep your mind in equipoise - try to get also some basic meditation instructions from an experienced teacher, that will help. Not by gathering data from websites.

All the best
Last edited by nyonchung on Fri Jun 24, 2022 11:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Me and the madman don't have a guide- Me and the rainbow have no experiences
Me, the sun and the moon have no certitudes - Me and the jewel bear no fruit" - Dampa Sanggyé as quoted by Domar Mingyur Dorjé (born 1675)
Soma999
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Soma999 »

Lama Zopa often advise recitation of the Sanghata Sutra and Golden Light Sutra.

They are very good to recite. You can even right them, or a part of them, like chapter 4 of the golden light sutra.

All the sutra of the Prajnaparamita are very good also.

All deity share the same essence. Avalokitshwara and Tara are marvelous. The more their wisdom mind infuse you, the less garbage you will have.

A true guru who is in service, by his or her grace, many deep purification can occurs. For exemple, lots of bad stuff maturates in dreams instead of in your life. And most important, you find your way home. Pray for the blessing to meet a true guru.
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Könchok Thrinley »

The key is 4 oponent powers (or four strengths). Without them even Vajrasattva meditation is just like stroking a mountain with a feather.

Concerning your dilema, just do it. I think Namgyalma is okay even without a lung and is really powerful. Otherwise you can also just recite Mani mantra whenever you can. With the bodhicitta mindset it is just enough.

My personal advice tho, would be lojong. I myself got trapped in the mindset "this deity for this, that deity for that" but that often misses the point. The point is your mind. That is why resting in samadhi is the greatest purification. It totally uproots samsara. And on relative level Lojong teaches you how to face adversities in such a way that it does not create more trouble.

But these are 5 cents of someone who himself is unable to live by them. :oops:
“Observing samaya involves to remain inseparable from the union of wisdom and compassion at all times, to sustain mindfulness, and to put into practice the guru’s instructions”. Garchen Rinpoche

For those who do virtuous actions,
goodness is what comes to pass.
For those who do non-virtuous actions,
that becomes suffering indeed.

- Arya Sanghata Sutra
rupam
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by rupam »

Chenda wrote: Fri Jun 24, 2022 11:02 am
rupam wrote: Fri Jun 24, 2022 8:57 am
Loto-Trueno wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 12:40 am Hello pals. I'm relatively new in buddhadharma (like 3 and half years), and it has been a major positive force and blessing in my life.

I just wnted to ask you opinion in these two questions:
First; what deity or practice each of you consider would be better to clean, revert, transform very dirty, thick and dense karma... Vajrasattva of course always help, but I feel his specialty is more to clean bad karma related to broken samayas and more specific things related to dharma practice.

I have a quite peculiar life history; I know I came into this life thanks to a really positive karma, cause I've had two wonderful beautiful parents, and pretty, fortunate things in life... but also a lot of pain from specific situations, emotional suffering and abuse, very dense experiences in life too which have lead to very horrible thoughts (harming myself, death thoughts, cause I feel unworthy and nasty), illnesses, etc... So I have all thiss black sludge thick negative karma in all my being and I transmit, without being my intentioon, this to others.

I sometimes practice Namgyalma, which is a very great purifier and also healer and protectress, but not always feel response, and I don't have the empowerment, nor the lung.

I have a Vajravidharan image, a present from my gueshe (which now is almost imposible to contact him because of the mercantilization of my community), felt drawn upon it, but haven't practiced it, because I haven't find a proper practice and I'd like to have atleast the lung. I mention this, because Vajravidharan is seen from many as the ultimte destroyer of accumulated negative karma and evil, I wonder if someone here has had success with Vajravidharan?

I practiced Vajrapani-Hayagriwa-Garuda and it has helped, but still haven't been able to stablisha very strong connection.

