25th Jan is Heruka Day 🙂
A good day to meditate on universal compassion and the fact that nothing exists outside of our mind.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Buddha Avalokiteshvara
Wisdom and Compassion
“At present our mind is obscured by the inner darkness of ignorance, which prevents us from seeing the true nature of all phenomena; but by training in wisdom and compassion we can completely remove this inner darkness.”
Essence of Vajrayana, Geshe La
‘Wisdom‘ understands emptiness. Emptiness is how things exist. “Emptiness is not nothingness but is the real nature of phenomena.”
Everything lacks its own, inherent existence. This is the ultimate nature of phenomena. Everything comes from the mind, and even that doesn’t exist from it’s own side. It’s all just a mental fabrication. (Not so far away from the Matrix and its constructs in the movie. Geek fact – the Matrix was based on the ‘mind only’ Chittamatrin view of emptiness.)
‘Compassion‘ is not wanting others to suffer. Unbiased compassion“is not just for human beings but for every living being, including animals.“. That’s all animals as well, even if they’re not cute. However many legs they have.
‘Tantra‘ is pure. (In Heruka’s case Highest Yoga Tantra, and for Avalokiteshvara it’s Action Tantra.) It’s about creating pure lands, inhabited by pure beings – us!
If done right, the Buddhist practice of Tantra is the quickest and best path to achieving an enlightened state.
All this promotes a peaceful, therefore happy, mind for ourselves and others.
Who is Heruka?
Heruka is a wrathful deity.
He is Tantric compassion.
He is great bliss and the true nature of reality, which is emptiness.
He is powerful and completely pure.
Meditating on Heruka enables us to gain freedom from our current state of suffering, and to liberate others. This is a practice that can be beneficial now in our everyday lives; and become the cause of us being able to free all beings to the ultimate peace of great enlightenment.
image: Buddha Heruka and Vajravarahi
– Great Bliss and Emptiness respectively. I’ve included the pink lotuses and the fish to represent love, purity and harmony. Tantra allows these qualities to grow in our minds, and so in our world.
Kadampa Ryan gives some good insights into the practice of Heruka on his blog.
Jan 25, 2013 @ 15:17:39
Thank you for sharing your enlightenment. The world needs more wisdom and definately more compassion….that is so important.
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Jan 25, 2013 @ 15:49:04
Yes! That’s why it’s so beneficial that we’re promoting these virtuous minds – sending that energy out into the world. We’re all growing world peace by doing this. ☮¨*•.¸¸.❤
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Jan 25, 2013 @ 16:45:25
I agree totally!
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Jan 25, 2013 @ 19:26:00
deep listening… truthful answers…deeper insight…infinite returns on every moment we offer ourselves time to ‘not know.’
Happy Haruka Day.
~m
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Feb 02, 2013 @ 18:36:52
Yes Meredith, I think you’re right.
“The truth comes from a quiet place.”
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Jan 26, 2013 @ 14:57:06
Thanks for posting this – I enjoy opportunities like this to learn about different spiritual paths! 🙂 In this day and age of technology human beings have lost touch with the tangible world they live in. The technology distracts them from getting in touch with what Heruka represents. I am trying to practice unplugging from technology and keeping in touch with nature and reality!
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Feb 02, 2013 @ 18:41:14
Thank you Saymber, we can learn so much from the paths we walk next to, can’t we? Good luck with unplugging yourself as well ~ not the easiest, but well worth it!
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Jan 27, 2013 @ 02:11:28
Thnx for presenting Tantra as a means to promote wisdom and compassion :), I’m fed up with hearing its about sex all the time :(.
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Feb 02, 2013 @ 18:51:06
People do seem to get the wrong end of the stick with it, don’t they.
Best to forget any deluded gobshite about Tantra being about sex. Of course it isn’t. It’s a valuable practice that needs to be treated with respect. Selling Tantra with sex is a dangerous business. If anything, it’s kinda’ essential to have the relevant Tantric teachings and empowerment to practice it.
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Feb 02, 2013 @ 18:35:18
…Sorry for late replies guys.
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Feb 02, 2013 @ 20:00:14
I’ve always liked the Herukas. They never frightened me. I my dreams they smile.
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Feb 02, 2013 @ 20:04:03
Heruka is the nature of great bliss, so you’re right. Not frightening at all.
But it’s awesome that he appears in your dreams and smiles at you 🙂
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