Vajrapani Retreat at the Atisha Centre, September 2005
We were privileged to enjoy a Vajrapani retreat with Venerable Dungyud Rinpoche at the Atisha Centre and its wonderful surroundings. During the two days, Venerable Dungyud Rinpoche gave Vajrapani initiation and explanation of the sadhana. Venerable Dungyud Rinpoche is the abbot of Driru Monastery in Tibet and the Sakya Monastery in Bir.
There are thirty three different forms of Vajrapani, with either two hands or four hands and they can be associated with other deities. They can be wrathful, peaceful or enriching. Buddha taught and introduced different deities for different reasons and methods to suit different types of people and so as to overcome their obstacles to enlightenment. For this retreat, the Vajrapani we practised was the wrathful one with the peaceful method, whose purpose is to clear away illusions. Venerable Dungyud Rinpoche explained the initiation, the blessing phases and the three sections of the practice. They are the preliminary, main and the concluding/completion sections.
During the preliminary section, we contemplated the four foundations: the preciousness of human existence, impermanence, the law of cause and effect and lastly the effects of samsara. Venerable Dungyud Rinpoche led us in reciting the refuge prayer, the generation of bodhicitta and the process of creating and accumulating merit and wisdom. All three aspects of the body, speech and mind are utilised to create and accumulate wisdom. The physical body is used to perform mudras, the speech to chant mantra, and the mind for concentration and visualisation of the Vajrapani deity. The completion section consists of air cleansing and the dedication prayers. For two days, we practised together and Venerable explained the sadhana with great patience. He emphasised the importance of hand mudras, the recitation of the mantra and the use of mala. The different colours, the quality of the material, the number of beads, and the different fingers used to move the beads have different meanings.
It was a weekend of intense practice and contemplation which was made an even more wonderful experience with an excellent group of company. Despite the intensity of the weekend, there was time to explore the foundation site of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion and the Exhibition Centre which houses the Holy Relics. The newly arrived 3.9 metre (12 feet) high statue of Guru Rinpoche made an impressive impact and has an imposing presence.
 
 
Vajrapani Poem
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The musicality of being is the clear tone of a bell
Destroying all mist which rises from below
It is the slashing sword which rends aside the veils of ignorance
Which cuts the power of Mara
Not mercy but destruction
Do not keep it, but dissolve it
The curves of blindness are dangerous as a poisonous snake
Ignorance is not tolerated by the wise
It is eliminated
In clarity only is there truth
No being, no form, no idea
Can be more important
Purify ruthlessly, cut off the tubers
Of slimy desires which ever cling
Growing, like mould upon the pure
Swamp tendrils ever curl up the arms of the wanderer
Hands rise up out of the muck, pulling him under
Alluring eyes call him forth,
Smiles beckon, and infinities of illusions rise up to him
To pull him down.
Do not give in, do not listen to the coiling voices
They are hollow, like spiderwebs, they are empty of knowledge
They are the knots of endless form, calling down food
That they may glut themselves
Wanderer along the path to heaven
My task is to aid you
If you are pure, my sword and knowledge
Are at your disposal
If you yearn after purity, yet cannot escape
The barbed tendrils and strangling life-slime
Meditate upon me, for my life is virtuous and my mind is free
Like an icy mountain lake, or a clear autumn evening
No illusions may exist around me
I am the shining jewel where no dust may settle
I am one trunk, with no branches
I do not scatter my energy in wasteful forms
Nor do I allow clouds to rest before me
I am clarity and wisdom, without blight.
I inspire the strong and noble
Who shun deception, and favour truth
For the world is full of lies
And the clear sword of Truth is needed
To pierce its darkness.
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