Dakini's Whisper Monthly Journal - June 2022 |
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Human Journey, Spiritual Journey
One Journey with Dakini’s WhisperMid-Year Reflections |
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"Once we are really struck by the thunder of Cho, the spiritual journey and the human journey would never be separated." "We don’t just bring practice to our life, we bring the entirety of our life, no exception, into our practice!" - Khandro-la |
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INTRODUCTION Rising from this container of Personal Retreat and reflecting on the season of mid-year, 2022, I bow to the intimate quality of my Dakini’s Whisper Journey, and to its power and influence on my Human Journey, Spiritual Journey. “On-the-cushion, off-the-cushion, there can be no pretense,” Khandro-la declares emphatically! Sometimes subtle, often profound, and always, reliably surprising, I open to One Journey – Human, Spiritual – “no differentiation.” I commit to a human, spiritual life of fierce compassion, fearless in the midst of global catastrophes and boldly honest in the face of personal poisons. Sometimes the “human” and “spiritual” aspects of my journey wish to flee from each other. When I can stay with “affectionate curiosity, no judgment, and a heart as big as the universe with the candle flame flickering at its center,” I see there is no separation at all and this idea of One Taste and this experience of One Journey become an actuality - a living, personal experience. This Journal is devoted to realizing the sameness of our Human Journey and Spiritual Journey. May our “bodhisattva in training” journeys benefit all beings. - Ellen G. (Yeshe Wangmo) DW Team |
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KHANDRO-LA'S CORNER Teachings from the Machik Dakini Lineage Guru Jagat's Interview With Chöying Khandro |
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In August 2020, Guru Jagat, founder of Ra Ma Institute, a yoga studio dedicated to spreading kundalini to a new generation, interviewed our teacher as part of what Guru Jagat called, “an immense grace program.” In this interview, Khandro-la talks about Dakini teachings and practices, particularly from an elemental perspective. As you read, listen, and practice, you will see that Dakinis are the gateway connecting and merging our human journey and our spiritual journey. As we explore and awaken to the energies and qualities of dakinis already in us, we experience their essence as a spectrum of energy - one taste. “And that’s not the end of the story,” as Khandro-la says. Then we can serve all beings! Enjoy the wisdom and bodhicitta expressed in this interview. |
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A Taste of the Interview Dakini is our own mind ultimately, our own most profound mind. The Five Dakinis are a dynamic lineage that expresses all aspects of our human experience. They entail the five elemental energies that constitute every facet of our lived experience. We can feel it; we can experience the Dakinis from the guts. These five elements manifest as the flow of energy, a spectrum of energy from the earth or home to emptiness, space, and the potential for transformation. In other words, the entire world of our individual experience is the play of the five elements and five Dakinis –five types of energy, aspects or qualities of the same thing – awakened awareness, our deepest dimension of awareness, Buddha-nature. They each express a different angle – like a crystal reflecting the light from different angles. Dakini practices are a way to open to these different awakened qualities of Buddha-nature. Through forming this alliance or friendship with the Five Dakinis and embodying the fivefold awakened awarenesses or awakened presence in ourselves, we can step away from our habitual, unskillful, reactive patterns and transform them into that immense presence, liberated energy and direct awareness. There are many levels of ways to practice to get a sense of what Dakinis are, what Dakinis feel like experientially, and get the taste of it. First, connect to the elements externally and to the awakened energies of the Dakinis internally. Then meet each Dakini and request, invite her to merge into you. That awakens your own Dakini energy within. This awakened energy is innate, but we need to ask for it. We need the help of the Dakinis. Then we can embody and become the Dakini ourselves. But that’s not the end of the story! Then we serve all beings. That’s the whole point so to speak. We’re going to help; we’re going to benefit all beings. |
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DAKINI CORNER BLOG ASK KHANDRO-LA On-the-Cushion, Off-the-Cushion |
