Vajra - Revision history

PeterDuffy at 18:56, 30 December 2025

2025-12-30T18:56:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:56, 30 December 2025
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	In certain Buddhist rituals the devotee touches the earth with a vajra and uses Gautama’s earth-touching gesture. These actions are symbolic of stabilizing the earth and activating the mind of enlightenment.		In certain Buddhist rituals the devotee touches the earth with a vajra and uses Gautama’s earth-touching gesture. These actions are symbolic of stabilizing the earth and activating the mind of enlightenment.

			== Use of the vajra ==

			El Morya has explained that the vajra should not be used by the chelas:

			<blockquote>
			Speaking of the vajra, beloved, this is not a toy, indeed. The [[Darjeeling Council]] many years ago agreed that all of you should have an [[Archangel Michael sword]] (this you may wield, as you have been told) and that your sword should not be sharpened lest there be any accident. When it comes to using the vajra, beloved, you should leave it to the messenger. It ought to be abundantly clear that when this vajra is thrust forward it is done through the messenger by the entire hierarchy of light. And this is a major dispensation that we have delivered to the messenger.... That has been a tremendous gift.

			Therefore let the messenger be the messenger and throw the thunderbolts as I throw them through her. I ask you, then, that if you own such vajras, that you lay them upon your altar and let them be the focus there, if you will, of the messenger’s work. And let them be the focus also of your support of the messenger.<ref>El Morya, “The Agenda for 1996 Is the Will of God,” Part 1, {{POWref\|46\|41\|, October 12, 2003}}</ref>
			</blockquote>

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

PeterDuffy at 18:27, 30 December 2025

2025-12-30T18:27:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:27, 30 December 2025
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	[[File:British Museum Tibetan Bell and Vajra B.jpg\|thumb\|A Tibetan vajra and bell, British Museum]]		[[File:Vajra, Tibet, 11th-12th century, iron and brass - Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive - DSC04056.JPG\|thumb\|upright=1.2\|Vajra, Tibet, 11th-12th century, iron and brass]]
			[[File:British Museum Tibetan Bell and Vajra B.jpg\|thumb\|upright=.8\|A Tibetan vajra and bell, British Museum]]

	'''Vajra''' in Sanskrit means thunderbolt or diamond; that which is hard, impenetrable; that which destroys but is itself indestructible. The vajra is a symbol of the thunderbolt representing the adamantine nature of Truth.		'''Vajra''' in Sanskrit means thunderbolt or diamond; that which is hard, impenetrable; that which destroys but is itself indestructible. The vajra is a symbol of the thunderbolt representing the adamantine nature of Truth.
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	In Vajrayana Buddhism, it is the symbol of bodhicitta, or enlightenment. In some traditions, the vajra signifies the union of man and the [[Buddha]]; one end of the vajra symbolizes the macrocosmic realm of the Buddha and the other end the microcosmic realm of man.		In Vajrayana Buddhism, it is the symbol of bodhicitta, or enlightenment. In some traditions, the vajra signifies the union of man and the [[Buddha]]; one end of the vajra symbolizes the macrocosmic realm of the Buddha and the other end the microcosmic realm of man.

			[[File:Indra deva.jpg\|thumb\|Indra on his elephant mount, Airavata, carrying a vajra in his left hand]]

	== In Hinduism ==		== In Hinduism ==
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	{{POWref\|31\|21\|, May 22, 1988}}		{{POWref\|31\|21\|, May 22, 1988}}

			<references />

PeterDuffy at 13:57, 30 December 2025

2025-12-30T13:57:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:57, 30 December 2025
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	[[File:Vajra.jpg\|thumb\|A vajra]]		[[File:British Museum Tibetan Bell and Vajra B.jpg\|thumb\|A Tibetan vajra and bell, British Museum]]

	'''Vajra''' in Sanskrit means thunderbolt or diamond; that which is hard, impenetrable; that which destroys but is itself indestructible. The vajra is a symbol of the thunderbolt representing the adamantine nature of Truth.		'''Vajra''' in Sanskrit means thunderbolt or diamond; that which is hard, impenetrable; that which destroys but is itself indestructible. The vajra is a symbol of the thunderbolt representing the adamantine nature of Truth.
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	In Tibetan, it is called a ''dorje''. In Tibetan Buddhism, the dorje is a masculine symbol that stands for the skillful means used to liberate beings. It is often used in conjunction with the ritual bell, the feminine symbol of wisdom.		In Tibetan, it is called a ''dorje''. In Tibetan Buddhism, the dorje is a masculine symbol that stands for the skillful means used to liberate beings. It is often used in conjunction with the ritual bell, the feminine symbol of wisdom.

