Yamantaka Teachings by H.E.

Garchen Rinpoche
December 4, 2014, Translated by Ina Biele

The teachings of the our intention. Anything we do with angry attitude will
Buddha were taught become the cause of suffering. But any one of the four
for the benefit of all activities done out of altruism is beneficial.
sentient beings. First, It is also important to understand the meaning of all three
we need to know the levels of the Buddha’s teaching on the buddhist path—
Buddha’s qualities. Pratimoksha, Bodhisattva, and Vajrayana. On the level of
When one attains Pratimoksha, we recognize the faults of our afflictions. On
Buddhahood, one the level of Bodhisattva, we recognize that the root of fault
attains the qualities is grasping. On the level of Vajrayana, we realize that
of the three kayas. selflessness, and that our Buddha-nature is always there. In
The Dharmakaya is the beginning, one may think that Vajrayana is difficult to
the first, which understand, but it’s not. Since it’s not yet habituated, it feels
refers to the space- difficult. Everything has its outer, inner, and secret aspect.
like, all-pervasive Take a person as an example, the outer aspect of a person is
nature of mind, free the body that we see. The inner aspect is the temporary
from duality and afflictions and thoughts in the mind. The secret aspect is
limitations. It is neither one nor many, like space, it is their Buddha-nature. That Buddha-nature pervades all
indivisible. It is vast and profound. In that space-like beings. Because of this, on the level of the Buddha-nature or
Dharmakaya, all buddhas are one. Its nature is emptiness, Vajrayana, there is nothing to be liberated, there is no
but that does not mean nothingness. When sentient beings duality (subject and object), nothing to be slained. If there
fully realize the truth of emptiness, they attain the state of were any actual duality, then we would be committing
great bliss, ever lasting happiness. When this is attained, killing, cutting, and so forth. To kill something, there needs
they become buddhas and possess great, natural, to be two. In the reality of the space-like nature of the mind,
unobjectifiable, all-pervasive compassion for all sentient there is no agent to liberate and nothing to liberate. This is
beings who have not attained it. From the Dharmakaya, the the ultimate nature of Vajrayana, the purpose of all four
Sambhogakaya arises in many forms, for example, peaceful activities—to establish all sentient beings in enlightenment,
and wrathful deities. Also the Nirmanakaya arises to benefit to realize non-dual ultimate nature of reality. In that sense,
sentient beings according to their abilities, whom include all verse 16 of the 37 Bodhisattva Practices about the sick child
the sentient beings that haven’t attained enlightenment. The really fits for wrathful practice.
Nirmanakaya has many forms as follows. The incarnate Some people think that Yamantaka is a very distinct deity,
Nirmanakaya include tulkus. The created Nirmanakaya are different from other deities. Actually, the practice
images and statues. The manifold Nirmanakaya are any instructions are not specific to Yamantaka; we need to
natural occurrences that appear to bring happiness to understand the general meaning of a wrathful, enlightened
sentient beings, for example, the four elements and so on. deity. All the wrathful, enlightened deities arise from the
The mind is emptiness and compassion. From that arises the state of great compassion and bodhicitta, just like Manjushri.
forms of the emanations, Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya. For example, when a child is naughty, the mother will be
Regarding deities, the deities are Sambhogakaya, both wrathful to a child for the child’s benefit. In the same way,
peaceful and wrathful deities. Thus from the qualities of the the deities appear in wrathful form with many implements,
Buddhas, the Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya and etc. We need to understand the purpose of the
Nirmanakaya appear to benefit beings through the four ornamentations. Vajrayana is shown through symbols, signs,
enlightened activities of pacifying (to promote well-being), and actual meanings. Not something that someone made up,
increasing (for example to increase wealth, peace, and but they show us the nature of the enlightened deity that
harmony), magnetizing (to summon/restrain people), and appears to us naturally, like a rainbow in the sky because we
subjugating (to wrathfully oppose any enemy who may are endowed with buddha nature that possesses these
harm). When you have realized the meaning of all enlightened qualities. In the past, great masters accom-
phenomena, the four activities are explained in the 37 plished a deity, and through accomplishment, the deity
Bodhisattva Practices, especially in verse 16: If someone for appeared to them in an aspect. From that, the sadhanas arose.
