Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

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Jangchup Donden
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Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Jangchup Donden »

How is Ganesh viewed in Tibetan Buddhism?

I was recently given a (rather nice) jeweled painting of him and was wondering what to do with it.
Malcolm
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Malcolm »

Jangchup Donden wrote:How is Ganesh viewed in Tibetan Buddhism?

I was recently given a (rather nice) jeweled painting of him and was wondering what to do with it.
Put it on your shrine. Ganesh is a worldly deity, under the command of Vajrapani.

N
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catmoon
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by catmoon »

It's an odd thing but I keep bumping into Ganesh in TB. There must be a reason for that.
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Konchog1 »

There are prayers to him (as Ganapati) I don't know if he is considered Enlightened or not. Same with Saraswati.
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Malcolm »

Konchog1 wrote:There are prayers to him (as Ganapati) I don't know if he is considered Enlightened or not. Same with Saraswati.
The fomer no, the latter, yes. She is Mañjuśri's consort as well as Shiva's wife.
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Konchog1 »

Namdrol wrote:
Konchog1 wrote:There are prayers to him (as Ganapati) I don't know if he is considered Enlightened or not. Same with Saraswati.
The fomer no, the latter, yes. She is Mañjuśri's consort as well as Shiva's wife.
She isn't Brahma's wife?
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."

-Ra Lotsawa, All-pervading Melodious Drumbeats
Malcolm
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Malcolm »

Konchog1 wrote:
Namdrol wrote:
Konchog1 wrote:There are prayers to him (as Ganapati) I don't know if he is considered Enlightened or not. Same with Saraswati.
The fomer no, the latter, yes. She is Mañjuśri's consort as well as Shiva's wife.
She isn't Brahma's wife?
Nope.

For example, when the premission blessing is given, there is always a torma given to Parvati, who is Shiva's other wife, who because of her jealousy will otherwise afflict practitioners of White Sarasvati with poverty.
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Konchog1
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Konchog1 »

Namdrol wrote: Nope.

For example, when the premission blessing is given, there is always a torma given to Parvati, who is Shiva's other wife, who because of her jealousy will otherwise afflict practitioners of White Sarasvati with poverty.
Oh thanks. Is that something to worry about if I just say prayers and make offerings to Saraswati?
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."

-Ra Lotsawa, All-pervading Melodious Drumbeats
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Karinos
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Karinos »

there is a rare sadhana in Nigmapa tradition for Maha Ganesha / also called Vajra Ganesha

Image


otherwise as mentioned before "Put it on your shrine. Ganesh is a worldly deity, under the command of Vajrapani."

:namaste:
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Grigoris »

Who's this then and why are they being crushed by a protector?
Crushing.jpg
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Stewart »

OMG! Greg! You posted a picture of a protectors feet! What were you thinking? What about your Samaya??!

Just joking :tongue:

Is it Dumbo? perhaps It's a scene Disney cut out of the original film :smile:
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Karinos
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Karinos »

gregkavarnos wrote:Who's this then and why are they being crushed by a protector?
I've heard two explanations reg. deity under Mahakala Chadrupa feet:
- first is when Mahakala Chadrupa manifested - Ganesha offered his body as footrest - to dignify this emanation
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... =3&theater
- second is that it is not Ganesha but Binayaka (or Vinayaka) - a demon who brings obstacles and therefore trodden,
However in Hindu mythology Vinayaka is actually form of Ganesha who's primary function is removing obstacles.
so it is slightly unclear :)
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by kirtu »

catmoon wrote:It's an odd thing but I keep bumping into Ganesh in TB. There must be a reason for that.
Ganesh seems to get around. There was an article sometime several years ago in Tricycle written by a student of the Khenpo Brothers who kept seeing Ganesh. They also told the author that Ganesh was considered a worldly deity under command of the Buddhas and gave some advice.

Kirt
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Malcolm
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Malcolm »

kirtu wrote:
catmoon wrote:It's an odd thing but I keep bumping into Ganesh in TB. There must be a reason for that.
Ganesh seems to get around. There was an article sometime several years ago in Tricycle written by a student of the Khenpo Brothers who kept seeing Ganesh. They also told the author that Ganesh was considered a worldly deity under command of the Buddhas and gave some advice.

Kirt

Yes, for example, there is a Ganapati sadhana that is part of the thirteen golden dharmas. Ganapati is a common worldly dharma protector in Nyingma, as is Shiva.

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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Adamantine »

According to Lama Wangdu he is more than worldly and is a natural protector to practitioners of Chod.
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Detachment is the final happiness. ~Sri Saraha
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Adamantine »

Also, re: White Saraswati - according to Nyingma she is
an emanation of Samantabadhri so there is no negative
effects such as poverty from practicing her...
Contentment is the ultimate wealth;
Detachment is the final happiness. ~Sri Saraha
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nirmal
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by nirmal »

Mahakala stands on the body of the white elephant king, Ganapati who is worshipped by Hindus before they worship their guru since he is the Lord of Obstacles.More information about him may be obtained from the Mahanirvana Tantra.After our Lord's Enlightenment, he was converted by Mahakala and appears under the latter's feet.He who worships Ganapati according to Tantric Buddhism has a real helper who helps to overcome obstacles.
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by nirmal »

http://theemerald.wordpress.com/2009/03 ... -ganapati/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.himalayanart.org/search/set.cfm?setID=207" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://tibetanbuddhism.tribe.net/thread ... 090201fafa" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by Mandarava »

Namdrol says
The fomer no, the latter, yes. She is Mañjuśri's consort as well as Shiva's wife.[/quote]She isn't Brahma's wife?[/quote]


For example, when the premission blessing is given, there is always a torma given to Parvati, who is Shiva's other wife, who because of her jealousy will otherwise afflict practitioners of White Sarasvati with poverty.[/quote]

Namdrol where do you get the info that Saraswat is Shiva's wife? Can you quote it please as tradtionally she is viewed as the wife of Brahma.
http://www.sanatansociety.org/hindu_god ... aswati.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Ganesh in Tibetan Buddhism

Post by pemachophel »

There's also the Ganapati-Ganeshwara Hridaya Sutra which is available in English on-line. If interested, try doing a Google search. As a sutra, anyone can say/read it without necessarily having received lung, although lung can make the practice even more effective.
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