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[Student:] My Personal Retreat experience has drawn, sometimes painful attention to differences between my on-the-cushion and off-the cushion experiences. With the great fortune of your teachings from this lineage, I have confidence in the "knowing" that these 2 experiences are, in essence, the same. Yet, the truth of my human life is that they often feel different, especially in regards to being a force of "fierce compassion" in the world. Can you give some practical guidance in regards to bringing the spiritual inspiration from the cushion into my human world off-the-cushion? [Khandro-la:] HHow about turning that question around and asking, "How can I bring my off-the-cushion human journey, whatever arises, into my on-the-cushion spiritual practice?" This way whatever experience we have in life and the world becomes material for spiritual growth. If we try to bring our "holy" on-the-cushion practice to our "messy" human life, we encounter lots of problems. First, we judge ourselves for not meeting expectations about what we think we are supposed to do or who we are supposed to be and that is, as you said, "painful." Secondly, we are starting with the wrong premise - 'life should be spiritual and needs to be fixed,' which only leads to disappointment. Thirdly, a phrase like, 'being a force of "fierce compassion in the world,” becomes mere words and involves too much ego. Unless we first work with our own world called "mind" and bring whatever arises including mental afflictions, confusion, and even numbness in life to our spiritual practice, the idea of "bringing the spiritual practice to our life" becomes meaningless and even a way of spiritual-bypassing. So reverse your thinking about this and see what unfolds! |
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STUDENTS' REFLECTION Recognizing Our Practice in Everything We Do |
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Dakini’s Whisper is a small and intimate community of practitioners dedicated to awakening for the benefit of all beings. Our teacher brings vast and rich offerings to us, taking us deeper into the limitless possibilities of meeting our own minds. Reflecting a bit on 2022, we have received and shared transmissions and commentaries of Vajrayogini and Palden Lhamo, Tsok Offerings, sangha group practices hosted by our teacher as well as courageous, devoted students, celebrations with Prayers and Praises for our Precious Teachers, and Buddha, intense discussions and teachings on Living Vows, Spiritual Responsibility, the warm breath or “whisper” of Dakini's, enriched by the Dakini explorations in the subtle body, in-depth Journeys, and our recently completed Personal Householder Retreat. We understand from the teachings and our practices, that our Human Journey and our Spiritual Journey are one and the same. DW volunteers live this. I was struck recently by a comment one of our volunteers made while reflecting on her Personal Retreat. I think it spoke simply, yet profoundly to the truth of this. Dorothy said something like, “I am recognizing practice in what I am doing.” In this Journal we feature volunteer experience as part of the intimacy of our DW journey. Their heartfelt and personal expressions about their DW volunteer work vividly inspire and motivate us to “recognize our practice” in all that we do on our human/spiritual journey. |
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Being able to volunteer time and skills to DW has been, I hope, an act of reciprocity as the opportunity to practice Bodhicitta is at the heart of this experience. Yet I also personally benefit in unexpected and somehow intangible ways. Whenever KL or Ellen has asked me to do something I initially feel a slight resistance. Fear, time constraints, and ego come to play and so this is an opportunity to overcome that too. I then become grateful for the expansion of understanding and connection that arises trusting that what I am asked to contribute is perfect. Khandro-la asked me to create artworks for her new book focusing on the Five Dakinis. I was asked to create an image for each of them. I was initially overwhelmed and humbled to be asked and also realized this opportunity was a very visceral way for me to personally connect to the qualities of the dakinis. The task was a gift. As a very new practitioner with no prior investigations or teachings around the dakinis this was a chance to explore in a non-conceptual and very personal way the qualities of the elements they embody. Now when I practice I have another resource for connection. Calling on the qualities of all the Dakinis! I hope my contribution attracts, resonates and enables others to connect with the daknis more deeply too, ultimately increasing Bodhicitta and the Dharma. The title of this artwork is " the crow came first - traces of Dakini dancing in the moonlight" or "The World is a Place where Dakinis come to Dance." The context/story is: It had been a full moon the night before and I noticed a crab hole with a perfect circle of diggings around it. There were tracks from a crow around and I imagined all the Dakinis emerging from that void to dance around under the full moon. So I made a number of different imprints with various bits of sticks and seaweed on the beach to mark their dance steps. - Shona W. |
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A while ago Ellen asked a few DW members if we would be willing to transcribe DW videos. My first (internal) reaction was ‘I don’t know if I can find time’ and ‘I don’t know if I can do this, since my English is okay, but maybe not good enough to understand and transcribe videos. I wanted to ask questions about how to do this and what the expectations would be… Then I smiled. I zoomed out and noticed this feeling of insecurity. So what happened? I was asked this open question and now I was looking at it as if it were a problem instead of an opportunity. Interesting to find lessons in even the smallest aspects, like an email with a question. Instead of asking questions, I wrote ‘yes’ and that I would do this to the best of my ability. So now I am transcribing videos on demand and when I can. The more I do it, the more I get used to it and the easier it becomes. It is a nice opportunity to support Dakini’s Whisper in this way for me, as a mother of young children, having the possibility to do it at any time of the day. The transcribing brings a deeper understanding of the teachings while I have more time to digest them and I internalize them more because I am listening carefully, writing the words down and rereading them afterward. So this activity is actually deepening my practice, thank you! - Hester B. |