whom one has cared as lovingly as one’s own child regards Such termas and teachings arose from their mindstreams.
one as an enemy, to cherish them as dearly as a mother does
During the deity generation, there are three important
an ailing child is the bodhisattva practice. There are some
aspects. First, clearly visualizing the deity, the implements
sentient beings who can’t be subdued through the first three
and so on (the clarity aspect). Second, recollect the meaning
activities, their karma is too strong. The only way to subdue
of the deity’s attributes and implements (the purity aspect).
them is through wrathful means. It is like a sick child.
Third, generate stable divine pride that “I am that deity” (the
Certain illnesses can be cured by medicine. Sometimes, we
stability aspect). Most important is to cultivate bodhicitta. If
need surgery. When we undergo surgery, it is beneficial, so
you have done that, you have cultivated the deity’s mind
we are happy about it, it is good for us. In the same way, the
even if the visualization isn’t so clear. The mind and life
wrathful activities have a curing quality. It all depends on
force of a deity is bodhicitta. You can see that your mind
is the mind of the deity, which is bodhicitta. This is how One of the wrathful ornamentations is the garland of
we also should recognize the essence of teachers as being human skulls. It is an outer sign, an outer aspect. The
the embodiment of bodhicitta. All practice is to cultivate inner symbolic meaning is cutting the head of our
bodhicitta – purify self-grasping and cultivate altruism. ordinary afflictions, the ordinary thinking mind. Ordinary
The real mind of the deity and all buddhas is in the sense that sentient beings who have not realized the
bodhicitta. The deity that appears in the mind appears like nature of mind are constantly afflicted. No matter what
a reflection in a mirror. When that appears, it is always in affliction arises, they don’t recognize it as an affliction.
your mind, it never leaves you. It is important to practice Some are able to overcome afflictions by cultivating
a Vajrayana deity in these three aspects—clear loving-kindness and compassion. For example, if you get
visualization (clarity), recollection of the symbolic angry with your child or partner, you will regret and
meanings of every aspect of the deity (purity), and stable cultivate compassion. Others can abandon anger on the
divine pride (stability). All three can be done in your basis of wisdom and mindfulness, for example, you get
practice simultaneously. When done so, all the habitual angry with a child, you recognize “this is a moment of
patterns will be purified. This is how you should anger”, then it dissolves in that instant. If you cut the head
understand the secret mantra practice. off an affliction, it collapses. If it remains ordinary, you
Vajrayana teachings are shown through signs, symbols will just be controlled by anger, say bad things, offend
and meaning. Take Manjushri holding a sword as an others, make them angry, and lead to more conflict.
example, the sign is the sword which symbolizes the Actually, lots of conflicts between countries and between
wisdom mind. The meaning is that the sword of the people arise from harsh words arising from anger. This
wisdom mind cuts delusions and afflictions. If the will only lead to conflict and more karma.
