Vajrasattva Visualization and Practice for Buddhist Healing and Purification

Why do many Buddhists consider purification practice to be the ultimate meditative practice? Why do Tibetan Buddhists consider Buddha Vajrasattva practice to be the most perfect and complete of purification practices? Do I need special instruction to practice this most profound purification and healing practice? We answer these questions and more in this presentation. Then, take a visualized meditative journey of body, speech and mind with a simple purification visualization and ends with 108 repetitions of the profound 100-syllable mantra of Vajrasattva.
CONTENTS
00:00 Introduction
01:00 The Goal in Buddhism of Purification of the Five Aggregates
01:11 Shakyamuni Buddha battles Mara under the Bodhi Tree (animation)
02:31 Buddha’s example of purification
02:49 Methods of purification including Vajrasattva Practice, the ultimate purification
03:28 Sound Psychological Concept of Buddhist Purification
05:13 The 100-syllable mantra introduction
FOR CHANT-ALONG with the SANSKRIT MANTRA pronounced correctly, see: • Vajrasattva’s Purifyin...
05:53 Vajrasattva is a complete practice in itself
06:32 Why is it so powerful?
07:19 How do we know it works?
“Mechanics of Vajrasattva Practice” a How-to
The Four Opponent Powers: Dependence, Regret, Remedy, and Restraint
VISUALIZATION BEGINS (Painting by Thomas Edwards art and animations)
FOR CHANT-ALONG with the SANSKRIT MANTRA pronounced correctly, see: • Vajrasattva’s Purifyin...
OM VAJRASATTVA SAMAYA MANUPALAYA
VAJRASATTVA TVENOPATISHTHA
DRIDHO ME BHAVA
SUTOSHYO ME BHAVA
SUPOSHYO ME BHAVA
ANURAKTO ME BHAVA
SARVA SIDDHIM ME PRAYACCHA
SARVA KARMA SU CHAME
CHITTAM SHRIYAM KURU HUM
HA HA HA HA HO
BHAGAVAN SARVA TATHAGATA
VAJRA MA ME MUNCHA
VAJRA BHAVA MAHA SAMAYA SATTVA
AH HUM PHAT!
ART CREDITS:
Thomas Edwards
on Facebook: / thomas.edwards.3975012
Laura Santi Sacred Art:
www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LauraSan...
or Laurasanti7.wixsite.com/laurasantisacredart
Partial Transcript
All Buddhist practices could ultimately be described by the goal “purification of the five aggregates” - through various forms of meditation and virtues. Purification is a core concept.
When Shakyamuni Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree, seeking Enlightenment, the sutras record the many things he visualized as he sat. Imagine that epic battle under the tree. Outwardly, we see only the Buddha, serene and still. Inwardly, the Buddha faced all the maras.
Clouds of arrows and spears whistle through the air, arcing up in a terrible cloud, now descending to pierce the Buddha. Yet Buddha sits, unmoving, his concentration so perfect that he sees only the true nature of mind. The arrows become lotus flowers, fluttering harmlessly to the ground. Next, he is surrounded by monsters and demons, with flashing teeth and roaring voices as terrible as nature's worst tempest. Then, he is confronted with alluring, seductive women - Mara's own daughters sent to seduce them.
Buddha reaches forward, and touches the ground. With the earth as his witness, he is shielded from Mara's defilements and temptations. His perfect shield from all these terrors is loving kindness, compassion, and wisdom.
This was the iconic attack of Mara, the tempter.
You can see these beasts as literal demons, or, in more phycological terms, as defilements to be purified.
This purification of defilements, as demonstrated by Buddha's fearless, unmoving battle under the Bodhi tree, is a core practice in Buddhism.
In Buddhist thinking, we all face Mara's temptations - as obscurations, impurities and negative obstacles in our daily practices. Like, Buddha, we can overcome them. We can purify the impurities through various profound methods, from mindfulness meditation to advanced visualization, such as Vajrasattva meditation, visualization and mantras - methods that involve all three of body, speech and mind....
#SpreadTheDharma #BuddhaWeekly #Buddhism @BuddhaWeekly #Vajrasattva
COMMENTS and COMMUNITY: Please be respectful in your comments, guided by kindness and Bodhichitta. We do appreciate corrections, however, we will not approve comments with corrections that are unsupported. If you wish to state "this is not correct" (bearing in mind it may be correct in one tradition and not in another) then it is important to INCLUDE YOUR CITATION (Which teacher or Sutra are you quoting.) Simply saying "This isn't true" is not a publishable comment. Why isn't it true? Or why do you disagree? We will also not approve comments with disparaging comments, regardless of the context. We will not approve any political comments, as we strive for a positive, spiritual community. Thank you for understanding!
FOR CHANT-ALONG with the SANSKRIT MANTRA pronounced correctly, see: • Vajrasattva’s Purifyin...

