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Dearest Friends @ CASonline,
We are sending you one "fable" of MAHAKALA, the great Buddhist Protector in relation to CAS's coming programme in January 2007 by Palpung Khen Rinpoche Samten Gyatso --
The MAHAKALA Initiation, as is with the other three initiations, are extremely rare and precious and not easily available even within Tibetan monastic circles --
We should rightly consider ourselves unbelievably fortunate to be able to receive these unbelievably precious programmes from a Master, personally chosen and enthroned by HH the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa !!
The full programme details are available from CAS's web site:
Till, then, do keep ourselves busy with much mantras for good of all mother sentient beings instead of listless talks !! ( As advised by HE Garchen Rinpoche in Singapore a few years back !! )
"Namo Amitofuo !!"
bb
& other interesting-
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Initiation
of Six-Arm Black Mahakala Mahakala's typical
blackness
symbolizes his all-embracing, comprehensive nature, because
it is the hue
into which all other colors
merge; it absorbs and dissolves them. Just as all colors disappear
in black, so do all names and forms melt into that of Mahakala.
Black is also the total absence of color, again signifying the
nature of Mahakala as ultimate reality.
This in Sanskrit is named as nirguna
(beyond all quality and form). Either way, Mahakala's dark complexion
represents his transcendence
of all form. Kala however also means time.
Etymologically, 'kala' means that which absorbs everything within
itself (kalayati iti kala). Thus Mahakala is the cosmic nature
of time, into which we will all dissolve in the course of time.
He is the transcendent- This
form is most favored by the Gelukpa
and the Shangpa Kagyu Orders of Tibetan Buddhism and in
this manifestation,
Mahakala is considered to be the fierce and powerful emanation
of Avalokiteshvara, the buddha
of compassion. It is very important that
we know these symbols of Mahakala because many times we have
mistaken notions that he may be a clinging spirit or harmful,
evil being, perhaps even the Lord of Death ready to devour and
attack. One would find great difficulty in relating to the various
symbols without understanding that our awakened compassion is
the essential quality of the being of Mahakala. Mahakala has never been known
to harm one being, even in the slightest manner, because he
is constantly benefiting beings through the continuous play
of the enlightened mind. He
is adorned with the following symbolic attributes: A
crown
of five skulls:
This is worn by all manifestations of Mahakala and represents
the transmutation of the five negative afflictions of human
nature into positive virtues.
The
Six Arms signify the successful completion of the six perfections
(shad-paramita) The Protector's body is midnight
blue, symbolic of the changeless Dharmakaya. His three eyes symbolize his
knowledge of the past, present and future, and also the manifestation
of the
three bodies of Buddha. The crown adorned with five
skulls symbolizes the transformation of the five poisons of
anger, desire, ignorance, jealousy and pride into the five wisdoms. His six arms symbolize the
attainment of the six Perfections: generosity, patience,
morality, diligence, meditation and wisdom. The ritual
curved knife, cuts attachment to ego. The kapala or skull bowl filled
with blood symbolizes the subjugation of the maras or evil ones.
(An alternate interpretation can be found in other contexts.) The rosary symbolizes his
continuous activity for the benefit of beings. The damaru or hand-drum symbolizes
his power over the dakinis. (Also, different interpretations
in other contexts.) His trident
symbolizes his power over the three kayas -- the spheres of
desire, form and formlessness. (An alternate interpretation
can also be found.) The lasso binds those who
break their vows. His two feet are the means
and the wisdom to accomplish his task. He tramples on a vinayaka,
to symbolize his destruction and dispersal of great obstacles. The sun on which he stands
symbolizes his illumination of the darkness of ignorance. His lotus seat symbolizes
purity undefiled by samsara. The surrounding blazing fire
symbolizes his activity that consumes neurotic states. The tiger skin stands for
purification of desire; the elephant skin for purification of
pride, and the snake, for the purification of anger. His other ornaments together
symbolize that he has all the qualities of a Buddha. A
Mahakala Fable The
Dhe-Tsang monastery, built in 1414 by a close disciple of Je
Tsongkhapa is situated in the Gyalrong district of eastern During
the actual construction of the monastery, the revered monk faced
many obstructions from the local Bonpo masters who practiced
a primitive form of shamanism and thus felt threatened by the
unfolding of the Buddhist faith in When
the major part of construction was completed, the lama began
to look for master sculptors who could create spiritually charged
images for the retreat. One day, three black men came to the
monastery and stayed there for some time. They later revealed
that they were sculptors from The
celebrations for the occasion consisted of various ritual dance
performances. At the end of the program, the Indian sculptor
declared that he too wished to perform a dance for the contemplation
of the audience and proceeded to enthrall them with an exceptionally
energetic performance wearing a swirling costume and a large
wrathful mask, leaving the viewers in raptures. Towards the
conclusion of the dance, his physical form suddenly started
to shrink until finally only the giant mask remained on the
ground and there was no trace of the body of the dancer. Taken
aback by the bizarre turn of events, the monks rushed to the
chamber where the half finished statue of Mahakala lay. To their
utter surprise, the statue was complete. The sculptor had merged
with his creation, granting it an unparalleled spiritual potency. The
story does not end here however. Later they were informed that
the two companions of the Indian sculptor, who had declined
to stay on, had each made a Mahakala statue at two different
monasteries and had likewise mysteriously disappeared into their
respective creations. It was not long before the perceptive
adepts realized that these sculptors were none other than the
great god Mahakala in his various manifestations, incarnating
himself as the savior and protector of monasteries. Thus at
Ngawang's hermitage he was the Six-Armed Mahakala and had created
a sculpture of himself with half-a-dozen hands. In a similar
manner the other two had created icons of the Four-Armed and
the White Mahakala respectively. Collectively, they were named
the three Mahakala brothers and became vastly popular all over
Though
Mahakala's image is honored in all Tibetan monasteries, it is
only at Dhe-Tsang that he is regarded as a living member of
the sangha. Thus for example during offering ceremonies it is
still customary for the chant leader to announce: "Do not forget
the black man's share," and the same of what each monk receives
is also set aside for Mahakala and presented to his sacred image.
This tradition originated in the fact that when the so called
'black man from India' was sculpting the icons and was asked
what he desired in return for his services replied "Only that
much that is offered to the monks." When counting the number
of residents at this exceptional monastery, this generous protector
is also taken as a member. Excerpted
from wikipedia, De-Tshang, Geshe Damcho and Khenpo Karthar?¡¥s
teachings. |
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