10 Benefits of Vajrayogini practice & how to practice, chanting 8 praises by Yoko Dharma
Why do many Buddhist teachers describe Vajrayogini as the one practice for our busy, hectic, terrifying times which can lead us, in one lifetime, to Enlightenment? Why is Vajrayogini the Sarva Buddha Dakini — the Dakini who is the essence of all the Buddhas? What are the ten benefits of her practice? How can we practice Vajrayogini now, if we don’t yet have the empowerment and permission of a teacher? We answer these questions, and more, in our brief documentary on the great Dakini Queen Vajrayogini.
PLEASE NOTE: A kind commenter indicated there is an error in the hard-coded subtitle during the fourth line of the chant. It should read: OM NAMO VAJRA SANI AJITE APARA-JITE VASHAM KARI-NETRA HUM HUM PHAT (pronounced Pey in the Tibetan). Please turn on CC and select English Subtitles (this is Sanskrit, but we have entered the Sanskrit in the English) and display it if chanting along. (Full chant also below, as text).
EVENT Note: a Special Empowerment and two-week initiation and retreat for Vajrayogini is scheduled at Tashi Choling with Venerable Zasep Rinpoche in April 29th to May 14th, 2023. Information here:
At the end of this video, don’t miss the amazing Yoko Dharma chanting the glorious eight lines of praise to Vajrayogini in Sanskrit with beautiful meditative images.
Increasingly, modern life is almost too hectic for deep yogic practices that can lead to Enlightenment in one lifetime.
Today, most of us do not have the luxury of retiring to a cave for hermetic practice over many years.
Although all Buddhist practices potentially can lead to Enlightenment in one lifetime, Vajrayogini practice — above all others — is the one recommended by teachers for modern times.
Why?
Clarity and simplicity.
Brevity — yet a comprehensive practice.
Easy — yet advanced.
Her visualization is not difficult even for those who have trouble with visualizations.
Her practice is complete — containing all the 11 Yogas required to generate the Enlightened mind — yet can be accomplished in an astonishingly brief period of time.
Her practice doesn’t require “retiring from the world“ — in fact, it is encouraged to use our “daily lives“ as an opportunity to practice.
One of the 11 Yogas of Vajrayogini is the Yoga of Daily Activities.
Another is the Yoga of Sleeping.
There is even the Yoga of Awakening.
And the Yoga of Tasting Nectar — which we can combine with our morning breakfast.
In other words, our daily, modern lives become the practice!
The ten benefits of Vajrayogini practice are also highly appropriate in modern times. Whether you are concerned with the suffering of daily life, the stress of “making a living“ or even health issues, Vajrayogini practice is helpful in these practical ways. It is also the ultimate advanced practice — a complete path to Enlightenment exemplified in the 11 Yogas of Vajrayogini.
FULL EIGHT LINES OF PRAISE:
OM NAMO BHAGAVATE BAGAVATE BAGAVATE VAJRA VARAHI BAM HUM HUM PHAT
OM NAMO ARYA APARA-JITE TRAI-LOKYA MATI VIDYESHVARI HUM HUM PHAT
OM NAMO SARVA BHUTA BHAYA VAHE MAHA VAJRA HUM HUM PHAT
OM NAMO VAJRA SANI AJITE APARA-JITE VASHAM KARI-NETRA HUM HUM PHAT
OM NAMO BRAHMANI SHOSHANI ROSHANI KRODHE KARALENE HUM HUM PHAT
OM NAMO TRASANI MARANI PRABHADANI PARAJAYE HUM HUM PHAT
OM NAMO VIJAYE JAMBHANI STAMBHANI MOHANI HUM HUM PHAT
OM NAMO VAJRA VARAHI MAHA YOGINI KAME-SHVARI KHAGE HUM HUM PHAT