	~~According to Buddhist teaching~~, the ~~vajra cleaves through ignorance and therefore symbolizes the indestructible nature~~ of the ~~Buddha’s wisdom and~~ the ~~victory~~ of ~~knowledge over illusion. In~~ Buddhism, the vajra ~~also symbolizes~~ the ~~essence~~ of ~~everything that exists as well as universal love and compassion~~.		The vajra is used in rituals, especially the exorcism of evil spirits. In the 8th century, [[Padma Sambhava]], the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, used the vajra to conquer the demons opposing the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet.

	~~In Vajrayana Buddhism~~, it is the ~~symbol of bodhicitta~~, or ~~enlightenment. In some traditions~~, the vajra ~~signifies the union of man and the [[Buddha]]; one end of the vajra symbolizes the macrocosmic realm of the Buddha and the other end the microcosmic realm of man~~.		Vajras can have three, five or nine spokes. Nine-spoked vajras are least commonly used. When the spokes of a vajra meet at the tip it is a peaceful vajra. When the spokes are splayed, or spread outward, at the tips, it is a wrathful vajra.

	~~The vajra~~ is ~~used in rituals, especially the exorcism of evil spirits. In the 8th century, [[Padma Sambhava]],~~ the ~~founder~~ of ~~Tibetan Buddhism~~, ~~used the vajra to conquer the demons opposing the establishment of Buddhism~~.		It is said that each spoke emerges from the mouth of a mythical sea creature, which symbolizes freedom from cyclic existence.

	~~Vajras can have three, five or nine spokes. Nine-spoked vajras are least commonly used. When the spokes of a vajra~~		== In Buddhism ==
	~~meet at the tip it is a peaceful vajra. When the spokes are splayed, or spread outward, at the tips, it is a wrathful vajra.~~

	~~The nine upper spokes represent~~ the ~~Five Dhyani Buddhas~~ and the ~~four mothers~~. ~~The lower spokes represent~~ the ~~five wisdoms~~		According to Buddhist teaching, the vajra cleaves through ignorance and therefore symbolizes the indestructible nature of the Buddha’s wisdom and the victory of knowledge over illusion. In Buddhism, the vajra also symbolizes the essence of everything that exists as well as universal love and compassion.
	~~and~~ the ~~four immeasurable wishes~~ of love, compassion~~, equanimity and joy~~.

	It is ~~said that each spoke emerges from~~ the ~~sea monster's mouth~~, ~~which~~ symbolizes ~~freedom from cyclic existence~~.		In Vajrayana Buddhism, it is the symbol of bodhicitta, or enlightenment. In some traditions, the vajra signifies the union of man and the [[Buddha]]; one end of the vajra symbolizes the macrocosmic realm of the Buddha and the other end the microcosmic realm of man.

	== In Hinduism ==		== In Hinduism ==
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	Prior to the founding of Buddhism, the vajra was used in Hinduism. The Hindu god Indra used the vajra to destroy the serpent Vritra, who had confiscated the waters of existence and was guarding them in the hollow of a rock. Indra wielded the vajra to smite the head of Vritra and cleave the rock, allowing the waters of creation to flow.		Prior to the founding of Buddhism, the vajra was used in Hinduism. The Hindu god Indra used the vajra to destroy the serpent Vritra, who had confiscated the waters of existence and was guarding them in the hollow of a rock. Indra wielded the vajra to smite the head of Vritra and cleave the rock, allowing the waters of creation to flow.

