Niguma's A Meditation

This is a purification preliminary from the lineage of Niguma, the great mahasiddha female enlightened master from tenth-century India.

In this practice Niguma has Buddha Vajradhara visualized above the crown of the head. She then starts to work with the sound “A,” which represents letting go. You may have heard about the crescent-shaped moon located toward the back center of the head, sometimes referred to as the bindu. You often see this crescent moon shape there. This is common to many traditions.

So you visualize this crescent moon shape. From that white moon, which represents the purity of all things, you recognize that your true nature is pure and that everything else is too. This moon also serves as a container for what’s called the amrita, or nectar of immortality. The nectar of immortality is said to be housed in that area.

Niguma builds on this by visualizing a crystalline container. It is shaped like a tetrahedron, essentially an inverted triangle. The bottom point rests at the center of the throat, while the top reaches about the level of the ears, forming a three-dimensional tetrahedral shape.

You then visualize wisdom beings at the crown, whether that’s your teacher, the lineage masters, the stars, the galactic center, or whatever symbol resonates for you. From there, wisdom energy pours in and illuminates the wisdom seed. This activates the amrita, which begins to drip as white nectar of immortality. It fills the crystalline tetrahedron and then overflows, flooding the entire body with white light.

This white light purifies everything. It purifies traumas, dramas, concepts, and confusion. It restores purity because that is your original nature, even though the mind gets caught in its own patterns and forgets this. So we use skillful means like this practice. This is called the A meditation.

You can think about things you want to release, or you can simply do the practice with devotion. You chant the sound “A” twenty-one times per round. You can do as many rounds as you like. Sit tall, hold the visualization, and simply chant.

Afterward, you rest and feel yourself flooded with bright light. You can visualize it, feel it, sense it, or simply rest in the sound. The sound itself is purifying. Chanting “A” connects directly to the seed syllable from which everything arises.

Guided Meditation

You can close your eyes, roll back your shoulders, and lift your spine. Take some deep breaths and allow yourself to settle into an increasingly relaxed state.

If you have an iṣṭa devatā, a chosen deity, you can visualize them above the crown. You may see a lineage of enlightened masters, a particular Buddha, your guru or lama, angelic beings, or simply a portal to the wisdom of the universe. The important thing is to feel connected to that wisdom source.

From there, clear light wisdom energy begins to flow in. It touches the top of the crystalline tetrahedron and activates the seed syllable. If you know it in Tibetan or Sanskrit, you can visualize that. Otherwise, simply see the letter A. It connects with the crescent moon, the seed of enlightened energy, Buddha nature itself.

With each inhale, the sound “A” increases the white light. It spreads in all directions and begins to drip the nectar of immortality, filling the tetrahedron and flowing into your body.

As you chant, you may visualize impurities draining out through the hip creases, releasing anything you no longer need to carry, including other people’s energy, mental toxicity, or physical tension. Everything pours out, and you are filled with the light of wisdom.

Take a deep inhale and chant the sound “A” twenty-one times. Simply see white light filling the body.

You might also contemplate the past day, weeks, or year. Release anything that no longer needs to be carried forward. Let go of other people’s energy, harm that was created, difficulties, disease, or unresolved patterns.

Then take another deep inhalation. See wisdom energy pouring in at the crown, and chant again.

One final round. Take a deep breath in. Chant the sound “A,” and allow wisdom and bliss to fill the body completely.