Who is Vajrasattva
Vajrasattva is the Deity (also called a Buddha) who forms part of practices of many different Buddhist schools. In Tibetan Buddhism he is also called ‘Dorje Sempa’ and the meaning ascribed to his name is the ‘Diamond Mind’, or alternatively the ‘Thunderbolt Mind’.
The Vajrasattva Buddha is always pictured as a being of light, holding a dorje (or vajra) in one hand and a bell in the other. These are said among some to resemble the masculine and feminine aspects.
Through the ‘Diamond Mind’ of purity, practice of the Vajrasattva purification mantra is accepted to have a powerful ability to purify the practitioner’s being, and even thought among some to purify a measure of karma.
Vajrasattva Purification Practice
The practice of the Vajrasattva purification is found among all the Tibetan Buddhist Schools. The practice includes the recitation of the Vajrasattva Mantra by a qualified practitioner while performing a visualisation of the Vajrasattva being and seeing the purifying rays of His diamond mind purify the practitioner. (A more detailed description of the purification practice is given in a below).
The Need for Purification
In everyday life one performs unwholesome actions motivated by greed, anger, jealousy and delusion, thus leading to endless misery and suffering for oneself and those around one. The process of purifying ones negative actions, emotions and thoughts can be hastened by chanting the Vajrasattva.
We, our homes and our surroundings wherever we may be, can be purified of negative forces, allowing benevolent forces to enter. As we use the Vajrasattva daily we purify and awaken our minds to compassion – the wish for others to be freed from suffering – thus generating an altruistic mind which leads to Buddhahood, and the realisation of the ultimate nature of reality.
The Practice of Vajrasattva
The Vajrasattva purification practice should be performed daily, for example in the morning and the last thing before retiring to bed.
Whether meditating to purify ourselves, or using the Vajrasattva mantra to purify our surroundings, whilst chanting or listening to the Vajrasattva mantra, the following practice should be engaged in:
Visualise the Vajrasattva Buddha above your head, as the diamond soul, sitting on a white lotus. He is holding a dorje (vajra) in his right hand at his heart, and a bell facing upwards towards the dorje (vajra) in his left hand resting on his hip. Together the combination of the dorje (vajra) and bell are symbolic of enlightenment. He is transparent pure white light, symbolising His immaculate purity.
Hold the visualisation as clearly and steadily as possible, then see the pure white light pouring from the visualised Vajrasattva through your body and out into the world clearing away all negativities and obscuration. One can use the light to purposefully clear and dissolve away deep personal blocks and negativities.
The 100-sylaballed Vajrasattva Mantra is chanted, usually a number of times as the powerful purification is visualised to be taking place.
At the end of the chant dissolve the visualisation of Vajrasattva into pure white light allowing it to descend into your body, becoming one with you, with a strong intention to maintain harmlessness in thought, word and deed.
End the work with an OM.
The Hundred-syllable Vajrasattva Mantra
The 100-Syllable Vajrasattva Mantra interspersed with an English translation, is given herewith:
OM VAJRA-SATTVA, SAMAYA MANU-PULAYA
Oh Vajrasattva, keep your pledge,
VAJRA-SATTVA TVENO PATISHTA
Vajrasattva reside in me,
DIRDHO ME BHAVA, SUTOKYO ME BHAVA
Make me firm, make me satisfied,
SUPOKYO ME BHAVA, ANU RAKTO ME BHAVA
Fulfil me, make me compassionate,
SARVA SIDDHAM ME PRAYATA
Grant me all siddhis.
SARVA-KARMA SUCHA ME
Also make my mind
CHITTAM SHRIYAM KURU HUM HA HA HA HA HOH
Virtuous in all actions Hum Ha Ha Ha Ha Hoh
BHAGAVAN SARVA TATHAGATA
All the Blessed Tathagatas,
VAJRA MA ME MUNCHA, VAJRA BHAVA
Do not abandon me, make me indivisible,
MAHA SAMAYA SATTVA
Great Pledge Being.
AH HUM PHAT
Sealed with intent to manifest.
Listen to the Vajrasattva chant on the InfiniteOM CD or download. The full version can be used as a basis for the purification practice.