Question asked by Vuee Wong
I want to replace the Tsongkhapa and Dorje Shugden picture with a Vajrayogini I will be getting soon so I'll technically start on Vajrayogini's practice,I will just be doing Gaden Lhagyama. But I was wondering, in the dissolution part of the yoga, do we visualise Lama Tsongkhapa and his 2 sons as Vajrayogini?? Or leave them as they are? And since I will have Vajrayogini replace Tsongkhapa, it would also replace Dorje Shugden, would that also be okay?
Dear Vuee Wong,
Thanks for your message. Actually, you do not need to replace the images of Lama Tsongkhapa and Dorje Shugden on your altar, you can just add the image of Vajra Yogini to it. You should place Lama Tsongkhapa in the middle, Vajra Yogini to the left and Dorje Shugden to the right. That is a traditional way of placing them all on your altar.
May I ask what you mean be you’ll be starting on Vajra Yogini practice? In order to practice the prayers, visualisations and mantras of Vajra Yogini you need to have received initiation into her practice by a qualified guru. Or do you mean that you are following this article: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/starting-on-vajra-yogini-now.html ? This actually includes Lama Tsongkhapa’s Guru Yoga.
The practice of Lama Tsongkhapa’s Guru Yoga and Vajra Yogini’s practice are very different. The methods, visualisations, prayers, etc should not be mixed together. If you are practicing Lama Tsongkhapa’s Guru Yoga you should not visualise Vajra Yogini during any part of that prayer. The same applies for Dorje Shugden’s practice. I think perhaps you may be a little confused about what you are doing. If you would like clarification and to continue this conversation privately, you can email care@kechara.com and ask to be put in touch with a Pastor to continue your questions from the Ask the Pastors sections. I hope this helps.