[@Starrichaldo]

Thank you so much for spreading the dharma. I am from a land where there's no dharma.🙏🙏

[@BuddhaWeekly]

So happy it's reaching you, Mark! May all sentient beings benefit! In kindness, Buddha Weekly 🙏🙏🙏

[@dawatsheringsherpa8610]

🙏👍💚Your next birth w'll be in Dharma Land, if you are interested in Buddha Dharma ok thank you.

[@tsheringzd]

Love from Bhutan 🇧🇹 ❤ 💕

[@gelekrapten5820]

I recite vajrasattava mantra every day and thank u so much for making it understand even better and clear. Thank u as always and i m truely blessed and it's all because of ur effort. I feel getting closer to all bodhisattva every single day.

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Wonderful, thank you for watching!

[@karensealy9782]

This is great 👌 I have been looking for a 'visualisation' for this practice for years, buddhaful 🌈

[@willoanz]

Thanks for the remarkable presentation of precious Vajrasattva practice ! May countless human beings ingage sincerly and thoughtfully into this blessed activity and, moreover, persist with it .

[@chandrasekarannagappan3528]

Thanks Namo Buddhaya Namo dammaya Namo sangaya sadu sadu sadu

[@BuddhaWeekly]

🙏🙏🙏♥♥♥🙏🙏🙏

[@thomasedwardsthangkaart6557]

omg i Love Love LOVE it! thank you from the bottom of my heart, its SO important that you depict how to visualise and what to do! its modern art, approproate for Dharma.

[@davidmickles5012]

This is beautiful thank you! Interesting that I ran across this sadhana at this time. I recently began practicing Kundalini Yoga and Advaita Vedanta "self inquiry" and have practiced/been Buddhism for many many years. I know that this is contrary to the wishes of many teachers but yes, I investigate many paths - mostly Vedic in origin. Personally speaking , I think all Dharmic paths or "spiritual methods" of humanity are slowly coverging, and for now all of them have some validity. It's not really the path IMO that's that important. I know that's perhaps not a conventionally accepted view but for now it's my view. Maybe karma will show me otherwise at some point. In this case, years ago I received Vajrasattva empowerment from a very accomplished rinpoche and even before that I've felt a connection to this practice & diety. Presently I actually find Vajrasattva purification practice fits well into Kundalini Yoga - but please all, don't listen to me, follow your gurus or teachers advice. May all beings realize their innate state of Vajrasattva. May all beings find Happiness. May they all be free of sorrow. May they never be apart from true Happiness free of sorrow. May they abide forever in equanimity, free of grasping, free of aversion. Om Vajrasattva Hum 🙏 Thank you!

[@innerwisdom9643]

This is really specific and easy to practice! Thanks for sharing Dharma.

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Our pleasure 😊 Thank you for watching.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@dawatsheringsherpa8610]

🙏🙏🙏💚👍👍 Thank you so much for your progressiv visualisation of Boddhisattva episode. Tashi Delek lha.

[@BuddhaWeekly]

🙏🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@heinzwurzer2345]

I would really like to meet somebody who really can perform this kind of komplex meditation

[@ugyendema2775]

BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI MANTRA 🙏🙏🙏🙇‍♀️

[@jrcoconutkiwi]

Thank you for this beautiful dharma practice ❤

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Thank you for watching!

[@sammovida1624]

Thank you very much , bless you my friend, Om Vajrasattva hung

[@BuddhaWeekly]

You're most welcome! Thank you!

[@AntoniioRdz]

Este vídeo es de muy buena calidad, desde las imágenes, los narradores, el contenido, todo. Muchas gracias por su esfuerzo por difundir esta practica :) Me gustaría saber más sobre la versión tantrica de vajrasatva

[@koehean9043]

Thank you for the wonderful, beautiful dharma practice.

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Thank you for watching! 🙏

[@middleway1885]

Om Ah Houm

[@oracleowen]

Om

[@loveguanyin789]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🌸🌸🌸✨✨✨Thanks for Greatly video✨✨✨

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Thankyou for watching 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@i_love_tibet7001]

Thank you so much for this great content and explanation of great Vajrasattva 🙏 🌷 This is a wholesome and never knew how important figure he was.... but I'm so glad learning more and more now. This is what every human need to practice at most. I want my kids to learn and recite this mantra too. 🙏

[@BuddhaWeekly]

So nice of you to share, thank you for watching!

