Chapter 2 Members Dharma Series - Meeting the Difficult Person (Part 1)

Troma Nagmo 

(also known as Krodhakali)

The Dharma Companion Series

Members Dharma Series – Chapter Three

Meeting the Difficult Person

Compassion Without Becoming Naïve

Exclusive reflections prepared with gratitude for supporting members.

"Conquer anger by love, conquer evil by good, conquer the miser by generosity, and the liar by truth."

— Dhammapada, Verse 223

---

Introduction

Dear Dharma Friends,

As we continue our journey together, we now arrive at one of the most challenging areas of Dharma practice—not meditation cushions, sacred texts, or quiet retreats, but our encounters with difficult people. 

Sooner or later, every practitioner meets someone whose words or actions test the very compassion they aspire to cultivate. It may be a family member who repeatedly criticises us, a colleague who acts unfairly, a stranger whose anger catches us by surprise, or even someone within a Buddhist community whose behaviour disappoints us.

During such moments, our understanding of the Dharma is no longer merely intellectual. It becomes deeply personal.

It is relatively easy to speak about compassion when life is peaceful. The real challenge arises when compassion meets hostility, misunderstanding, or injustice.

Does Buddhism ask us simply to endure everything in silence? Should forgiveness mean allowing harmful behaviour to continue? Can we establish healthy boundaries while still wishing others well? 

These are not easy questions, yet they are questions every sincere practitioner eventually faces.

This chapter explores an important truth:

Compassion is not weakness, and wisdom is not coldness. Together, they allow us to respond to difficulty without losing either kindness or clarity.

---

1. Why Difficult People Become Our Unexpected Teachers

Most of us naturally prefer pleasant relationships. We enjoy the company of people who encourage us, appreciate us, and make life feel comfortable. Yet the Dharma gently reminds us that comfort alone rarely transforms the heart.

Ironically, it is often the difficult people in our lives who reveal where our practice still needs to grow. Their words may expose our impatience. Their criticism may uncover hidden pride. Their behaviour may reveal attachments that we never realised were present.

If these reflections have brought some warmth, clarity, or genuine shift in the heart, you are warmly welcome to support this work. Every offering helps keep the lamp burning for those still finding their way. 

(Payments are processed securely via PayPal.) :

This does not mean that harmful behaviour is good or should be encouraged. Rather, it means that every difficult encounter offers an opportunity to observe our own mind with greater honesty.

Instead of asking only,

"Why is this person treating me this way?"

the Dharma gently invites another question:

"What is this situation revealing about my own mind?" 

Sometimes the answer is uncomfortable. Perhaps we discover impatience. Perhaps fear. Perhaps the subtle desire always to be appreciated or understood.

These discoveries are not failures. They are opportunities. The moment we recognise an unwholesome habit, we also gain the opportunity to transform it.

Enjoyed this reflection? Unlock the full article—and our complete library of exclusive weekly teachings—by becoming a supporting member today. 

If my writings or reflections resonate with you, you may support this Dharma page quietly — subscription starts from MYR 2.49/month (≈ USD 0.59)

 Subscribe here to continue your journey with us: 

---

2. Compassion Does Not Mean Accepting Harm

One of the most common misunderstandings about Buddhism is the belief that compassion requires us to accept every form of mistreatment without response. This is not what the Dharma teaches.

Compassion never asks us to support harmful behaviour, whether directed towards ourselves or towards others. Allowing unwholesome actions to continue unchecked may actually increase suffering for everyone involved.

Healthy boundaries can therefore become expressions of wisdom rather than rejection. Saying "no" respectfully, stepping away from harmful situations, or refusing to encourage destructive behaviour can all arise from genuine compassion.

The important question is not simply what we do, but how we do it. If our actions arise from anger, revenge, or hatred, suffering increases. If they arise from clarity, goodwill, and concern for everyone's wellbeing, then even a firm response can become an expression of compassion.

