Visualizing the Features of the Pure Realm

Visualizing the Features of the Pure Realm

It has two subdivisions:

1. Which direction is the Pure Realm

2. Visualizing the features of the Pure Realm

1: Which Direction is the Pure Realm

From here to the direction of the setting sun,

beyond and above countless worlds,

is the Blissful Pure Realm.

When you think of where the Blissful Pure Realm is, it says it is in the western direction of the setting sun. When you think of how far it is, it is beyond countless worlds and above all worlds (because the qualities are the Pure Realms are greater than any other worlds). If we ask, what it is like there, then the third line says it is the Blissful Pure Realm. Even the name ‘suffering’ is not known in the Blissful Pure Realm.

2: Visualizing the Features of the Pure Realm

It has two subdivisions:

1. Support of the Pure Realm

2. Deity of the Pure Realm

1: Support of the Pure Realm

It has two subdivisions:

1. Environment of the Pure Realm

2. Celestial Palace of the Pure Realm

1: Environment of the Pure Realm

This place is not created by anyone.

Its nature is spontaneously complete,

abiding without directions and borders.

This Pure Realm is not made by anyone. The nature of the Pure Realm is spontaneously complete. It is never changed by the three times, past, future, and present. It does not have any direction or borders. Everywhere in this Pure Realm smells like excellent fragrant incense. Every direction and place is very beautiful smells.

2: Celestial Palace of the Pure Realm

The shape of the palace is an extensive square,

with four doors of the four compassions,

door ornaments of the eight paths of liberation,

the single coiled peak of Primordial Wisdom,

beautiful fringed networks and tassels of complete qualities,

inside and outside of the palace is unobscured.

“The shape of the palace is an extensive square,” 

This means a great equality of the expanse of the nature of reality. In the center of this place, it is a very extensive square that represents the great equality of the all expansive nature of reality. 

“with four doors of the four compassions”

The four doors in the four directions represent leading all sentient beings to the Blissful Pure Realms through the four compassions.

The Four Doors in four directions represent leading all sentient beings in all directions to the Four Compassions. What are the Four Compassions?

The Four Compassions: 

1. Continuously Abiding Compassion: For the benefit of sentient being flowing like a river until all of cyclic existence is empty.

2. Limitless Compassion: Compassion as vast as the sky, which protects all sentient beings.

3. Inexhaustible Compassion: Earth-like source of compassion that fulfills the needs and wishes of sentient beings. 

4. Non-referential Compassion: All illuminating like the sun for all the happiness and joy of all sentient beings.

“door ornaments of the eight paths of liberation,”

The door ornaments of the eight paths of liberation are the adornments on the four doors. This represents blessing all sentient beings at the point of no return on the path of liberation. What are the eight paths:

Eight Paths of Liberation:

1. Right View or Understanding 

2. Right Thought

3. Right Speech

4. Right Action

5. Right Livelihood

6. Right Effort

7. Right Mindfulness

8. Right Concentration

The ornament of the door of liberation is the eightfold path of liberation. We can recognize these are not actual doors and ornaments, but all representative. The external Pure Realm, internal Pure Realm meaning will be explained.

“the single coiled peak of Primordial Wisdom,”

The single coiled peak of primordial wisdom refers to the top ornament which represents all of the universal dimension of the Buddhas combined in the expanse of self-knowing rigpa primordial wisdom. All of the qualities and mandalas of the Buddhas combined in the expanse of self-knowing rigpa is at the top ornament - the single coil of the wisdom.

“beautiful fringed networks and tassels of complete qualities,”

The fringed networks and tassels of complete qualities and the precious jewel tassels, garlands, etc all represent all the qualities of enlightened beings absolutely complete. That’s why we see those in the monastery. In the Pure Realms, the decorations represent the qualities of enlightened beings, absolutely completed.

“inside and outside of the palace is unobscured.”

