Deity Practice

Deity Practice

Learn More

More commonly referred to as the ‘development stage’ (Tib. bskyed rim, Skt. utpattikrama), deity practice involves meditative focus on specific visualizations geared toward purifying perception. The fundamental principle of the development stage is to realize the primordial purity of all phenomena. As a practice of Vajrayana, it is highly recommended to read and study the philosophy behind deity practice under the guidance of a qualified teacher.

Our extremely subtle mind and body have the potential to transform into the fully enlightened body and mind of a Buddha. When we visualize Tara and regard her as the resultant Tara that we will become, we are inspired to train our mind in the path leading to this result.

-Thubten Chodron, How to Free Your Mind

Recent Books on Deity Practice

See All Books

Articles

Shechen Gyaltsap: A Guide for Readers

See Also: The Nyingma School | Longchen Nyingtik | Namcho & Payul | Dudjom Tersar...

Kālachakra Practice (Edward Henning Collection)

, and certainly no explanation how such practices should be performed. Similarly, there are no practice texts (sādhanas, pūjas, and so forth) available here for download, as availability of such mat...

The Passing of Translator and Scholar Gyurme Dorje

I am sad to share the news that Gyurme Dorje, one of the giants of Tibetan translation and practice passed away on February 5th, 2020, the anniversary of the passing of his teacher, Kangyur Rinpoche. ...

Jamgön Kongtrul Reader’s Guide

Jamgön Kongtrul Lodro Thaye was one of the greatest masters of Tibetan history, who the Tibetologist Gene Smith referred to as Tibet’s Leonardo. It’s difficult to imagine a master who was so lear...

See All Articles

Videos

Garchen Rinpoche on Vajrakilaya

Kālachakra Mandala in 3D

Dudjom Rinpoche’s Torch Lighting the Way To Freedom

Development Stage from Jigme Lingpa, Patrul Rinpoche, and Getse Mahapandita

The Biography of Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche

Artemus Engle on the Guhyasamaja Practice

Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche on Guru Yoga

Ringu Tulku Discusses Kongtrul’s Treasury of Precious Instructions

Chapter Without Goal, Chapter 11

See All Deity Practice Videos

Currently there are no upcoming events in this category. Check out all of our events below.

See All Events

Snow Lion Articles

Jamgon Kongtrul on the Creation Phase

In this excerpt taken from the Introduction to The Treasury of Knowledge, Book Eight, Part Three: The Elements of Tantric Practice, the translator gives an interesting synopsis of aspects of practice that are covered in greater detail in the text. Kongtrul discusses many details of the creation-phase...

Jeffrey Hopkins on Dealing with Demons

by Jeffrey Hopkins When we do deity yoga we need to be very careful that our unconscious contents don’t arise and mix into the practice or get projected. There could be no better guide through potential pitfalls than Jeffrey Hopkins, perhaps the most widely respected American scholar of Tibetan Buddhism,...

When Difficulties are a Sign of Progress

In his Dzogchen teachings, Guru Padma sambhava urged his disciples to keep going beyond the boulders on the road of meditation. In Tibet, there are lots of boulders on the roads, but in America, we would probably say “the potholes in the streets.” Experiencing these difficulties is a sign that you...

The Dalai Lama on Taking Responsibility for Negativity

Blaming our friends, enemies, circumstances, or even spirits for our troubles is not helpful, says HH the Dalai Lama in this excerpt from The Union of Bliss and Emptiness. If one is not able to revolt against defilements and negative actions and overcome them, the most harmful factors, then one is not...

See All Articles