The Dharma encourages us to protect the heart without hardening it. This is the delicate balance between kindness and wisdom.

---

(Continue with Members Dharma Series – Chapter Three, Part Two)

Chapter 3: The Architecture of Visualization – The Nyingma Tradition

The Architecture of Visualization – The Nyingma Tradition

In the Nyingma lineage, Guru Yoga is more than a preliminary practice; it is the ultimate path to realization. Having explored the devotion required in Chapter 2, we now turn to the Architecture of Visualization. Specifically, we look at the practice centered around Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), the Precious Master who embodies the wisdom of all Buddhas. 

The Field of Merit: Summoning the Presence

The practice often begins with the Seven-Line Prayer, a powerful invocation that transcends ordinary words. The practitioner visualizes Guru Rinpoche not as a distant historical figure, but as a living presence of light and wisdom. He sits upon a lotus, sun, and moon disc—symbolizing the purity and clarity of the enlightened mind—surrounded by a vast assembly of lineage masters, dakinis, and dharma protectors.

Every detail of Guru Rinpoche’s form is a symbolic teaching. His Khatvanga staff represents the mastery of energies, while his semi-wrathful gaze signifies the power to pierce through the thickest veils of ego and delusion. 

Support & Reflection

If you enjoy my articles and would like to support my creative work, you can make a small contribution below. Your support helps me continue writing and sharing more inspiring stories. (Payments are processed securely via PayPal .)

The Four Empowerments: The Transmission of Light

A central technical component of Nyingma Guru Yoga is the reception of the Four Empowerments. This is visualized as concentrated rays of light emanating from the Guru’s three centers and dissolving into our own, purifying our karma at the root: 

• The White Light (OM): Radiant light from the Guru’s forehead enters our own forehead, purifying the negative karmas of the Body.
• The Red Light (AH): Vibrant light from the Guru’s throat enters our throat, purifying the obscurations of Speech and energy.
• The Blue Light (HUNG): Deep sapphire light from the Guru’s heart enters our heart, purifying the delusions of the Mind.
• The Fourth Empowerment: All three lights merge, or a clear light emanates, leading us to recognize the Vajra Wisdom—the non-dual nature of our own mind and the Guru’s mind.

Dissolution into the Great Perfection

The practice culminates in the dissolution. Guru Rinpoche melts into a sphere of radiant light and merges into the practitioner’s heart. In this moment, the boundary between "teacher" and "student" vanishes. We rest in the state of Dzogchen—the Great Perfection—simply abiding in pure, effortless awareness, where our ordinary mind is recognized as the Buddha himself. 

---

Support & Reflection

If my writings or reflections resonate with you, you may support this Dharma page here — subscription starts from MYR 2.49/month (≈ USD 0.60).

Footnote: This article is intended solely for general illustration and educational reading. It does not disclose any secret tantric texts or teachings, and makes no attempt to transmit esoteric instructions that are restricted or require formal empowerment. 

All effort has been made to respect the sacred boundaries of Vajrayana practice and to uphold the integrity of samaya vows and Dharma protectors.

Thank you for reading. May you find peace and great bliss. Your support helps spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turn the Dharma wheel in the world.

Aspiration for Bodhichitta

May the precious Bodhichitta, which has not yet arisen, arise and not diminish, but rather increase further and further. 

Dedication of Merit

By this merit, may we swiftly attain omniscience. Having overcome the enemies of wrongdoing, may we liberate all beings from the ocean of existence, with its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness, and death.

Note: I do not own or infringe any copyright on the picture(s). Picture(s) courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and/or studios. The picture(s) are intended for editorial use only.

Chapter 3: The Meaning of Transmission in Vajrayana Buddhism

In Vajrayana Buddhism, the concept of transmission is central to the path of awakening. Unlike general academic learning or self-guided spiritual practice, Vajrayana requires direct transmission from a qualified master. This sacred process ensures that the teachings are authentic, alive, and unbroken, passed from master to disciple through an unbroken lineage going back to the Buddha himself. 

