Question asked by Jake
Hi pastors what was Tsem Tulku Rinpoches view of people engaging in Consort practice in highest yoga Tantra? According to the Dalai Lama and most Gelupa Gurus the Consort practice is not mandatory and the wind channels can be sealed through other methods. And if a person with highest yoga tantra does not take a consort and engage in the mudra, does that mean they can't be reborn in Kechara paradise of vajrayogini?
Dear Jake,
Consort practice is necessary within some tantric practices to attain the highest states. However, there are two methods of consort practice, one is a physical consort and the other is a visualised consort. Physical consort is practice is quite difficult, because first the practitioner themselves must have practiced the sutra path and then other aspects of tantric practices to be qualified enough to engage in consort practice properly. Those who are not sufficiently trained in these run the very real danger of either just increasing their desire/attachment or have the energies in their bodies go awry. Also, the consort themselves must have trained in the same way and should have certain qualities. Such people are very rare.
His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche was a monk, as are most Gelugpa lamas because Lama Tsongkhapa emphasised monasticism, following the tradition and sangha community of Buddha Shakyamuni. Hence, the visualised consort is emphasised rather than the physical consort. There are also other methods to achieve the same state even without the visualised consort. This actually depends on the system of tantra that you are practising. So, Rinpoche’s view was that physical consort practice is not necessary and it is actually quite difficult to due. Of course Rinpoche talked about practitioners who did and can do the practice, but it takes an exception type of person to do so, and of course, someone who is not a monastic.
That being said, if a practitioner’s aim is to take rebirth in Kechara Pureland, then consort practice is not necessary at all. Rinpoche mentions the prerequisites needed to attain Kechara Pureland in the introduction to this article: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/vajrayogini-the-powerful-divine-red-lady.html
The article also explains quite a lot about Vajra Yogini’s practice in general, which I think you may find an interested read. I hope this helps.