Page 163 - Popular Deities of Chinese Buddhism (Illustrated) and Symbols

In all, Padmasambhava stayed for eighteen years in Tibet, be-

tween 747 .. to 765 .., although some sources claimed that

he was there for fifty years. He then disappeared mysteriously

causing several speculations as to his whereabouts. ose of the

Nim-ma Lineage believe that to this day, Guru Padmasambhava

still come to visit and bless his devotees on the 10th day of every

lunar month.

e Lotus-born Guru is the embodiment of the entire lineage of

Teaching, both exoteric and esoteric, which has been transmit-

ted by words, mudras and telepathy through 2,500 years. He is

often depicted seated on a red lotus throne upon a white moon-

mat with legs locked in a vajra position. He wears the three royal

robes of the ree Yanas — Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana.

His right hand carries the golden Vajra (diamond-cutter) while

his left, lying on his lap, the Patra or ‘begging bowl which is

filled with the Nectar of Immortality. Clamped to his left side

is his special symbol, the Khatvarga, a three-pronged flaming

staff which has three human heads attached to it, symbolic of

impermanance and other deeper meanings. e Vajra, peculiar

to Vajrayana, is used by Guru Rinpoche to cast spells or exorcise

devils. On his head is a lotus cap adorned with sun and moon

and surmounted by a feather from a vulture’s wing. is master

of all yogas often wears a strange smile, compassionate but with

a hint of wrathfulness. If you are ready to accept him as your

guru some day, he may take your mundane ego and hang it on

his flaming staff. In return he will give you all the knowledge of

the universe and give you a drink of the Nectar to make you for-

get pain and dissatisfaction forever; his Vajra wisdom will also