What Is Transmission?

Transmission, or “lung” (ལུང་) 

In Tibetan refers to the master’s formal oral or energetic bestowal of a teaching. This can take the form of:

Reading Transmission (lung) – where the lama reads or recites sacred texts aloud to the disciple, thereby blessing them with the authorization to study, practice, or even teach that text.

Empowerment (wang) – a ritual initiation that opens the student’s inner capacity to practice a specific deity or tantric method.

Pith Instruction (tri) – personal guidance based on the teacher’s experience, helping the student internalize and realize the essence of the teachings.

These are not symbolic acts. In the Vajrayana view, transmission directly plants the seed of realization into the disciple’s mindstream, making advanced practices accessible and fruitful.

🔹 Why Is Transmission So Important?

Vajrayana teachings are often esoteric, involving complex visualizations, mantras, and subtle energy work. Without proper transmission, there's a high risk of misunderstanding or misapplying the teachings, which can even be harmful in some cases. Receiving transmission ensures:

The student is spiritually authorizepd to engage in the practice. The blessings of the lineage flow through the teacher into the disciple. The teaching is preserved in its purest and most effective form.

Transmission also binds the disciple to the samaya vows, a set of commitments to uphold the integrity of the teachings and the relationship with the guru.

🔹 The Living Lineage

Every authentic Vajrayana lineage maintains a careful record of its transmission history. For example, in the Nyingma tradition, teachings such as Dzogchen are transmitted through an unbroken line of masters and are considered “terma” or treasure teachings, discovered at the right time by tertöns (treasure revealers). 

In the Gelug, Kagyu, and Sakya schools, lineages of empowerments and oral instructions are also carefully maintained.

The living lineage is more than history — it’s a channel of blessing, a stream of wisdom that continuously flows from one generation to the next, carrying the awakened mind of the Buddhas to modern practitioners.o{

🔹 Receiving Transmission with Devotion

To receive transmission effectively, the disciple must come with:

1. Faith in the lineage and teacher,
2. Purity of intention
3. Readiness to practice the teaching with discipline.

Transmission is a two-way process — while the guru gives, the disciple must receive with a devoted heart and open mind. Without this inner readiness, even the most profound teachings may not take root.

🪷 Closing Thoughts

In the Vajrayana path, devotion is not blind faith, but a flame that lights the way through confusion and doubt. The guru is not worshipped as a person, but as a mirror — reflecting our own potential for awakening.

When we open our hearts with sincerity and humility, the blessings of the lineage flow naturally. Like a seed planted in fertile soil, devotion allows the teachings to blossom from within.

In this sacred bond between guru and disciple, we discover the alchemy of transformation — where ordinary perception dissolves, and the radiant mind of enlightenment begins to shine.

A little support goes a long way! If you’d like to help me keep creating, you can donate via PayPal at below : 

Note

*This article is intended solely for general illustration and educational reading. It does not disclose any secret tantric texts or teachings, and makes no attempt to transmit esoteric instructions that are restricted or require formal empowerment. 

All effort has been made to respect the sacred boundaries of Vajrayana practice and to uphold the integrity of samaya vows and Dharma protectors.*

Thank you for reading. May you find peace and great bliss. Your support helps spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turn the Dharma wheel in the world.

Aspiration for Bodhichitta:

May the precious Bodhichitta, which has not yet arisen, arise and not diminish, but rather increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit:

By this merit, may we swiftly attain omniscience. Having overcome the enemies of wrongdoing, may we liberate all beings from the ocean of existence, with its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness, and death.

Note

I do not own or infringe any copyright on

the picture(s).

Picture(s) courtesy and credit to the rightful

distributors and/or studios

The picture(s) are intended for ed itorial use only.