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A Reflection of Gratitude |
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My desire to volunteer for Dakini’s Whisper is a natural reflection of the gratitude I feel for these unique, precious teachings and a way to maintain the energy of the auspicious connections that brought me here. It is not a sense of dutiful obligation, but heartfelt devotion. When offering service feels tough - which it often does, despite that core desire in the heart - I only have to remember the genuine, seemingly endless generosity of Khandro-la, and I find renewed energy to contribute to bringing the Dharma to all who seek it. - Amanda S |
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Sometimes life has a way of bringing the essence of what I need to grow with. DW and my kind root Guru Khandro La, have become the essential guiding factors in my life now. Doing voluntary service for DW, I can repay at least a little of the generosity and kindness showered upon myself and Deidre when we joined DW. When we could not afford to enter higher practices, Khandro La created a possibility to offset costs. We were stunned and overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. We still are and wish to only serve our kind root Guru, Khandro-la, Dakini's Whisper, and the Sangha that surrounds DW who are such a caring and compassionate group - such a beautiful mirror of the blessed life we lead. The blessings of this Lineage have grown our lives in such a way that we have a financial abundance now. We can pay our way, yet we are moved to still serve in any way that is helpful. This is all part of our Dharma and giving back, as we have been given to. Thank you DW Thank you Khandro La Thank you Sangha May we all awaken for all sentient beings in this very moment. Peace - Dan H. |
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Wisdom Learned, Wisdom Earned |
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I am a believer of "give and take" and this principle has many dimensions and depth. My volunteering at Dakini’s Whisper has brought me a deeper understanding of Khandro-la's teachings as I transcribe them. Obviously, I have spent more time going over her teachings in that role, but on a deeper level. The mind-opening process requires a subtle quality which is wisdom. And wisdom is not learned, it is earned. The opportunity to service the Dharma Field is a blessing earned, and also, will bring back more blessings to be earned. The Bible has a saying "It is more blessed to give than to receive" and I think this is a universal truth. Karma Dakini shows us the virtues of "working". As a Dharma practitioner, I believe in karmic relationships of causes and conditions. Planting seeds is what we do anyway when we tread along the life path, hopefully, I have planted more good seeds than bad. Working for Dakini Whisper, I feel the ripple effects are opening up my mind-field and reaching the shores to be discovered. - Louise L. |
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One Journey With All My Teachers |
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In a sense, my Dharma Journey began when I was born, if not before then. As early as I could, I asked myself, “What does that mean? Is that really true? Why did I screw that up?”, and so on. Is that really so different from anyone? In my early 20’s, psychedelic experiences began to orient me away from Western, dualistic views of life and toward Native and Asian teachings—some thousands of years old. After many years, I was faced with a humbling identity crisis. The falseness of the personal identity that I was struggling with eventually led me to a Tibetan Buddhist center where I was taught. There I practiced with dedicated monks and nuns, and completed the Ngondro preliminaries under Drupon Samten Rinpoche over a lengthy period until the pandemic hit. My Buddhist wife, Betty, told me about some online classes she was taking and I entered the journey with Dakini’s Whisper. In Choying Khandro’s lineage teachings, along with new practices and meditation instructions, I have found a greater depth of understanding and increased openness to whatever is happening. This has actually increased my appreciation for my earlier teachers and experiences, and I sense that the Dakinis have been whispering to me all along on this human journey. - Peter P. |
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I find co-hosting Zoom classes fun and a way to connect with other sangha members. It was also enjoyable to help plan and lead some of the Saka Dawa celebration, as well as add ideas and collaborate with the planning group. I have found it invaluable to attend all DW events, with the exception of The Five Dakinis practice which I completed last year. Soaking up Khandro-la’s many teachings has deeply enriched my understanding of tantra and deepened my commitment to the tantric vows. Writing about my experiences in DW has clarified and anchored them in my understanding. And keeping track of everyone’s Eight-line Praise accumulations gives me incentive to do my own accumulation. In other words, volunteering for DW has enriched me more than anything I might have given as my small part of our community. - Betty O. |