[@caminoalavirtud566]

🙏🙏🙏🧘‍♂️🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️🧘‍♀️

[@dieterfrommunich758]

thank you❤❤❤

[@BuddhaWeekly]

You're welcome 😊 Thanks for watching!

[@user-ju6bc2zw2f]

Спасибо!

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Thank you again, so wonderful thank you. It means a lot to our volunteers. The Ten Perfections: "Giving, Virtue, Renunciation, Discernment, Effort, Patience, Truth, Resolve, Loving, Kindness, Equanimity." Much metta, BW 🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤🙏❤🙏

[@woeser.d9601]

🙏🙏🙏

[@deskitangmo5297]

🙏🙏🙏💐💐💐

[@voyage2152]

Mercisss

[@YAPDES]

OM AH HUM

[@BuddhaWeekly]

🙏🙏🙏

[@summerkid2503]

Can i visualize any enlightened being or must it be vajrasattva for this particular mantra?

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Hi Summerkid, The visualization you certainly could if you have your own Yidam. (meditational deity) -- in this case, your Yidam with light coming from your meditational deity into you. For the mantra, the one in this meditation has Vajrasattva's name in it, so maybe use the visualization with purifying light, but chant the mantra of your Yidam instead (for example Tara is Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha or Avalokiteshvara is Om Mani Padme Hum.) If you have a Yidam practice, the Sadhana's often start with Vajrasattva (or end with it) before you visualize your Yidam. This is because it's beneficial to purify before making offerings and praises to your Yidam. So, in this case, you first visualize Vajrasattva as indicated here, then do the mantra, then proceed to visualize your Yidam and follow your teacher's guidelines.) For example, in Vajrayogini Practice, Tara practice, and Yamantaka practices, they all have Vajrasattva visualization and mantras before the offerings -- as a purification and to put you mindfully in the meditative mindset so to speak. They often end with it as well. Hope that helps.

[@summerkid2503]

@@BuddhaWeekly Thank you so much! I don't have a teacher or a guru to guide me, but I was willing to try deity yoga anyway hoping it would help me in my journey. Would it be dangerous to continue without one?

[@BuddhaWeekly]

H Summerkid, Vajrasattiva, Amitabha, Tara, and Avalokiteshvara, -- for example -- do not require empowerment. There is not danger from Enlightened Buddhas. The danger is more "readiness" or your own practice and mind -- and the obstacles and fears we bring (but those we already have to face.) Therefore, it's best to have a teacher, and certainly you can easily find qualified teachers who teach online and even offer empowerments. (But empowerment is not the vital element until you're satisified you've found your teacher.) What I meant by "obstacles" is only that without a teacher you "skip" or don't benefit from preliminaary practices (of which Vajrasattva practice is one, along with other foundational practices.) Centuries of lineage teachers have established an order of teaching -- no different from any education -- starting with basics. The Vajrasattva practice presented in this video is actually a foundation practice, but, it's still beneficial to have a teacher. Your original question implies that you would benefit from a teacher (learning from books and magazines and KZbin channels is all helpful of course!) -- so that you can benefit from that orderly progression of teaching and advice if you need it. Why I said your question implies this, is you originally asked if you could visualize another deity in place of Vajrasattva. I originally answered with the thought you had a deity practice already -- not from the point of view of someone with no experience. If you don't have a teacher, yet, I wouldn't try "ad lib" meditations because what deity are you going to visualize? Vajrasattva is already a perfect Buddha, and a wonderful foundation practice, and helps purify obstacles and negativities. As for finding a teacher, many, many teach online. For instance, we just posted an event on BuddhaWeekly.com for White Manjushri empowerment this month. I believe there are many other suitable events -- many organizations and teachers have monthly events in most cases. You don't have to take empowerment, sit in on a few teachings to see if the teacher resonates. I hope that helps.

[@letellierletellier3365]

Bonjour je ne retrouve pas la belle méditation Vajrasattva Père mère que vous aviez créée pour le bien du plus grand nombre donc cette fin .est-ce qu'il est possible de la retrouver sur vôtre cite ou autre. Gratitude infinie namasté Béatrice

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Cher ami du Dharma. Désolé, il devrait être actif maintenant sur l'ancien lien, nous avons effectué une restauration. Merci d'avoir regardé. Avec gentillesse, vôtre dans le Dharma, BW Dear Dharma Friend. Apologies it should be active now at the old link, we did a restore. Thank you for watching. In kindness, Yours in the Dharma, BW ❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏

[@letellierletellier3365]

@@BuddhaWeekly 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@letellierletellier3365]

Est-ce possible de le retrouver Vajrasattva père/mère sur l'un de vos liens KZbin Gratitude infinie namasté Béatrice

