That Mighty Wave of Passionate Commitment to Truth and Freedom

Vajrayogini is visualized as a sixteen year old virgin, an age which is considered to be the prime of youth of Tibet. Her maidenhood signifies her total innocence in relation to samsara. Her body is a brilliant red, the color of arousal and passion, for she is fiercely in love with the Dharma. Her dishevelled flowing black hair symbolizes that she is beyond the concern for worldly appearances. She dances with abandon, inspired by the ideals of the Dharma.

In her right she brandishes a chopper with a razor sharp blade. With this implement, the yogini cuts of all fetters of attachment, especially concern for the material body. For the faint hearted, this is a weapon of destruction; for the spiritually brave, it is an invitation to be cut free of all limitations.

On her head is a tiara. However, rather than jewels, it is set with five human skulls. These represent the collective wisdom of the five dhyani Buddhas. Falling over her shoulders is a long garland of realistically rendered skulls, hung with a pendant of a miniature image of Vajrayogini. The skulls suggest death, just as the skull cup filled with the red nectar of great bliss - namely blood, signifies life. Incessantly drinking this elixir of life, Vajrayogini fills herself with spiritual zest and energy.Thus she encompasses within herself the endless round of birth and death. Going beyond this cycle, she turns life and death into her ornaments. This is also why she wears the sparkling white bone apron, knitted out of human bones. Dangling on a similar chain is a decorated mirror, which reflects the result of all our past karmas. Her luscious, well-formed bosom is thrust forward, symbolizing her capacity to bestow great bliss on all beings.

The third eye in the center of her forehead represents her ability to foresee the future, in addition to the past and present. In the crook of her left arm, Vajrayogini supports a magic staff, similar to that of the great Tantric guru - Padmasambhava. This signifies her male consort, without whom she is incomplete, as is he without her. All around her body, blazing flames leap up. They are the fires of her soaring inspiration, her unquenchable energy and purifying wisdom. She seems ecstatic, wild with compassion and drenched with an insatiable thirst for truth.

She dances with her left leg raised, even while a tormented human figure, lying on a blooming lotus, prostrates at her right foot. This pathetic individual symbolizes craving, hatred and ignorance, which the yogini has successfulyy subdued. Yet she gyrates with abandon, totally oblivious of the vanquished figure.

Her whole movement is upwards. She leaps as she dances - as if impatient to take off into a higher dimension. Her vigorous jig takes place in a void or emptiness symbolized here by the sky. Doing so, she maps out her own space and domain, and carves out her own sacred mandala. Thus asserting that though she confirms her identification with the male of the species she is not be taken for granted nor imposed upon, the blazing fires behind her ever ready to consume the enemies of the Dharma. Indeed, she is that huge wave of passionate commitment to truth and total freedom that has carried all the Buddhas to enlightenment.

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