My main practices are Yellow Dzambhala, which has helped me enormously in his fields of action, very needed, and now Namgyälma and Vajrasattva.
I wonder if may be doing something not in the best way, or need to really find my Yidam. That is also difficult, because here in Mexico (I have some friends that post here and informed me about this site, and it is awesome, I'm grateful), to where I go, we have a great geshe, but now it's almst impossible to talk with him or being close to him, because the community has mercantilized a lot lately and most of the oment there are privte ceremonies and charge a lot for each class, retirement or phowa...

I'm also thinking on how could I find my root guru.. he's usually Dalai Lama, coupled with geshe-la, but I know I haven't find my true root guru.. I need help with healing, physical, emotional and mental issues (so maybe know a healer lama), to be able to sustain my economy and family, to strengthen my mind, body and discipline, and VERY important, to clean my awful thick, tar karma, it's not just any negative karma, I have made too much harm to dear beings, to myself, self harmed myself, cursed a lot, being trapped in the darkest dungeons of vicious cycle of negative actions, and it has reeflected on my poor physical and mind health -note: I'm not asking for health advises, to be clear, I'm just talking about my experience and how could I remedy or transform my karma-).. yet, it is difficult without a root guru... I don't know how I can find one here inMexico.. for example, Garchen rimpoche really appeals to me, but its very unprobable I'll meet him in person... And I want to learn deeper, I have not very continued teaching and complete teachings of tantra, just like half.. anyway, my community is great my gueshe wise and gentle, but I'm not finding myself or realization there...
Could Vajravidharana be a good option for me, or who? My friend told me about this amazing forum; he told me he asked some stuff about health practices and not received much advise because thats left here to specialists in health, and perfectly understand, but I think my questions are not specificlly about health or sickness, but of negative karma that sometimes doesn't let me breat and ways of transforming it. Also about teachers.

Thank you very much for your kind replies and for reading.
If you received Namgyalma transmission and teachings from a teacher, I'd stick to Namgyalma if I were you until things are better. Generally, any wrathful or semi-wrathful deity that many people practice would be the best if it's difficult to receive teachings in person. Gelug's Solitary Yamantaka comes to mind since commentaries and visualization aids for Yamantaka are freely accessible and available on the internet but it would take serious dedication to learn and practice Yamantaka from what I heard. You should choose one deity(?) and stick to it until you visibly make a lot of progress(your attitude towards difficulties in life gets better). I don't practice Yamantaka but I know people who do and some of them took Yamantaka because they heard that Yamantaka supports the material needs and emotional needs of serious practitioners(your mileage may vary and I don't know if this is really the case. You have to see for yourself). I wish you good luck and more dharma.
You most especially don't practice wrathful/semi-wrathful deities if you don't have the necessary transmissions even if "many people practice" them. Ubiquity does not equate to unrestricted. Bad advice. You can't learn this and won't benefit from just reading books and materials.

Dont put word into my mouth. I said in my first sentence if the OP received the transmission for Namgyalma, that’s what OP should practice. Everyone knows you need transmission for everything in this yana. If you lack common sense or lack capability to see what I presumed about OP in my reply, go polish a stone until you can see a buddha face on it because that’s more beneficial for you to do so than criticizing my advice in a manner that would make yourself sound utterly silly.
Loto-Trueno
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Loto-Trueno »

Thank you very much to everyone for the great and precious advices, I'm really grateful for your wise advice and taking the time to read and write.
There's something very important to what I have not being put much attention, which is Guru Yoga; many thanks for suggesting it and remembering to me how important it is.
I searched for some short but concise and powerful guru yogas and I found 2 very nice ones of Guru Rinpoche with his consort Yeshe Tsogyal, this in Lotsawa House and translated them into Spanish; I know usually yabyum deities use to be more advanced, but this image it evokes on my heart and mind, something utterly pure and loving, with some precious images as support, these practices really awaken something very profound. Also genla said one time (when it was accesible to talk with him or being near) that even for Vajrasattva, if the Yabyum image fit us well, then we can practice, just need to put quite more effort to be able to visualize such paired deity.

I started 3 days ago, and the first one was as usual, not very trascendent, just starting to familiarize, then it has progresively feeling much more rich and real; although I'm going little by little, small steps.