Inside and outside of the palace is unobscured means immeasurably excellent shape and qualities of the celestial palace with light that is clearly shining outside and inside represents all phenomena of existence as only the appearance of dynamic energy of primordial wisdom. All appearances of cyclic existence and transcendence of suffering are only the dynamic energy of rigpa.

2: Deity of the Pure Realm

It has two subdivisions:

1. Chief deity of the Pure Realm

2. Head ornament deity

1: Chief Deity of the Pure Realm

It has two subdivisions:

1. Throne of the chief deity

2. Visualization of the actual deity

1: Throne of the Chief Deity

This is the prayer of the throne of the Pure Realm chief deity.

First we have the environment and the celestial palace of the Pure Realm. Within the celestial palace, we now visualize the throne.

Upon a throne of a fearless lion, powerful elephant,

magical supreme horse, peacock and

enlightened activities shang shang bird joined together.

On a stainless lotus bundle,

and piled sun and moon cushions of means and wisdom.

“Upon a throne of a fearless lion,”

The lion throne represents not being afraid of the afflictive emotions. This is according to the sutra. Sometimes the animals represent the same as sutra and tantra. This one focuses on the sutra. These animals are not the animals of Tibet. They have meaning. The lion represents not being afraid of the afflictive emotions because they have purified the afflictive emotions.

“powerful elephant,”

The elephant throne represents having the power of compassion. The Buddha of Limitless Light has the power of compassion.

“magical supreme horse,”

The supreme horse throne represents an unimpeded magical display. He can manifest unimpeded magical displays. In ancient times, the horse was the mode of transportation, which is why it represents being unimpeded.

“peacock and enlightened activities shang shang bird joined together.”

The peacock and shang shang bird represent spontaneously accomplished enlightened activities.

These five thrones each are representative. The peacock represents the concurring of attachment. Sometimes Buddhas have a peacock throne, representing the purification of attachment. The shang shung bird represents enlightened activities. The animals are ‘joined together’ meaning facing each other. First the two lions face each other north. Then the two elephants face each other south, the two supreme horses face each other west, and the two birds face each other east.

“On a stainless lotus bundle,”

Upon the throne, there is the thousand pedaled lotus, facing upwards. This lotus flower represents stainless purity. 

“and piled sun and moon cushions of means and wisdom.”

Upon the lotus cushion, the piled sun and moon cushions represent the union of means and wisdom. The sun and moon also represent the continuously benefitting of sentient beings. Through means and wisdom, he continuously benefits the sentient beings, like the sun and the moon. The sun and moon represent skillful means and wisdom. They represent how the Buddhas benefit all sentient beings with skillful means and wisdom. In Tibetan culture, in the kitchen before Losar, Tibetans draw the sun and moon to represent that everything is perfect in the kitchen.

2: Visualization of the Actual Deity

The Victor Buddha, Immeasurable Limitless Light,

Clear red like a ruby offering tree,

Bathed by one-hundred thousand suns,

With one face, the Single Sphere.

Atop the hands are Utpala flowers, the two truths.

Holding a yungdrung scepter, the hook of compassion.

Clothed in garments, complete qualities.

Cross-legged, subjugating the demons.

“The Victor Buddha, Immeasurable Limitless Light,”

Upon the sun and moon cushions is the Limitless Light Buddha, ‘The Victor Buddha.” Why the ‘Victor?’ Being victorious means winning the battle against the 84,000 afflictive emotions. ‘Immeasurable’ means he has immeasurable compassion. ‘Limitless light’ - as light is limitless, it illuminates every direction of the universe. So, he is called ‘Limitless Light.’ 

“Clear red like a ruby offering tree, Bathed by one-hundred thousand suns,”

Clear red like a ruby offering tree, bathed by one-hundred thousand suns, describes his 

complexion. It is clear red, like a ‘lotus ruby offering tree’ or Mt Meru in the light of ‘one hundred thousand suns.’ 

“With one face, the Single Sphere.”

He has one face. That one face represents the realization of the reality of the single sphere, the realization of the natural state of mind - ‘tik lé nyak chik’.

“Atop the hands are Utpala flowers, the two truths.”