delusion of an inherently existing self and others is cut, All deities have a seat of a lotus flower. Lotus that grows
afflictions will not arise. If afflictions are cut, we don’t from a muddy swamp but remains undefiled, in the same
accumulate karma. The wisdom mind has the quality of way, bodhisattvas who appear in samsara to benefit
dispelling false perceptions of duality. Because sentient sentient beings, are not defiled by self-grasping, not in
beings are ignorant of our true nature, they perceive a self. bondage, don’t fixate on dualities, are undefiled by faults
From the self, they see the other. On that basis, we get of samsara. Then we often visualize a seat of sun and
84,000 delusions rooted in self-grasping. But when you moon, and above that, the seed syllable Hum. The sun
look at the mind directly, it is of space-like nature, symbolizes emptiness which is the nature of all
inseparable from outer space. The wisdom mind realizes phenomena. Phenomena do not truly exist, they lack
the nondual nature. The quality of the sword is cutting, it inherent existence. The sun burns all delusions away. It
can cut a rope that binds you. The symbolic meaning is refers to the Dharma. Moon symbolizes compassion. The
that it is a sword of wisdom that cuts the rope that binds light of the moon refers to the sangha, the compassion
you in dualistic perception and liberates you. It is light of sangha. The seed syllable HUM refers to the
important to understand the meaning of all the deity’s Dharmakaya mind of the Buddha. When you visualize a
attributes and ornaments since it is the purifying aspect of deity, the most important aspect is the mind of the deity-
visualizing the deity. Each ornamentation, each sign is an the seed syllable HUM. It is because the mind of the
outer representation of an inner symbolic quality of the Buddhas is related to your own mind.
deity’s mind. We should understand the symbolic nature The visualization of the sun, moon, HUM relates to
of Vajrayana. Through knowing these signs and symbols, birth. When the consciousness is about to enter the womb
one understands the qualities of the deity’s mind that of the mother, it is through attachment that one is drawn
correspond to our inner enlightened qualities. Bringing to the womb in between white and red drops of father and
these to mind can help us to purify our ordinary thoughts, mother. Actually father and mother are represented by
six afflictions, and self-grasping delusion that are the sun and moon respectively while your consciousness is
cause of the six realms of samsara. the seed syllable HUM which is ultimately Buddha-
Some beginners don’t feel inspired by the generation nature. When you have mindfulness, there is wisdom.
stage; dismissing it as “just another thinking in the mind.” Without mindfulness, you are in a state of delusion in
But we need it. It purifies ordinary perceptions. People samsara. Visualizing yourself in a pure form, you are
prefer meditation without concepts. But the purpose of purifying birth. Four types of generation stage are to
conceptual visualization is to eliminate ordinary mundane purify the four ways to take birth—birth through womb,
thinking. Our ordinary thinking creates more thoughts of egg, heat and moisture, and miraculous birth. These four
a concrete, solid reality and solidifies our attachment. stages should be practiced according to your mental
However, when we think of pure form of deity, the capacity. Generation stage also purifies and transforms
ordinary pure forms of thinking are purified. Then, when our aggregates, elements, sense sources, eight
we do completion stage, all those are completely purified. consciousnesses, and senses and their objects during the
That is why it is important to do (both) generation and vase empowerment. If you know that, you will really
completion. This is summarized in what the Buddha said, acquire the true powers of the generation stage even if
“perfectly purify your own mind.” you don’t know how to read the sadhana. If you can
visualize the deity and cultivate great devotion, you will
remember the deity in the bardo. You will become the A few words on my connection to Yamantaka. In general,
deity that appears but without inherent existence. In that the practices in Drikung Kagyu are from Dharmakirti.
instance, you become the deity, which is the power of the The foremost deity of Lord Jigten Sumgön is
generation stage. Even in this life, when you encounter Chakrasamvara, then Vajrayogini, and then Yamantaka.
problems, when you think of the deity, the mind’s This Yamantaka has been practiced in Gar monastery and
habitual thoughts stop, and the mind is relieved. Like heat throughout the Drikung Kagyu until 1958. It was a special
that melts thoughts. The thoughts are like cold weather strict and difficult retreat. Not quite the same as other
that solidifies thoughts. When we are overwhelmed, if we retreats. I said before that all the deities are the same, it’s
don’t understand the precious human body, one might not the practice that is different, rather it is the ways of
commit suicide. Because we believe so much in the practice that are different, there is a special way of
reality of our perceptions and our own identity. The practicing, of approaching the deity in this Yamantaka
visualization of a deity brings an end to our usual way of retreat. I practiced it from very young age until 1958. I
thinking, it brings benefit to this life, and when you leave always had very significant feeling and faith in this deity.