The Four Aspects of Empowerment Rituals

The Function of Empowerment

Empowerment is to ripen or mature our buddha nature. Even though all beings possess the Buddha nature, without receiving empowerment it is not posspible to receive blessings and accomplishments through a particular practice, just as it will never be possible to get oil by pressing sand.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama says:

When an empowerment is conferred on you, it is the nature of your mind—the Buddha nature—that provides a basis upon which the empowerment can ripen you. 

Through the empowerment, you are empowered into the essence of the buddhas of the five families. In particular, you are ‘ripened’ within that particular family through which it is your personal predisposition to attain Buddhahood. 

What Is Empowerment? 

Receiving a Vajrayana Empowerment is like planting a seed for enlightenment. A special and sacred rite, empowerment prepares our body, speech, and mind just as tilling the soil and adding nutrient-rich compost encourages the seed to sprout and grow. 

Even though we are Buddha nature, our self-doubts and confusion often keep us from connecting to it. So, empowerment is an important step toward our own enlightened mind. 

An empowerment will introduce those attending to a single meditational deity, creating an auspicious connection with the awakened energies that the deity represents. 

After empowerment and instruction, a meditator is able to practice the meditation associated with that deity. This is a process in which the meditator relaxes their usual focus on themselves and practices being much more than one usually imagines oneself to be—a great awakened being with the skill to affect the world and its beings in a positive way. 

There are usually four aspects to an empowerment ritual: 

(1) The vase empowerment prepares the body and removes impurities and hindrances that limit our view of ourselves;

(2) The speech or secret empowerment purifies our speech and supports correct practice;

(3) The wisdom empowerment refines our thinking and cleanses the mind of impediments and illusions.

(4) The word mahamudra empowerment distills our practice to focus on the very essence of the mind. 

The Goddess of Healing - Parnasavari

The Refuge Vow is the first step on the Buddhist path. It is a statement of confidence in the path’s founder, the Buddha, and in our own qualities of goodness and potential to awaken just as he did. 

In the Refuge Vow, we also acknowledge our reliance on the teachings of the Buddha, and we commit to learning and embodying them. Finally, in the Vow, we entrust ourselves to the community of teachers and fellow practitioners who are our companions on the Buddhist path.

Do you value our work?

If you find our blog helpful, please consider making a donation to support our Buddhist research and development.

You can donate via PayPal here: https://bit.ly/3ywRH2N

Footnote:

Vajrayana offers countless skillful and powerful methods that, when practiced correctly, can significantly accelerate the processes of accumulation and purification. It is crucial to have pure motivation and understand that Vajrayana practice is not intended to increase one's ego, power, or self-interest.

Thank you for reading. May you find peace and great bliss. Your support helps spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turn the Dharma wheel in the world.

Aspiration for Bodhichitta:

May the precious Bodhichitta, which has not yet arisen, arise and not diminish, but rather increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit:

By this merit, may we swiftly attain omniscience. Having overcome the enemies of wrongdoing, may we liberate all beings from the ocean of existence, with its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness, and death.

 *Note

I do not own or infringe any copyright on the picture(s).
Picture(s) courtesy and credit to the rightful
distributors and/or studios
The picture(s) are intended for editorial use only.

 

The Great Manifestation of Avaloketishvara Bodhisattva - Mahakala

Mahakala is one of the most popular protector deities in Tibetan Buddhism, and he is also sometimes used as a meditational deity (yidam) in tantric Buddhist yogas. 

He is depicted in a number of variations, each with distinctly different qualities and aspects. He is generally depicted as a wrathful deity. 

What is the meaning of Mahakala? Mahakala: “Great Time." Mahakala is one of the most popular guardians in the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon. 

Here he tramples a corpse while wielding a flaying knife and a blood-filled skull cup, signifying the destruction of impediments to enlightenment. 

In the crooks of his elbows he supports a gandi gong, a symbol of his vow to protect the community of monks. His principal companions, Palden Remati and Palden Lhamo, appear to his left, and Legden Nagpo and Bhutadamara are at his right. 

