Dharmapala
Dharmapala ( Sanskrit ; Tib . : chos skyong , German: Dharmaschützer ) is a term used in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism to denote protective deities of the Buddha's teaching . A Dharma Protector is an emanation from a Buddha or Bodhisattva or other spirit being whose main function is to avert the internal and external obstacles that prevent practitioners from attaining spiritual realizations and to ensure all the necessary conditions for their practice.
Types of protectors
There are a variety of different dharma protectors in Buddhism . Among them there are enlightened protectors, i.e. Buddhas who radiate wrathful forms in order to protect powerfully, such as Mahakala , one of the most important protectors in all traditions, as well as Palden Lhamo , the consort of Mahakala.
One must distinguish from these the originally unenlightened so-called sworn protectors ( Tib .: dam can (Dam Chen)), such as B. Dorje Legpa or Pekar . These are mostly ghosts and demons of the highlands of Tibet who, according to tradition, opposed the Buddhist masters centuries ago in order to stop the spread of Buddhism or to interfere with their practice. As a rule, they were conquered by powerful tantric yogis - especially Padmasambhava - and bound by oaths. The task of a Dharma protector is to protect the Dharma or to support practitioners in their practice. There are also general protectors who protect the entire Buddha-Dharma and also specific protectors who protect individual traditions, monasteries, teachings and traditions .
The eight most important Dharmapalas in Tibetan Buddhism are: Mahakala, Yama , Yamantaka , Hayagriva , Kubera , Palden Lhamo, Tshangs pa and Begtse .
In the Nyingma school, Ekajati , Rahula and Dorje Legpa are the three most important protectors, especially of the Dzogchen teachings. They are collectively referred to as Ma Za Dor Sum (Tib .: ma gza 'rdor gsum).
Subordinate role
Within Tibetan Buddhism, as in Buddhism in general, Dharma protectors play a subordinate role, since the receipt of the Buddha's teachings depends on the practices of ethical discipline , concentration and wisdom of the practitioners and has traditionally been entrusted to a large extent to the monastic traditions . There are protection calls in many schools , which are often carried out during the practice. The actual protection practice, i.e. practice on individual protectors as a meditation deity , is traditionally not practiced by newcomers. Protector deity practice is usually reserved for advanced practitioners.
literature
German
- Yeshe Tsogyal : The Lotus Born in the Land of Snow - How Padmasambhava brought Buddhism to Tibet . Fischer Taschenbuch, Frankfurt am Main 1996, ISBN 3-596-12975-3
- Namkhai Norbu : Dzogchen, the way of light. The teachings of Sutra, Tantra and Ati-Yoga. Diederichs, Munich, 1998, ISBN 3-424-01462-1
English
- Yeshe Tsogyal: The Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava . Dharma Publishing, Berkeley CA 1978, ISBN 0-913546-18-6
- René de Nebesky-Wojkowitz : Oracles and Demons of Tibet . Gordon Press, New York 1976, ISBN 0-87968-463-1 (Reprint of the ed. Published by Mouton, 's-Gravenhage 1956)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Heart Jewel, The Essential Exercises of Kadampa Buddhism; ISBN 978-3-908543-04-6 , Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Tharpa Verlag
- ↑ exoticindiaart.com: The Guardian Deities of Tibet (small list)
- ↑ Exoticindiaart article on Dharmapalas (English)