this body, the mind will think of the deity and become the There was an interruption from 1958 onward for 20 years
deity in the bardo. So you see the great power of the when I was in prison. When I returned from prison in
generation stage in this way. In general, the various 1980, I was able to find an old Yamantaka thangka image
wrathful deities of Vajrayana have the same qualities and which was hidden during the cultural revolution. That
they are practiced in the same way. thangka was from the time of the 4th Garchen Rinpoche,
Many people are interested in engaging in the Yamantaka I found it and restored it. Since then, this practice has been
practice. In general, we are taught the need to recite done continuously. First was in Tibet, then second when
Manjushri’s mantra. It is also advisable to recite A I came to India, I led a retreat, third was that I led
Concert of Names of Manjushri since all the meaning of Yamantaka retreat in Lumbini during consecration of
tantra is in these words. They contain tremendous stupa. After that, I brought it to the west. In the U.S., even
blessings. So if you practice Yamantaka after doing that, though it is quite a difficult retreat, and we didn’t
great blessings will arise in whatever Buddhist practice announce this practice widely, people got interested in it
you do. As Gampopa said, Bless me that my mind may anyway. In the beginning, in the U.S., we did it in a very
become one with the dharma. Bless me so dharma small group. Some with great merit and wisdom did it.
becomes the path. To be free of suffering, the root of We didn’t announce it, but more people got interested.
suffering is self-grasping, all afflictions arise from self- With whatever deity is practiced, if the approach and
grasping. That afflictive mind has created all the suffering accomplishment are successful, the activities will
in the past, present, and future through negativities, naturally increase. A special feeling arises in people. Of
imprints of self-grasping etc since beginningless time. course, this doesn’t arise immediately in some people,
Grasping of all sentient beings and of one single person and hardships occur, but this is because individuals have
are of the same nature. The point is to eliminate self- karma. At first, not feeling any connection, but then, it is
grasping. Therefore, when we engage in tantric deity like when the sun is shinning, and the ice is thick, but a
practice, we should not perceive beings that we encounter feeling starts to arise. A feeling that I have personally
as ordinary, rather we perceive them in the nature of the experienced in this practice. It becomes very popular
deity. Whatever appears, the surrounding is a pureland. naturally, even though it is quite a difficult retreat. But
All beings are deities by nature. Everything that is seen happiness, great blessings, and endurance purify much
has the nature of the deity. All sounds heard have the difficulty. However, at times there can also be signs
nature of the inconceivable. All thoughts arising in the showing that afflictions are getting thicker. For example,
mind have the nature of dharmata. This is the path of even Lord Jigten Sumgön, a great master, got incurable
transformation. The goal is to transform our normal leprosy at the edge of his enlightenment. He prepared for
grasping into pure perception. This is the main objective death. But when he generated such indomitable bodhicitta,
of the Secret Mantra Practice. the power of bodhicitta healed him completely and he
I have personally carried this lineage uninterruptedly. I attained buddhahood. Through bodhicitta, we can purify
have explained to my disciples, if one practices from the much negative propensities. Even if we are not able to
ultimate truth, Mahamudra, this practice will have great endure hardships like Milarepa, when you practice
power. By engaging in this practice properly, we can Dharma, a single headache can purify karma to be reborn
realize Mahamudra—the nature of mind, the in the lower realms. People come from all over practicing
Dharmakaya, buddhahood. This is why it is so significant. in various traditions. This form of Yamantaka, the version
Lord Jigten Sumgön in Gongchig, said: The 84,000 I have done, comes from the tradition of Gar Monastery.
collections of the teachings are all one as a method of I share this practice with my disciples that are interested.
achieving buddhahood. If you practice the deity So far, we have been able to establish this retreat in places
generation recollecting the aspects of clarity, purity, and in the U.S., Thailand, and Germany. The purpose is to
the stability of divine pride, any deity you practice will eliminate hatred and jealousy in the whole world.
become very powerful.