At lower left is Brahmarupa blowing a thighbone trumpet. He is especially revered by the Sakya order, which commissioned this work. 

This thangka, one of the earliest and grandest of this subject, can be related to murals preserved in the fifteenth-century Kumbum at Gyantse monastery, central Tibet, likely painted under Newari direction.

Mahakala appears as a protector deity in the various traditions of Vajrayana Buddhism, like Chinese Esoteric Buddhism, Shingon, and Tibetan Buddhism. 

Numerous traditions of Mahayana Buddhism rely on Mahakala as a guardian deity (Dharmapala, "dharma protector"). Mahakala is one of the most popular protector deities in Tibetan Buddhism, and he is also sometimes used as a meditational deity (yidam) in tantric Buddhist yogas. 

He is depicted in a number of variations, each with distinctly different qualities and aspects. He is generally depicted as a wrathful deity. 

Mahakala is also an important deity in East Asian Buddhism, where he is generally known as a protector figure. In Japanese Buddhism, Mahakala transformed into a more friendly wealth and luck deity, known as Daikokuten.

Mahakala is commonly regarded as the emanation of different beings in different cases, such as Hevajra, Vajradhara, Amitabha, and Avalokiteshvara or Akshobhya Buddha.

Different tantric cycles, like Guhyasamaja and Chakrasamvara, each contain Mahakala as an emanation of their central Buddha deity. 

Mahakala is almost always depicted with a crown of five skulls, which represent the transmutation of the five klesas (negative afflictions) into the five wisdoms. 

He also wears a garland consisting of fifty severed heads; the number fifty is in reference to the number of letters in the Sanskrit alphabet and is symbolic of the pure speech of Buddha. 

Do you earnestly cherish our devoted work? 

Assuming this is the case, we are delighted that you are finding our blog useful and valuable. Would you consider making a donation for our Buddhist research and development? 

We need your help to secure the future of scholarly interaction with Buddhism. Since our very first publication of Dharma works and activities in 2008, we have been effortlessly providing free distribution of Dharma posts and articles throughout the previous 16 years. 

We have exceptionally constrained support and do not receive subsidies or funding from people in general.

Please help us develop our Dharma activities that will not only benefit you but all Dharma readers on the planet. Please consider showing your support. Your generosity will certainly help us enhance our work and accomplish more for a better and brighter future.

Thank you for reading. May you find peace and great bliss. With your support, it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turn the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta
For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisenMay it arise and not decrease. But increase further and further. 

Dedication of Merit 
By this merit, may we then obtain omniscience then. 
Having defeated the enemies wrongdoing. May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.
With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness, and death.

*Note. 
I do not own or infringe any copyright on the picture(s).
Picture(s) courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and/or studios
The picture(s) are intended for editorial use only.

Milarepa meditate at the Holy Sacred Mount Kailash.

Synopsis

Mount Kailash—the Stairway to Heaven—is the most intriguing mountain range is the whole of Himalayas, so we thought of divulging some things that you might not know about it. 

As a matter of fact, Mount Kailash is 22,000 ft from the Tibetan Plateau, which is largely considered to be inaccessible. For Hindus and Buddhists, Mount Kailash is the physical embodiment of Mount Meru. 

In a remote region of Tibet, the sacred Mount Kailash towers over the surrounding landscape. At 6,638 meters, the revered mountain holds a place in the spiritual beliefs of Buddhists, Hindus, and followers of the Jain and Bon religions. 

Despite the attention, Mount Kailash is still a mystery. The unconquered peak remains wrapped in myths, legends, and spiritual tales. 

The Hindus 

One of the legends about Mount Kailash, according to Hindu belief, is that it is the home of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is one of the principal deities in Hinduism. He is the god of destruction and transformation, as well as the god of meditation and asceticism.