	Scholar David Frawley says that as ~~Indra's~~ weapon, the vajra symbolizes ~~"the~~ lightning-bolt of illumined perception, the flashing of power of the Divine Word that is the solar weapon of the enlightened mind."<ref>David Frawley, ''Wisdom of Ancient Seers,'' p. 142.</ref>		Scholar David Frawley says that as Indra’s weapon, the vajra symbolizes “the lightning-bolt of illumined perception, the flashing of power of the Divine Word that is the solar weapon of the enlightened mind.”<ref>David Frawley, ''Wisdom of Ancient Seers,'' p. 142.</ref>

	== Stabilizing the earth ==		== Stabilizing the earth ==

	In Buddhism, [[Gautama]]'s gesture of striking the earth is equivalent to ~~Indra's~~ hurling the vajra. Both are seen as symbolic of stabilizing the earth. Gautama used the earth-touching gesture when the forces of the evil Mara challenged his right to attain enlightenment and Buddhahood. ~~Mara's~~ armies assailed Gautama with hurricanes, a flood, flaming rocks, boiling mud, a storm of deadly weapons, hordes of demons and total darkness. Immovable, Gautama tapped the earth, and the earth thundered her answer, "I bear you witness!" whereupon Mara fled.		In Buddhism, [[Gautama]]’s gesture of striking the earth is equivalent to Indra’s hurling the vajra. Both are seen as symbolic of stabilizing the earth. Gautama used the earth-touching gesture when the forces of the evil Mara challenged his right to attain enlightenment and Buddhahood. Mara’s armies assailed Gautama with hurricanes, a flood, flaming rocks, boiling mud, a storm of deadly weapons, hordes of demons and total darkness. Immovable, Gautama tapped the earth, and the earth thundered her answer, “I bear you witness!” whereupon Mara fled.

	In certain Buddhist rituals the devotee touches the earth with a vajra and uses Gautama's earth-touching gesture. These actions are symbolic of stabilizing the earth and activating the mind of enlightenment.




			In certain Buddhist rituals the devotee touches the earth with a vajra and uses Gautama’s earth-touching gesture. These actions are symbolic of stabilizing the earth and activating the mind of enlightenment.

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

	{{POWref\|31\|21\|, May 22, 1988}}		{{POWref\|31\|21\|, May 22, 1988}}

PeterDuffy at 06:15, 25 December 2025

2025-12-25T06:15:24Z

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:Vajra.jpg|thumb|A vajra]]
-[Sanskrit] Thunderbolt or diamond; that which is hard, impenetrable; that which destroys but is itself indestructible; a scepterlike symbol of the thunderbolt, representing the adamantine nature of Truth, used in rituals, especially of exorcism of demons. The “vajra” is thought to cleave through ignorance and therefore symbolizes the indestructible nature of the Buddha’s wisdom and the victory of knowledge over illusion.
+'''Vajra''' in Sanskrit means thunderbolt or diamond; that which is hard, impenetrable; that which destroys but is itself indestructible. The vajra is a symbol of the thunderbolt representing the adamantine nature of Truth.
 In Vajrayana Buddhism, it is the symbol of bodhicitta, or enlightenment. In some traditions, the vajra signifies the union of man and the [[Buddha]]; one end of the vajra symbolizes the macrocosmic realm of the Buddha and the other end the microcosmic realm of man.
 == Sources ==
 {{POWref|31|21|, May 22, 1988}}

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[[File:Vajra.jpg|thumb|A vajra]]

[Sanskrit] Thunderbolt or diamond; that which is hard, impenetrable; that which destroys but is itself indestructible; a scepterlike symbol of the thunderbolt, representing the adamantine nature of Truth, used in rituals, especially of exorcism of demons. The “vajra” is thought to cleave through ignorance and therefore symbolizes the indestructible nature of the Buddha’s wisdom and the victory of knowledge over illusion.

In Vajrayana Buddhism, it is the symbol of bodhicitta, or enlightenment. In some traditions, the vajra signifies the union of man and the [[Buddha]]; one end of the vajra symbolizes the macrocosmic realm of the Buddha and the other end the microcosmic realm of man.

== Sources ==

{{POWref|31|21|, May 22, 1988}}