Just today, a friend of my community, shared with me a short Lama Tsongkhapa guru yoga prepared by gueshe la. It is very beautiful too, feels powerful and joyous.
Now I have these two options for practicing Guru Yoga; this of course let me thinking too... I've really felt more drawn to Guru Rinpoche (and kagyupa and nyingmapa), although he is not that central in one the lineages in which I practice (genla is bhutanese karma kagyu, but studied many years at Loseliing in India, so he bears both Kagyu and Gelugpa lineages). I've felt more drawn to nyingma and kagyu lineages, but my center comes from gelugpa, which is one of the precious lineage of course, and at this moment I take refuge in HHDL.

Now here's another question I'm sure many of you have experimented... I do want to keep practicing Padmasambhava Guru Yoga, but Lama Tsongkhapa has a beautiful force too, I want to know better too; the only time we practiced that one with genla it was nice, also because it was guided by the guru himself... So again, my dilemma of whose guru yoga should I practice, or if it is ok to practice both until I receive the best answer and action for me to do. So what do you think of practicing some days Padmasambhava, and the other day, or at a different moment of the day Tsongkhapa? I don't want to sound so foolish and naive, I don't want to saturate myself and then not advance, but I want to be sure of whatever I decide.

I'm still practicing Namgyälma and when I practice I feel a lot of calm after the practice, cleaned and protected, a little more sane. I don't have the empowerment, so I don't generate myself as her.

I do want to study more Lojong too. I like a lot the work of geshe Chekawa, and teachings-prayers as the aspiration of Samantabhadra (the nyingmapa one). Thanks for the advice upon that. Also I think of Tonglen, but as my health has not been the best it sometimes makes me think if I could be oversensitive to it.

Yamantaka sure is amazing deity with so much power, but I don't think I'm ready for such huge compromise, just by seeing his image and reading or listening to his mantra, I feel some overwhelming sacred power, too much overwhelming for me now.

Now, also following your advices friends, I am practicing the Sutra of the Three Heaps combined with the Arya Caturdharma Nirdesa Nama Mahayana Sutra for the Four Opponent Powers. I am just getting familiar with these practices, but I sense the purity of them.

Do you reccomend pronouncing the names of the 35 Buddhas in Sanskrit too? or just in my spanish translation? Also, how important is that I do one prostration for each Buddha? I do it mentally, but not physically, because of my knees, and that it takes quite some time, but I'll put more effort in prostrations.

Wish you many blessings to you all
:anjali: :buddha1:
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Konchog1 »

On a certain level, Padmasambhava and Lama Tsongkhapa are one. It is explicitly taught in the Gelug that Padmasambhava, Atisha, and Lama Tsongkhapa are the same being. Shabkar also personally was told by Padmasambhava that he and Lama Tsongkhapa are one. So it's fine to practice both or one Guru Yoga with that understanding.

Spanish and mental prostrations are fine. The most important thing is faith. Clear visualization and faith.
Equanimity is the ground. Love is the moisture. Compassion is the seed. Bodhicitta is the result.

-Paraphrase of Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel citing the Guhyasamaja Tantra

"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.
Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.
Through the qualities of meditating in that way,
Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."

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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Lingpupa »

Loto-Trueno, if you are drawn to things like Guru Rinpoche father/mother practices you really, really, really should get proper empowerments and authorizations. The mere fact that a profound text is publicly available does not mean that you can get the right blessings and benefits by "practising" it. Almost anyone with experience will tell you the same thing. It would be a shame to waste your inspiration on a blind alley.
All best wishes

"The profundity of your devotion to your lama is not measured by your ability to turn a blind eye."
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Loto-Trueno »

Deeply grateful, many thanks again to all of you that have giveth me vituous word and orientation.
I replied in the message before, just quote here your user names/answers, to give continuity to the post and follow the thread, which is super interesting. It's so cool to be able to communicate with so much friends in the dharma with so much knowledge and wisdom, and who understand all this issues that most of us have passed for, so it's a great lighthouse for not get lost.

