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Kadampa Buddhist Deities & Special Days
The Four Kadampa Guru Deities
The personal Deities of daily practice for Kadampa practitioners are Buddha Shakyamuni, Avalokiteshvara, Green Tara and Dorje Shugden. These four holy beings have a special connection with Kadampa practitioners.
Buddha Shakyamuni
Buddha Shakyamuni is the founder of Buddhism in this world, and the principal object of refuge for all Buddhists. He is holding a begging bowl filled with three nectars indicating that he has conquered the ‘demons’ of uncontrolled death, a contaminated body and mind, and delusions. He is touching the ground indicating his power to subdue all negative forces.
Buddha Avalokiteshvara
Avalokiteshvara is an enlightened being who is a manifestation of all Buddhas’ compassion. He is known as the ‘Buddha of Compassion’.
He usually appears as white in colour with four arms. His first two hands pressed together at his heart symbolize respect for his Spiritual Guide, and hold a jewel symbolizing his own enlightenment. His second left hand holds a white lotus flower, symbolizing his complete purity of body, speech and mind; and his second right hand holds a crystal mala, symbolizing that he can free all living beings from samsara.
Buddha Green Tara
Green Tara, or Arya Tara, is a female Buddha, a manifestation of the ultimate wisdom of all the Buddhas. Tara is also known as the ‘Mother of the Conquerors’.
When we are young we turn to our worldly mother for help. She protects us from immediate dangers, provides us with all our temporal needs, and guides and encourages us in our learning and personal development. In the same way, during our spiritual growth we need to turn to Arya Tara for refuge. She protects us from all internal and external dangers, and she guides us and inspires us with her blessings as we progress along the spiritual path.
Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden
A Dharma Protector is an emanation of a Buddha or a Bodhisattva whose main functions are to avert the inner and outer obstacles that prevent practitioners from gaining spiritual realizations, and to arrange all the necessary conditions for their practice.
In Tibet, every monastery had its own Dharma Protector, but the tradition did not begin in Tibet; the Mahayanists of ancient India also relied upon Dharma Protectors to eliminate hindrances and to fulfil their spiritual wishes.
Highest Yoga Tantra Deities
Heruka and Vajrayogini are enlightened Deities of Highest Yoga Tantra. Tantra, also known as ‘Secret Mantra’ or ‘Vajrayana’, is a special method to purify our world, our self, our enjoyments and our activities; and if we put this method into practice we will very quickly attain enlightenment.
Buddha Vajrayogini
Vajrayogini is a female enlightened Deity of Highest Yoga Tantra who is the manifestation of the wisdom of all Buddhas. Her function is to guide all living beings to the Pure Land of Keajra, or Pure Dakini Land. The various aspects of her body reveal the basis we need to abandon, the spiritual path that we need to practice and the result that we need to accomplish to attain the fully enlightened state.
Buddha Heruka
Heruka is an enlightened Deity of Highest Yoga Tantra who is the manifestation of the compassion of all Buddhas. He is also the embodiment of the union of the very subtle blissful mind and emptiness, the ultimate nature of all things, symbolized by his embracing Vajrayogini (also known as Vajravarahi). The various aspects of his body reveal what we need to abandon, the spiritual path that we need to practice and the result that we need to accomplish.
You can read more about Heruka in the book Essence of Vajrayana.
Kadampa Buddhist Masters
Atisha
Atisha (982-1054) was a great Buddhist Master and scholar who founded the Kadampa tradition and who re-established Buddhism in Tibet. Originally from India and known by the ordained name Dhipamkara Shrijana, Atisha mastered the teachings of both Hinayana and Mahayana and was held in respect by Teachers of both traditions. Atisha was like a king, the crown-ornament of Indian Buddhists, and was regarded as a second Buddha.
Je Tsongkhapa
Je Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) was a great Tibetan Buddhist Master whose ordained name was Losang Dragpa. Although he was an emanation of the Wisdom Buddha Manjushri, he did not appear as a special, exalted being but manifested as an ordinary, humble practitioner. Je Tsongkhapa realized that the best way to help living beings to overcome their ignorance was to set a good example and to give clear and profound teachings.
Prayers & Special Days
The Kadampa calendar includes special monthly practices and annual celebrations of auspicious days. These are usually marked by particular prayer practices or special events at Kadampa Meditation Centers throughout the world.
