Materials: Painted, Resin, Polyresin

Size: 5 inches (approximately 15 cm)

Description:

Vajrasattva (Sanskrit: Vajrasattva, Tibetan: Dorje Sempa) is a prominent bodhisattva in the Vajrayana (Tantric) tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, symbolizing wisdom and purification. He is considered the principal deity of the Vajra Realm, representing the essence of vajra (vajra), indestructible wisdom and awareness. He is typically depicted in white, holding a vajra (symbolizing dharma) and a ghanta (symbolizing wisdom). He is often depicted alone or in a couple, embodying the union of emptiness and bliss.

Mythology

The story of Vajrasattva is rooted in Buddhist tantras such as the Vajrasattva Tantra and the Kalachakra Tantra, which place him within a mythological framework of the origin of the universe and the purification of all living beings. According to these legends, at the beginningless beginning of time, the universe emerged from the wisdom light of a Primordial Buddha (such as Samantabhadra or Vajradhara). Vajrasattva, an emanation of Samantabhadra, emerged from the heart of the Primordial Buddha. He manifested as a pure white bodhisattva, holding a vajra and a bell, and wandered the void, purifying all karma and ignorance.

A famous mythological plot recounts that in the distant kingdom of Omin, there lived a king named Sattva. His son, Dharmapala, was born with the thirty-two marks (characteristics of the Buddha), appearing to be the son of a chakravartin. However, at the age of sixteen, Dharmapala witnessed the court officials and maids indulging in alcohol, sex, and pleasure, with none practicing the Dharma. Feeling compassion for all beings, he vowed to manifest as a vajra deity if he could purify their karma. He then entered a state of meditation in a snowy mountain cave, visualizing the deity Vajrasattva and attaining vajradhara, becoming the purifier of all sentient beings. This story symbolizes the transformation from ordinary being to enlightened being, emphasizing the power of generating bodhicitta and purifying karma. Another version, derived from the Vajrasattva Sadhana, describes Vajrasattva as being born from a teardrop of Amitabha Buddha, charged with purifying the five heinous sins (parricide, matricide, killing an arhat, shedding the blood of the Buddha, and disrupting the harmony of the Sangha).

These myths are not merely narratives but also spiritual guides, teaching practitioners to emulate Vajrasattva's purifying nature through visualization and mantra recitation.

Origin and Historical Origins

Vajrasattva's origins can be traced back to the late Tantric period of India (circa 8th-12th centuries AD), first appearing in the Anuttara Yoga Tantra, such as the Hevajra Tantra and the Guhyasamaja Tantra, as an emanation of Vajradhara. Vajradhara is the ultimate deity of tantra, while Vajrasattva is its "sattva" (warrior) form, focusing on purification practices for beginners.

After its introduction to Tibet, Vajrasattva became the common deity of the Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug traditions. Padmasambhava is said to have introduced its empowerment practices to Tibet in the 8th century, considering them the foundation of "deity yoga." Later masters such as Sakya Pandita (1182-1251) and Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) further systematized its practice, incorporating it into the "Four Common Preliminary Practices" as the primary practice for accumulating merit. Today, Vajrasattva practice is widespread worldwide, particularly within Tibetan Buddhist communities, where it is considered essential for daily purification.

Benefits and Merits of Practicing Vajrasattva

In Tibetan Buddhism, worshipping Vajrasattva (or practicing Vajrasattva Dharma, which includes visualization, mantra recitation, and the recitation of the Hundred-Syllable Mantra) is considered the most effective way to purify karmic obstacles. Its benefits extend beyond personal practice and extend to liberation from samsara and the accumulation of merit for attaining Buddhahood. According to the Vajrasattva Prayer and tantric texts, practitioners can gain the following merits:

Main Benefits

1. **Purification of Karmic Obstacles and Sins**: Vajrasattva specifically treats the "Four Root Downfalls" and "Fourteen Branch Downfalls" (violations of the tantric precepts), such as killing, lying, greed, and hatred. Reciting the Hundred-Syllable Mantra (Om Vajrasattva...) once can purify the sins of one kalpa (an uninterrupted period); reciting it 100,000 times can purify all karma from beginningless time, leaving the mind as pure as a mirror. According to the Kalachakra Tantra, this practice can reverse cause and effect, transforming past negative actions into positive karma.

2. **Increasing Merit and Wisdom**: Practicing this practice accumulates the "two kinds of merit" (merit and wisdom), helping practitioners attain the wisdom of emptiness. Daily recitation strengthens concentration, dispels anger and ignorance, and brings inner peace and external favorable conditions.

3. **Protection and Longevity**: Vajrasattva, like a "rain of purification," can dispel illness, disasters, and the karmic obstacles of short life. Many practitioners report improved health and the elimination of obstacles after practicing, and even receive the deity's blessings and guidance in dreams.

4. **Altruistic Benefits**: Not only does it benefit oneself, but it can also benefit all living beings, purifying the karmic obstacles of family members and deceased souls, and helping them attain rebirth in the Pure Land.

Specific Merits (according to the scriptures)

The following table briefly summarizes the practice levels and corresponding merits, based on the Vajrasattva Tantra and the teachings of the great masters:

| Practice Level | Merit Description |

|-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| **Elementary (Daily Recitation)** | Purifies minor daily sins and cultivates good will; reciting 21 times eliminates karmic obstacles for the day. |

| **Intermediate (10,000 recitations or more)** | Purifies moderate to severe sins (such as killing and stealing); attains inner joy and the elimination of obstacles. |

| **Advanced (One Million Recitations)** | Purifies the five heinous sins and receives the blessings of Vajrasattva; quickly attains Mahamudra or Dzogchen, achieving unimpeded enlightenment. |

These merits can only be fully realized through practice with a sincere bodhicitta. Beginners are advised to practice under the guidance of a qualified guru to avoid deviations. In short, the Vajrasattva method is the "key to purification" of Tibetan Buddhism, helping countless practitioners to be liberated from the sea of ​​karma and move towards awakening.