Konchog1 wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 4:26 am Lama Tsongkhapa recommends reading the fourth chapter of the Golden Light Sutra out loud as well as the The Sutra of Three Heaps.

https://fpmt.org/education/prayers-and- ... /download/

Garchen Rinpoche has a huge online presence and streams his activities here:

https://www.youtube.com/c/GarchenBuddhistInstituteAZ

You can find his schedule here: https://garchen.net/annual-events/
tobes wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 6:09 am I suspect we've all spent some time in the 'which deity can fix this problem' kind of boat. I can definitely relate.

But what I've learned over the years is that it's not which deity you practice, but how well you establish Dharma in your mindstream, from the ground up. For example, even the most simple, entry level practice of taking refuge will accomplish everything you are trying to accomplish here - if you practice it correctly, with great energy and effort and diligence. Likewise, developing bodhicitta - if you put effort into this, none of that karmic sludge will survive.

Two other posters have mentioned The Sutra of Three Heaps: I third it. Do it everyday with prostrations and the opponent powers, your karmic burden will definitely lift.

Alongside this, recite the various prayers for the gurus you have some connection to. i.e. seven line prayer for Guru Rinpoche, Mig Me Tse for Tsong Khapa etc. Whatever you have already received from the Dalai Lama, put it into practice 100%. Everything will follow from this.

And: be patient. It's a long game. You chip away everyday.
Lingpupa wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 6:43 am Each to their own, of course, but there is no obvious reason to go beyond Dorje Sempa, is there? Assuming you've received a proper transmission, and assuming you get your teacher's go-ahead, start with one round of 100,000. If it helps, then do more.
Kai lord wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 6:46 am Well yamantaka has the ability to help even sentinel beings with five unforgivable sins to reach buddhahood and its best suited for this degenerating age of fallen morals and anti dharma.

Its even stated as one of its five unique properties.
Malcolm wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 2:26 pm
Loto-Trueno wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 12:40 am
First; what deity or practice each of you consider would be better to clean, revert, transform very dirty, thick and dense karma
Guru Yoga, followed by samadhi.
rupam wrote: Fri Jun 24, 2022 8:57 am
Loto-Trueno wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 12:40 am
If you received Namgyalma transmission and teachings from a teacher, I'd stick to Namgyalma if I were you until things are better. Generally, any wrathful or semi-wrathful deity that many people practice would be the best if it's difficult to receive teachings in person. Gelug's Solitary Yamantaka comes to mind since commentaries and visualization aids for Yamantaka are freely accessible and available on the internet but it would take serious dedication to learn and practice Yamantaka from what I heard. You should choose one deity(?) and stick to it until you visibly make a lot of progress(your attitude towards difficulties in life gets better). I don't practice Yamantaka but I know people who do and some of them took Yamantaka because they heard that Yamantaka supports the material needs and emotional needs of serious practitioners(your mileage may vary and I don't know if this is really the case. You have to see for yourself). I wish you good luck and more dharma.
nyonchung wrote: Fri Jun 24, 2022 11:16 am This deity this, this deity that, is a confused and confusing approach
Malcom's approach is sound and simple: praying the Guru and keeping mind in equipoise
The guru is in essence the three jewels and the three roots - the three roots including yidam / deities
And the source of blessings.

Even if there is an obvious problem with who is the root-teacher, as seems to be the case, but if you have trust in HHDL, that will do

In such cases, my old teachers would have also recommanded refuge prayers for some time (100 000) while really trying to develop devotion and trust in the qualities of the three jewels and three roots and a sincere renouncement to samsara.

And same, keep your mind in equipoise - try to get also some basic meditation instructions from an experienced teacher, that will help. Not by gathering data from websites.

All the best
Soma999 wrote: Fri Jun 24, 2022 11:32 am Lama Zopa often advise recitation of the Sanghata Sutra and Golden Light Sutra.

They are very good to recite. You can even right them, or a part of them, like chapter 4 of the golden light sutra.

