This is a digital download.

Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava, came to Tibet in the eighth century and helped to establish Buddhism and extensively spread the Vajrayana teachings. By many, he is considered “the second buddha” and is revered both as an important historical figure and an enduring embodiment of enlightenment. In his biographies, he is described as having appeared in eight different forms which are depicted here in order to tame the minds of various beings.

This is a digital download.

This image is a depiction of Guru Rinpoche, in his form known as “Dorje Tötreng,” in union with his consort Mandarava. When practicing the Namchak Preliminary Practices (Ngondro), we visualize our teacher in this form and imagine that he or she is the complete embodiment of all buddhas, bodhisattvas, dakas, and dakinis. The guru and consort in union represents appearance and emptiness, method and wisdom, basic space and pure awareness, and the union of masculine and feminine energies.