Homage To The Headless Divine Lady
An ordinary person couldn’t ever survive if their head was severed. The body would just go lifeless. In this extreme symbolism, Vajra Yogini shows that by cutting off the ego, samsara goes lifeless. This rare form of Vajra Yogini expressed that divine life can be achieved even if the head is severed (ego).
Homage to the Divine Lady,
Whom out of compassion,
emanates in myriads of forms
in this degenerate age to subdue our various minds.
Using the energy of desire, She attracts us to Her form,
then brings us to full liberation.
慈悲化现种种微妙相
末法世中降伏繁杂心
善用欲望摄见佛母身
而后令得圆满解脱境
故我顶礼至尊圣佛母
愿我世世不离无头母
May we never be seperated from the Noble Headless Lady.
Tsem Rinpoche
Before I knew HER, I was afraid of HER
For SHE reflected all that was DARK and SINISTER in me
When I began to learn about HER
I began to learn more about myself
SHE unlocks my desires and flaws
To transform me, to cure me
SHE turns darkness into light,
Despair into Hope,
Defeat into Courage,
When I finally surrendered to HER
SHE embraced me and brought me HOME.
Vajrayogini is one super cool Goddess!
I love vajrayogini she make me see the truth in my life everyday
I like the symbolism very much. The cutting of the head is immediately associated with death. And although I understand Rinpoche’s explanation, the thought of literally cutting off my head still generates some irrational fear in me.
In some bizarre twisted logic, i think that fear of cutting off the head is mirrored by fear of letting go of ego. Perhaps if one was egoless, then death would not matter at all.
I appreciate the symbolism of Headless Vajrayogini more now, as I see her still walking around and even drinking her own blood from her severed neck.
Margaret painted this for Rinpoche – She’s very talented and more of her paintings can be seen here
http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/2010/07/margarets-fantastic-paintings.html
Margaret is exceptionally talented. I can only imagine that it is all thanks to Rinpoche that Margaret found the artist in her. Behold look what she can create for the world to see, learn and enjoy. Spirituality through the arts comprise of many levels, I guess.
Symbolism plays a critical role in Tibetan Buddhism art. So much of the teachings are communicated through every line, curve and icons. It never fails to amaze me how they manage to put so much valuable information in a single picture. This is more like painting a thousand dharma discourses, not just a thousand words.
Seeing this painting again I am also reminded of my own childhood. I used to have a few Barbie dolls. Strange thing is that I always enjoyed ripping their heads off, not so much of playing dress up and etc.
And my idea of beauty is women with Ginger-coloured hair or what we call “Red heads”. I used to think that they were the most beautiful women in the world. Funny how we have certain inclinations towards certain things in life, even as a child. Perhaps this is what Rinpoche means by imprints from our past lives.
It is wonderful that Kechara has its own resident artists who can bring spiritualism to another level, or even Buddhist art for that matter. It is certainly very different from the norm – yet again.
Kecharians certainly find such interesting ways to deliver the Dharma to the mass audience.
Dearest Tsem,
I am a very unreliable person to my beloved and my teachers (whoever that may be at the time, I don’t know, but I always loved being with you, I know that)
Shall I cancel my foolish and expensive travel plans and disappoint my beloved. No matter what I do, my decision is wrong and I will create Karma for myself out of my ignorance.
Could you please give me some advice? I mean I regulary did the Vadjra Yoghini tea offering very often since you offered it to us, as well as the Setrap meditation, which has been a great blessing, too.
Devoted and confused regards, Knut.
Iconography, symbolism and many forms of the Buddhas and Deities in Tibetan Buddhist art is fascinating and brings teaching to the viewer on a new level. Before i started reading on Vajrayogini in the prayer card and the Kechara Prayer book, i couldnt understand what it was about. Slowly after reading a number of postings on this blog which included the teachings of Pabongka Rinpoche, i began to understand and appreciate very much Vajrayogini. Through KSA’s classes, i have also learnt more and making use of those lessons when i pray or read. This painting by Margaret is exquisite in interpretation and shows another form of Vajrayogini. Thank you Rinpoche for your infinite kindness and wisdom in encouraging Margaret and setting up KSA and other departments.
with folded hands
janice
when I first saw Vajra Yogini I was too a little afraid. And she always seem so far away in terms of practice. But the more I learn about her, the more I feel comfort just by looking at her image. I hope one day to be able to do her practice.
I like this picture a lot. I especially like this sentence “In this extreme symbolism, Vajra Yogini shows that by cutting off the ego, samsara goes lifeless.”
Does it mean that the key to ultimate liberation is the cutting off of ego? And what does the sword means? Does it represent wisdom? We can cut off our ego if we have wisdom. And do the three streams of blood represent three poisons? If we cut off our ego, we can be free from three poisons too.
Whatever it is, theory is just theory. The cutting off of ego needs true practice and realization. To me, it needs a lot of courage and pure faith. For every step we move, just like cutting off our own head, we can never do this if we think too much. The only way to achieve that is to strongly believe and just do it.
慈悲化现种种微妙相
末法世中降伏繁杂心
善用欲望摄见佛母身
而后令得圆满解脱境
故我顶礼至尊圣佛母
愿我世世不离无头母
Namaskar Sir,
I would like to say in Hinduism Chinnmasta (the above deity)is worshipped by the initiated under the guidance of the Guru , in order to annihilate the earthly bonds of attachments. She is a Mahavidya, therefore she is not to be worshipped by any one.