The Tibetan Yogini - Machig Labdron

International Women Day March 08,2018. It is to commemorate the movement for honoring the women's rights, as well as women who inspired and influence in our  society. [Featuring The Tibetan Yogini, Maichig Labdron] 

                           

Confess your hidden faults.
Approach what you find repulsive.
Help those you think you cannot help.
Anything you are attached to, give that.
Go to the places that scare you.

[The famous slogans of Machig Labdron]

As long as there is an ego, there are demons.

When there is no more ego,
There are no more demons either.
[The Chod teachings of Machig Labdron]

The Buddhist teachings that came from India were considered authentic and it was believed there were none that originated in Tibet. All the Dharmas originated in India, and later spread to Tibet. 

Only Machig Labdron's teaching and practice that made its way back to India from Tibet, it is an extremely effective and quick tantric method for attaining realizations of the path to enlightenment.

Machig Labdron ,In Tibetan is “ma gcig lab sgron” literally means “unique Mother” was a renowned 11th-century Tibetan Tantric Buddhist practitioner, teacher and Yogini who originated several Tibetan lineages of the Vajrayana practice of Chod.

Machig Labdron is often depicted with the attributes of a Dakini, a representation of enlightened female energy. She holds a drum in her right hand and a bell in her left. Her right leg is often lifted and the standing left leg is bent in motion. 

Machig Labdron is white in color with three eyes and wears the Six Bone Ornaments of the charnel grounds, which is traditional for a practicing Yogini. The different between Yogini and Dakini, the Yogini wears the six bones Ornaments and the Dakini wears five bones Ornaments and both are the wisdom beings.

As a child and young woman, Machig Labdron made a living as a liturgy reader. She was fortunate to be educated and patrons would hire her to read the Prajnaparamita Sutra or 'The Perfection of Wisdom', a Mahayana sutra text, in their homes as a form of blessing and to gain spiritual merit. 

Machig Labdron was known to be a very fast reader and so was in much demand as this meant that she could complete the entire text quickly and her patrons would have to pay for fewer meals for her while she read.

Even though Machig Labdron spent some time living with monastic, she was not a celibate nun; she partnered and had both daughters and sons who became lineage holders. One of her sons, even started out as a thief. Machig Labdron was eventually able to bring him to the Dharma and became his teacher.

Machig Labdron famous teachings to her son:-

You may think that the Gods are the one's who give you benefits and Demons cause damage; but it may be the other way round. Those who cause pain teach you to be patient, and those who give you presents may keep you from practicing the Dharma. So it depends on their effect on you if they are Gods or Demons. 

The Chod - The cutting through lineage
This is a field of merit from the Chod (cutting through) lineage. It features the Yogini namely Machig Labdron in the center of this Tangka printing. 

She is surrounded by other lineage masters and as well surrounded by the other semi-wrathful divine beings, the Dharma protectors from this lineage and the great kings appearing and the Buddhas of the three times are indicated above of Machig Labdron. With great Mother of Prajnaparamita and gifts bearing gods and goddesses are shown in this Tangka printing.

* Footnote

Please consult your Guru or a qualified lineage master for Vajrayana practice! Should a devotee even want to start studying and contemplating the Vajrayana practice, then it is truly necessary to first have completed the preliminaries and to be certain and sure that bodhicitta has arisen and developed in one’s mind.

Vajrayana features countless skillful and powerful methods which, if they are practiced in the proper way, can make the process of accumulation and purification incredibly swift and direct. It is absolutely necessary to have the pure motivation and to know that Vajrayana practice is not carried out to increase one’s own ego, power and self-interests.

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Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note
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