Dolma Tsitamani Empowerment

Khenrinpoche of Gyumed Monastery, Hunsur

Dolma Tsitamani Empowerment
by Gyurmed Khenrinpoche Tashi Tsering
14th August 2014, Thursday

Gyumed Khenrinpoche gave Dolma Tsitamani empowerment to a group of Buddhist devotees headed by Mr. Hiraoka of Seifu Gakkuen. He started with a brief introduction of Tibetan Buddhism, and how this empowerment is a part of Vajrajyana Buddhism of Tibet. We say Tibetan Buddhism, but it originated from India. Buddhism lost its vigour and followers in India, and Tibetan learnt and preserved it so perfectly that it came to be known as Tibetan Buddhism.

Buddhism is broadly categorized as: Hinayana and Mahayana. The former is based on the teaching of Sutra, whereas the later is based on the teaching of both Sutra and Tantra. The difference between the two vehicles is that Hinayana adopts wisdom aspect of the Buddhist practice, and attainment of Nirvana for oneself. The Mahayana adopts both Wisdom and Method aspect of Buddhist practice and attainment of enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings. Wisdom aspect of Buddhist practice is to realize the true nature of every phenomenon as empty of objective existence - wisdom to understand emptiness. སྟོང་ཉིད་རྟོགས་པའི་ཤེས་རབ།

This understanding of the emptiness of all phenomena of independence existence is discussed under four schools of Buddhist philosophy: Vaibhashika, Suatanrika, Cintamani and Madhyamika. Of which Madhyamika is most popular. General understanding of the philosophy is that all the things that we see are composition of different things and that there is no objective or intrinsic existence. We name and designate the things; there is no independence existence of the things by itself. Therefore, all phenomena exist subjectively but are empty of objective existence.

Practice of Dolma Tsitamani is Tantra, where Method aspect of Buddhist practice is engaged. The Method aspect of the practice is generation and realization of Boddhicitta mind. This means to practice with a sincere motivation to attain enlightenment for the sake of all other sentient beings. Empowerment of Dolma Tsitamani is done to receive the blessing of Boddhisattva Dolma and enhance the effect of the practice. In order to meditate on deities, it is important to know the emptiness. In this Tantra practice one need to meditate and visualize oneself as Dolma. In order to do so, one needs to receive proper empowerment to ahead with the practice. And the empowerment is to be received with sincere motivation to benefit all the sentient beings.

Soldeb, a request is made to the Lama with Mandala offering to grant the empowerment. This is followed by taking the vow of Boddhicitta to help and benefit others through this empowerment. While receiving empowerment, you have to think the deity and the lama as same. You are receiving the blessing of the deity through the Lama. Just like a mirror is needed in between the wood and sun to generate fire, a Lama is needed to feel the presence of the deity within you. Five types of Dolma in white, red, blue, yellow and green is visualized at crown, throat, heart, navel and the sacred chakra. Repetition of Tara mantra "Om tare tutare ture saha" is done after the Lama's recitation, while doing so one need to visualize a Green Dolma in the bosom of the Lama and the mantra coming out from his mouth getting straight into your mouth and dissolving into the Green Tara within your heart. Recitation of mantra in our daily life is important to feel the presence of the deity with us.  

Novice monks practicing debate in the Chora

This is how the empowerment of Dolma Tsitamani was done by Khenrinpoche of Gyumed Monastery at Hunsur in South India.

Above is a note taken by the writer, error or omission cannot be ruled out. Serious students are requested to consult and confirm from authentic teachers