In the eight offerings to the Buddha, what should we do with the Naividya (food offering) after making the offering?
Should we consume it as blessed food, leave it outside for animals or spirits, bury it, or dispose of it in some other appropriate way?
Can someone share a good step-by-step guide or video for making tormas?
I’m also looking for some simple torma designs for Tara, Amitābha Buddha, and Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava).
I’m really not an artist, so I’m hoping to find something simple that I can actually make, but still looks beautiful and appropriate to offer.
Even basic designs or beginner-friendly tutorials would be really helpful.
As a person without any formal transmissions or environment what all can we do on Dharma Protector Day?
Mahayana Buddhism says that after Shakyamuni Buddha, Maitreya will be the next Buddha to appear in this world.
But in Vajrayana, figures such as Padmasambhava, Milarepa, Naropa, Tilopa, Virupa, etc. are described as having attained complete Buddhahood.
Padmasambhava is even called the “Second Buddha.”
So how do these two views fit together?
Does this mean that Mahayana texts simply don't reveal everything about what happens between Shakyamuni and Maitreya, while Vajrayana texts reveal additional teachings and accounts of beings who attained Buddhahood during this period?
Is the information about these other Buddhas considered something that was not openly revealed in the Mahayana teachings but was later revealed through Vajrayana? Or is there another explanation for why Maitreya is called the “next Buddha” despite these other Buddhas?
I’m looking for the names of Tibetan Buddhist lamas or khenpos from each major school (Sakya, Kagyu, Jonang, Gelug, and Nyingma) who give empowerment/transmission for Sūryagupta’s 21 Tārās.
Please share their name, school/lineage, and monastery or center.
By "main deity," I mean the principal deity around whom the entire Atiyoga (Dzogchen) cycle is centered. For example:
- Lama Yangtik has Padmasambhava as its primary deity.
- Longchen Nyingthig, Vima Nyingthig, and Khandro Nyingthig are primarily centered on Samantabhadra, although they also include practices related to Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsogyal, and other enlightened figures.
I'm looking specifically for Dzogchen/Atiyoga cycles in which Tārā (in any form, such as Green Tārā, White Tārā, or any other) is the principal deity of the cycle, rather than appearing only as one practice within a broader revelation or as a supporting deity.
I tend to plan my spiritual path in advance, even though I understand that my actual journey may unfold differently as I receive teachings and guidance.
I'm particularly interested in practicing Tārā within the Nyingma tradition, and from what I've read online, I've tentatively mapped the Nine Yāna tantric levels as follows:
- Kriyā Tantra: Twenty-One Tārās of Suryagupta
- Caryā Tantra: I don't know of a Tārā practice at this level.
- Yoga Tantra: Zabtik Drolchok (I think?)
- Mahāyoga: Zabtik Drolchok (I think?)
- Anuyoga: I don't know.
- Atiyoga (Dzogchen): I don't know of a specific Tārā cycle.
Are my assumptions about Kriyā Tantra, Yoga Tantra, and Mahāyoga correct?
If not, could someone clarify which Tārā practices belong to each of these levels? Also, are there recognized Tārā practices or cycles for Caryā Tantra, Anuyoga, and Atiyoga within the Nyingma tradition?
I realize that in practice I may end up following whatever teachings and lineage I receive, rather than a plan I make now. I'm simply trying to understand the landscape of Nyingma Tārā practice and would appreciate any guidance or corrections.
I tend to plan my spiritual path in advance, even though I understand that my actual journey may unfold differently as I receive teachings and guidance.
I'm particularly interested in practicing Tārā within the Nyingma tradition, and from what I've read online, I've tentatively mapped the Nine Yāna tantric levels as follows:
- Kriyā Tantra: Twenty-One Tārās of Suryagupta
- Caryā Tantra: I don't know of a Tārā practice at this level.
- Yoga Tantra: Zabtik Drolchok (I think?)
- Mahāyoga: Zabtik Drolchok (I think?)
- Anuyoga: I don't know.
- Atiyoga (Dzogchen): I don't know of a specific Tārā cycle.
Are my assumptions about Kriyā Tantra, Yoga Tantra, and Mahāyoga correct?
If not, could someone clarify which Tārā practices belong to each of these levels? Also, are there recognized Tārā practices or cycles for Caryā Tantra, Anuyoga, and Atiyoga within the Nyingma tradition?
I realize that in practice I may end up following whatever teachings and lineage I receive, rather than a plan I make now. I'm simply trying to understand the landscape of Nyingma Tārā practice and would appreciate any guidance or corrections.