Utpala means lotus flowers. The two hands at the heart, in a teaching/offering gesture. These hands represent teaching human beings the union of the two truths - the truth of relative and ultimate.

Atop the hand gesture are red and white lotus flowers. White lotus on the right shoulder and red on the left, with the roots in the hands, representing the left and right channels. On the top of the red lotus, there is a hook on the lotus.

“Holding a yungdrung scepter, the hook of compassion.”

This hook represents compassionately leading all sentient beings. On the top of the right lotus flower, in the right hand, there is a jeweled yundrung scepter. Like in Tonpa Sherab’s statue, you can see him holding this as well. This represents all sentient beings establishing the changeless, great level - the stage of the Buddha.

“Clothed in garments, complete qualities.”

The Limitless Light Buddha, Opame, is adorned with eight precious jewel ornaments and clothed in the five silk garments. When you see a picture of Shenla Odkar, it looks the same. Why do Buddhas need these kinds of clothes? These represent that he has completed the qualities, beyond conception. They are not actually worn by anyone, but represent the qualities of the Buddha mind, beyond conception.

“Cross-legged, subjugating the demons.”

Limitless light Buddha, Opame, has two crossed legs, representing the subjugation of the four demons of birth, old age, sickness, and death. This helps to understand the representative details of the thangkas and statues.

Up to here is the explanation of the chief deity, Buddha Opame, the Limitless Light Buddha. This is the chief deity.

2: Head Ornament Deity

With a head ornament of the Five Mӧnlam Prayer Deities,

The red Mӧnlam Infinite Contemplation,

The yellow Mӧnlam Changeless,

The blue Mӧnlam Source of Wishes,

The red Mӧnlam Limitless,

The green Mӧnlam All-Meaningful Accomplishment.

In the right and left hands are the family implements and vases.

Sitting on a lotus, sun, and moon throne.

Watching me with the eye of compassion.

“With a head ornament of the Five Mӧnlam Prayer Deities,”

The victor Buddha of Limitless Light is adorned with the head ornament of the five Mönlam deities. Mönlam means Prayer.

“The red Mӧnlam Infinite Contemplation,”

This is the first Mönlam deity, “Mönlam ta yé” means infinite deity. He has red complexion, like a ruby lotus, one face, two hands. Adorned with the ornaments of the complete enjoyment body (samboghakaya, like Shenla Odkar). In the right hand, he holds a red lotus flower and, in the left hand he holds a nectar vase. He wears a silk upper and lower garment, sitting with the legs crossed. This one sits in the center.

“The yellow Mӧnlam Changeless,”

In front of the Mönlam Infinite deity (which is in the center), is the Mönlam Changeless. He is yellow, one face and two hands (same representations as above) and adorned with the ornament of the complete enjoyment body.

“The blue Mӧnlam Source of Wishes,”

The blue Mönlam is to the right of Mönlam infinite, with a blue complexion. He has one face and two hands with the ornaments of the enjoyment body.

“The red Mӧnlam Limitless,”

Behind the Mönlam infinite is the Buddha Mönlam limitless. It is in the west direction. Complexion is red and has the same features as the others.

“The green Mӧnlam All-Meaningful Accomplishment.”

To the left of the Mönlam infinite is the green Mönlam of all meaningful accomplishment. Complexion is green and has the same features as the others. This explains the five Mönlam Buddhas on the head ornament on Buddha Opame.

“In the right and left hands are the family implements and vases.”

All of these Buddhas hold their family implements in their right hands and a nectar vase in their left hands. The family implements are first, the yungdrung scepter, second, the wheel, third, the lotus flower, and fourth, is the jewel. There are also the hand gestures of these four family implements.

“Sitting on a lotus, sun, and moon throne. Watching me with the eye of compassion.”

The limitless Buddha and the five Mönlam Buddhas are looking at you with compassion.

This is the description of the head ornaments on the head of the Limitless Light Buddha.

Up to here, we have finished the deity of the Pure Realms and the throne the the actual deity.