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Oui, nous avons plusieurs vidéos. Pour les voir tous, essayez ce lien : www.youtube.com/@BuddhaWeekly/search?query=vajrasattva Je n'étais pas sûr de ce que tu voulais dire. Pour la visualisation c'est ici : kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2SWXomPlN1jas0&t Mais si vous cherchez un mantra chanté, nous avons une belle vidéo ici : kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqHKZZtqjdakh7s&t Faites-moi savoir si vous cherchez quelque chose de différent, j'essaierai de vous aider. Avec gentillesse, BW 🙏🙏🙏🐭

[@letellierletellier3365]

@@BuddhaWeekly gratitude infinie namasté Béatrice

[@reverie.garden]

If a person can't chant the mantra, will listening to it repeatedly help?

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Dear Dharma Friend, certainly, if you listen mindfully (even if you listen casually, there's still some benefit) (That's why we have a 2 hour mantra chant video -- for long listening sessions, here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqHKZZtqjdakh7s) For purification to truly happen you do need the four opponent powers(I call them the four Rs: Refuge, Regret, Resolve (or Refrain from negative karma) and Remedy) (as explained by Lama Zopa here:) "1) the power of the object, taking refuge in the Three Rare Sublime Ones and generating bodhicitta; 2) the power of regret, feeling deep regret for the negativity committed; 3) the power of resolve, determining not to repeat that negativity; and 4) the power of remedy, a practice such as Vajrasattva... " (Lama Zopa) In other words as long as you have Taken Refuge in the Three Jewels, you regret your past negative actions and promise to Refrain, and then listen to the mantra mindfully it is effective... (This should be a short daily meditation for most of us, since we all tend to generate negative karma in Samsara. Hope that helps. In kindness, BW.

[@reverie.garden]

@@BuddhaWeekly Thank you.

[@leonardgeorge8251]

Very good. But the video cuts off partway through the Mantra. That's not so good.

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Sorry for that. We did an edit using KZbin tools, but it's not the best for this. We'll be uploading a replacement video shortly. In the meanwhile, we have a separate Vajrasattva mantra video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqHKZZtqjdakh7s&t In kindness, BW. 🙏🙏🙏

[@user-ju6bc2zw2f]

Hi dear teacher ! Please help me 🙏 The days that I recite Vajrasattva or if I recite everyday I have to stay pure and can't have any animal food ? And I can't be intimate with a man? Or it is more about keeping my mind and actions towards other pure? I wonder how strict i should be ? Or I still can leave my daily life and be with my boyfriend ? I read somewhere if you do mistake in one day you have to start all from begging. Please answer me dear Teacher. Thank you 🙏🙏🙏

[@BuddhaWeekly]

The Buddha is the Teacher. 🙏❤🙏 The fact that you are reciting Vajrasattva with intention and regret is purification, and wonderful. The best way to purify is to keep in mind the eightfold path going forward: right understanding, right thoughts, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right meditation. When you recite you Vajrasattva it with a mind regret and the intention to follow the precepts in future, so you're already purifying. As long as you harm no one, and in fact try to benefit others, you are following the Rs of Vajrasattva practice (regret, refrain, remedy). As a lay Buddhist there is no prohibition on intimacy, and so on. (except for monks and nuns, of course.) You try to benefit others, and reduce the suffering of yourself and others. You don't not need to give up your ordinary living -- just think in terms of loving kindness for others. Buddha taught in positive, affirmative ways. He didn't say "don't do this" and don't do that. In other words think about what you can do to help others around you in a positive way. I'm linking the video on the Eightfold path, which is the most important teaching of the Buddha: "The noble Eightfold Path speaks in positive, warm terms. In this Sutra, Buddha taught the cure to the disease of suffering as eight positive affirmative activities that can help us rise out of samsara. Buddha did not establish "can'ts" or laws, but instead, coached us on what we can and should do. He taught by example and by inspiration, not by punishment and rules. In other words, he did not teach, "do not swear" or "do not lie," he suggested "right speech." Buddha taught us in affirmative terms. It might be easier, for example, to say "do not lie" but Buddha taught us instead how to generate loving-kindness as a remedy for harsh speech. He did not prohibit; he coached." The video on the Eightfold Path is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJ24mZx6Z5WSebc&t I hope this helps. In kindness, Metta, BW 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@user-ju6bc2zw2f]

@@BuddhaWeekly Thank you so much for your answer! ❤️ It is so important for me 🙏 I understand now. Bless you and your channel 🙏❤️ Your channel is one of the best, so wonderful and it's helping so much 💗 🌹🌹🌹

[@BuddhaWeekly]

🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