All the sutra of the Prajnaparamita are very good also.

All deity share the same essence. Avalokitshwara and Tara are marvelous. The more their wisdom mind infuse you, the less garbage you will have.

A true guru who is in service, by his or her grace, many deep purification can occurs. For exemple, lots of bad stuff maturates in dreams instead of in your life. And most important, you find your way home. Pray for the blessing to meet a true guru.
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Loto-Trueno »

Konchog1 wrote: Thu Jun 30, 2022 4:59 am On a certain level, Padmasambhava and Lama Tsongkhapa are one. It is explicitly taught in the Gelug that Padmasambhava, Atisha, and Lama Tsongkhapa are the same being. Shabkar also personally was told by Padmasambhava that he and Lama Tsongkhapa are one. So it's fine to practice both or one Guru Yoga with that understanding.

Spanish and mental prostrations are fine. The most important thing is faith. Clear visualization and faith.
Konchog. your words refresh me and give me security in how I am proceeding (or at least trying). I onc e heard that Padmasambhava were the same, but it just came to my ears and really could not get into the conversation. Something on my heart has told me that, but I've always had this doubts also.
I didn't knew about Shabkar's experience and words, I have no conflict now for practicing one guru yoga or another, things will settle by themselves if I practice diigently and with proper motivation. it is a blessing also that I have this precious time to know and experiment dharma and vajrayana little by little and in different ways although all trully virtuous means lead to the same.. I'm more convinced that how I'm doing or conceiving things is not so ignorant or negative, but I know I need to be careful and keep on going with discipline

Thank you very much and I wish you many blessings..
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Ayu »

I believe, "best practice" depends on the deciple. It differs due to personal reasons.
The Buddhas are the same and equally "best" in the core.
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Re: Best deities-practices for eliminating or transforming heavy negative karma. Root Guru

Post by Loto-Trueno »

Lingpupa wrote: Thu Jun 30, 2022 7:38 am Loto-Trueno, if you are drawn to things like Guru Rinpoche father/mother practices you really, really, really should get proper empowerments and authorizations. The mere fact that a profound text is publicly available does not mean that you can get the right blessings and benefits by "practising" it. Almost anyone with experience will tell you the same thing. It would be a shame to waste your inspiration on a blind alley.
Lingpupa. thank you for your words of advice and wisdom. I sometimes get confused because there are so many opinions and so-called masters, or masters that don't really care much about following a proper way on how to practice dharma and specially tantra; and also with the vast access to resources over the internet.

I've always feel drawn upon the father-mother emanations, deities, conceptualizations, etc (here in parts of Mexico some of us call God as Dios Padre-Dios Madre (as well as other paired deities), and that's the way many of us understand the spirituality. In my case it has been very strong this way, so maybe that is why I've becomed so much attracted to YabYum deities.

I will take your advice seriously anyway (I know you're right), even if I was enjoying that YabYum Padmasambhava-Yesge Tsogyal Guru yoga. I hope one day I can get some of those empowerments, or just one, but for a Buddha and his consort. Do you know of a center or site where lamas give online such or other empowerments?...I haven't find much.. and as in Mexico, since the pandemic, lamas have't come here anymore, and not that they came a lot before, but we had visits throughout the year...

Also, could you share or helping me find a short good Padmasambhava Guru Yoga practice? All I find are really long ones, which are great, but I don't have that much time now, or even if relatively simple and short, and beautiful, they center on Padmasambhava with Yeshe Tsogyal in YabYum.
So for now, do I need to, or can do the visualization of single Padmasambhava and visualizing myself as Vajrayogini, as it is described in The Words of my Perfect Teacher, among other LamRims and teachings?... Or I cannot visualize as Vajrayogini now until I got the empowerment...?

Whoa, definitely this is nothing easy or simple, at least in the learning stages, yet still is wonderful and beautiful, beatifying.
As I wrote before, I'm serious in keeping on with the fundamentals you and other friends have given to me.

Many, many thanks, and all best wishes.
:anjali:
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