According to legend, Mount Kailash is his divine residence. Lord Shiva is said to reside there with his consort, the goddess Parvati. Hindu legend tells us that he sits atop the sacred mountain, meditating in perpetual stillness, surrounded by divine energies. 

Hindu pilgrims do the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to seek blessings and enlightenment by paying homage to the abode of Lord Shiva.

Buddhism 

In Tibetan Buddhist traditions, Mounailash is known as Kang Rinpoche or Gang Rinpoche. They believe the deities Chakrasamvara and Demchog dwell in the mountains. 

The Tibetan saint, Milarepa, is also associated with Mount Kailash. He is believed to have meditated in the caves surrounding the mountain. 

Jainism

Mount Kailash is mentioned in the Jain scriptures as the place where the founder of Jainism, Lord Rishabhadeva, attained liberation. The mountain is known as Ashtapada. 

Bon Faith 

The Bon religion is the ancient spiritual tradition of Tibet that predates Buddhism in the region. Followers of the Bon religion consider Mount Kailash to be the spiritual center of their faith, and it is the site of many rituals and ceremonies.

Buddhist and Hindu texts state that there are very ancient monasteries and caves on Mount Meru where holy sages live in both material and subtle bodies. Few people are fortunate enough to be able to see these caves. 

Thousands of travelers enter Tibet each year to travel to the revered Mount Kailash. Few arrive in the area, and even fewer complete the whole circumambulation of the sacred peak. A few courageous mountaineers have tried to reach the peak, but they haven't been successful. 

Trekking all the way up to the peak of Mount Kailash is held to be a forbidden act among Hindus for fear of trespassing on the sanctity of the mountain and disturbing the divine energies residing there. 

Climbing to the Peak of Mount Kailash is Impossible. 

The 6,638-meter Mount Kailash is one of the few unconquered and unclimbable mountains in the world. One reason is the challenging terrain. 

Mount Kailash has steep, icy slopes in extremely rugged surroundings. Harsh and often unpredictable weather much of the year would make it a very challenging mountain to climb. 

More importantly, the religious significance of Mount Kailash as a sacred site stops people from climbing it. In the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and Bon faiths, climbing the mountain is forbidden. Respect for local beliefs discourages any attempts.

Mount Kailash is Considered the Center of the World.

Part of the spiritual traditions involving Mount Kailash is that it is revered as the cosmic axis or center of the world. Often referred to as the "naval of the universe" in Tibetan Buddhist mythologies, it is the dwelling place of important deities and a sanctuary where the world was born.

Has anyone climbed Mount Kailash before? Who has climbed Mount Kailash?

A Buddhist legend holds that Milarepa, the champion of Vajrayana Buddhism, challenged the champion of the Bon religion, Naro Bon-Chung, to climb the mountain. Milarepa won by ascending the mountain on a ray of sunlight, and he claimed Mount Kailash for Buddhism.

As per Tibetan lore, a monk named Milarepa once ventured far enough to reach the top of Mount Meru. When he returned, he forewarned everyone to avoid bothering God, who was resting high up in the peak.

Donations for our Buddhist research and development. 

Do you earnestly cherish our devoted work? Assuming this is the case, we are delighted that you are finding our blog useful and valuable. Would you consider making a donation for our Buddhist research and development?

We need your help to secure the future of scholarly interaction with Buddhism. Since our very first publication of Dharma works and activities in 2008, we have been effortlessly providing free distribution of Dharma posts and articles throughout the previous 16 years. 

We have exceptionally constrained support and do not receive subsidies or funding from people in general.

Please help us develop our Dharma activities that will not only benefit you but all Dharma readers on the planet. Please consider showing your support. Your generosity will certainly help us enhance our work and accomplish more for a better and brighter future.

Thank you for reading. May you find peace and great bliss. With your support, it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turn the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease.

But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit

By this merit, may we then obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrongdoings

May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.

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

*Note

I do not own or infringe any copyright on the picture(s).

Picture(s) courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and/or studios

The picture(s) are intended for editorial use only.