Blaze of Fire in the Dark : Home Rites of Vajrakila, Vajrakila Texts of the Northern Treasures Tradition Volume Three, Rig-'dzin rdo-rje (Martin J Boord), Edition Khordong

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Blaze of Fire in the Dark : Vajrakila Texts of the Northern Treasures Tradition Volume Three
By: Rig-'dzin rdo-rje (Martin J Boord)

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Author: Rig-'dzin rdo-rje (Martin J Boord)
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9783942380201
Publication Date: 2015

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Description

Contents

Together with a perusal of the historical role of sacrificial and magical fire rituals (homa) in the tantric Buddhist communities of medieval India, this volume presents a wealth of new texts and translations from the Byang-gter tradition of Tibet. From the root texts of the wrathful homa rites of Vajrakila, revealed as Dharma treasures by Rig-'dzin rgod-ldem in 1366, this book traces the evolutionary development of these practices in the light of innovative ritual strategies taught by important holders of the lineage over the course of three generations. The major text composed by Rig-'dzin padma 'phrin-las in 1695 (Accomplishing All Deeds) has remained the standard work on this subject for more than three centuries, being regularly performed to this day at the mother monastery of Dorje Drak as well as among the wider community of those who follow the Northern Treasures Tradition in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Ladakh, and the rest of the world. Also to be found herein are vital pith instructions by the mahaguru Padmasambhava on the proper mental attitude and aspect of highest wisdom understanding that are to be brought to bear in the proper performance of these esoteric ritual practices.

Blaze of Fire in the Dark: Home Rites of Vajrakila, Vajrakila Texts of the Northern Treasures Tradition Volume Three, Rig-'dzin rdo-rje (Martin J Boord), Edition Khordong, Hardcover, 217 Pages, $ 65.00

Contents: Blaze of Fire in the Dark: Vajrakila Texts of the Northern Treasures Tradition, Volume Three

Introduction

Historical background 1

Design & measurement of the fire pit 3

General features of the fire ritual 5

Empowerment of the ritual implements & offerings 6

Blessing the tongue for the recitation of vajra speech 6

Blessing the mala of beads 7

Blessing the hands for mudra 8

Blessing the vajra 8

Blessing the bell 9

Blessing the skull drum 9

Blessing the musical instruments 10

Blessing the kila 13

Dharani of the cloud of offerings 13

Description of the sruc & sruva, known as wisdom and means 14

Lighting the fire 15

Observing the omens 16

Firewood, fuel & oblations 17

Burning an effigy of the enemy to be destroyed 18

General offerings for the fierce rite & the "most excellent food" 19

Outer & inner forms of the fire rite 22

Concluding prayers 27

Teachings on the rite of burned sacrifice from the Krsnayamaritantra with the Ratnavalipanjika commentary of Kumaracandra 28

Clearing away worldly conceptions with regard to the sacred hearth, A treasure text of Rig-'dzin rgod-ldem 40

The burned offering ritual for Vajrakila, A treasure text of Rig-'dzin rgod-ldem 45

Homa rite of the solitary hero, a violent method of final destruction, A treasure text of Rig-'dzin rgod-ldem 48

The homa ritual called A Mass of Fire at the End of Time, Composed by bsTan-'dzin nor-bu of Yol-mo 61

White Light Dispeller of Darkness, a pacifying fire ritual, Composed by Ngag-dbang blo-bzang rgya-mtsho (Dalai Lama V) 66

Accomplishing All Deeds, a fire ritual of the four activities, Composed by Rig-'dzin padma 'phrin-las 107

(1) The preliminary preparations 108

(i) The suitable person 108

(ii) The purpose of the rite 108

(iii) The appropriate place for the rite 109

(iv) The appropriate time for the rite 110

(v) Preparation of the ground 110

(vi) Drawing the hearth 113

(vii) Constructing the hearth 118

(viii) Gathering the items to be burned 119

(ix) Arranging the items of worship 121

(x) Appropriate clothing and ornaments 123

(xi) Being seated in the proper posture 125

(2) The main practice 125

(i) Self generation 125

(ii) Preparation of the flask 126

(iii) Blessing the vajra & bell 126

(iv) Blessing the funnel (sruc) & ladle (sruva) 127

(v) Blessing the offering articles 127

(vi) Blessing the items to be burned 129

(vii) Generation of the fire pit or hearth 129

(viii) Lighting the fire 130

(ix) Arranging the blades of kusa grass 131

(x) Making offerings to the worldly deity of fire 132

(xi) Making offerings to the wisdom deity of fire 147

(3) The concluding practices 167

(i) Requesting forgiveness for any faults in ritual performance 167

(ii) Dismissing the higher deities 169

(iii) Making offerings to the direction guardians 170

(iv) A thanksgiving offering to the worldy deity of fire 175

(v) Dismissing the worldy deity of fire 176

(vi) Dedication of merit and prayers for the fulfilment of wishes 177

(vii) Auspicious benediction 177

(viii) A dance of victory 177

(ix) Clearing away after the ceremony 177

Lamp that Clearly Reveals the Omens in the Fire, A treasure text of Rig-'dzin rgod-ldem 182

Afterword: a small teaching by Guru Padmasambhava, A treasure text of Rig-'dzin rgod-ldem 191

Illustrations

Six-armed Vajrakila and his consort, by Robert Beer vi

Agni, the deity of fire, by Nick Dudka facing page 1

The all-accomplishing mandala of Sridhara 3

Sruc & sruva, by Robert Beer 14

Mandala and fire pits for the rites of pacification and increase 32

Portrait of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, by Robert Beer 106

Vajrakila mandala of pacification, by Nick Dudka 114

Vajrakila mandala of increase, by Nick Dudka 115

Vajrakila mandala of overpowering control, by Nick Dudka 116

Vajrakila mandala of wrathful destruction, by Nick Dudka 117

Bali cakes of pacification 121

Bali cakes of increase 121

Bali cakes of overpowering control 122

Bali cakes of wrathful destruction 122

Fivefold set of bone ornaments, by Khonchog Lhadrepa 124

Performing the wrathful fire rite, by Nick Dudka 181

Hurling the Zor, by Nick Dudka 194

Chapter end-drawings by Robert Beer