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Volunteering as Practice Itself |
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Being a volunteer for DW is a way for me to feel like I’m giving back in some small way for all DW gives to me. It is also all practice. And, it keeps me more engaged than I would be if I didn’t have the commitments. Video editing and transcribing are opportunities to hear again some of the teachings we receive from Khandro-la. I hear something new each time I listen. I find that sometimes it seems I never heard it in the first place! Through hosting, I am learning the Mandala Offering. Even though I have heard it many times, I had not learned it. This is another opportunity to practice without my ego and judgment dominating. I am deeply grateful for these opportunities to volunteer. I have received so much more than I have given. - Dorothy S. |
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Volunteering for Dākinī’s Whisper has become one of the founding reasons why I am a continued student of Khandro-la’s. Not many practitioners have the ability to see their heart teacher in a more personal light, or where we can be of more support to the dharma in a dynamic way for the world through the aspirations of that leader. The influence volunteering has had on my spiritual journey with Khandro-la is immeasurable for many reasons, but to narrow it down, supporting and helping others is the fabric of my life. And so, being asked to assist my teacher is an honor because I know she finds me just as important as I find her on our journey towards a mutual goal. The projects have created stability in my purpose and path through recognizing who and what I am in this world. Khandro-la has created something fulfilling in my life outside of teachings and study through the efforts I give back to Dākinī’s Whisper. - Kate T. |
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As I reflect on my path with Dakini’s Whisper these last few years, the inquiry within brings me ever closer to my own heart —holding my own suffering and grief near while feeling my heart crack ever wider into a vehicle for compassionate action in the urgency of now. How can I respond at this moment, in this life, with this body, with this heart? What is mine to do? How can I know this place of suffering ever more deeply within me so I can care deeply for myself and others — including our beloved Mother Earth and her creatures? My path led me to the dakinis, with their magnificent, enlightened energies and activities, to Dakini’s Whisper, Khandro-La and the Ear-whispered lineage — and now particularly to the profound practice of Vajrayogini with this sangha. I’m grateful to have been gifted this practice through the blessings of Khandro-La and the lineage and to have the opportunity in this lifetime to learn the transformative power of the Vajrayana to feel ever more deeply the deity within me — in this body, in this life, to come home to this awareness of awareness that is me as me: untangling the knots, transforming into a “heap of light,” and feeling ever-increasing Divine Pride. What amazing good fortune! And for me, it surely is no accident that this sadhana arrived at this moment, at this time, as our world requires the fierce presence of benevolent ambassadors. May our teacher, Khandro-La, live long, and may the awakened activities of Dakini’s Whisper flourish! - Kate K. |
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ANCIENT SAGE, ANCIENT WISDOM H.H. the 9th Khalkha Jetsün Dampa (1933-2012) Mahasiddha at Modern Troubled Times |
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My source teacher, The Ninth Jetsun Damba Khutughtu (January 6, 1933 – March 1, 2012) lived a Mahashidda’s life on this earth at troubled times. Rinpoche was the 9th reincarnation of the Jebtsun Damba Khutuktu, the third-highest lama in the Tibetan Buddhism hierarchy and the spiritual leader of the Geluk lineage among the Khalkha Mongols. The Ninth Jetsun Dampa was renowned for twenty-three reincarnations, as an Indian four times, Mongolian four times and Tibetan seventeen times according to a Jonangpa's source. Those twenty-three reincarnations include learned scholars and accomplished practitioners such as Indian Mahasiddha Krishnacharya, Nyingma Lama Rongzom Chosang, Barom Kagyupa Dharma Wangchuk, Geluk Joamcho Je, Jonang Kunga Drolchok, and Jonang Taranatha and so forth. However, due to the complex political situation, his existence was kept a secret. At the age of seven, he entered the Drepung Monastery, but because his identity was kept secret, he could not enter the Khalkha Mitsen but had to follow the life of a common monk. At age 25, he gave back his monastic vows and went for the wandering Cho retreat. In 1959 when the Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet, Rinpoche did also, fearing that his identity would be revealed and he would be killed or used by the Communists for propaganda. During his early years in India, he stayed with his family, serving as the community Lama in the locality. In exile in India, he worked at various jobs, including in the Tibetan language section of a radio station and at Tibet House in New Delhi as well as selling sweaters in winter to support his family. In 1990 the Dalai Lama issued a statement revealing the identity of the ninth Khutughtu and in 1992 held an enthronement ceremony in Dharamshala for the ninth Jebtsun Damba Khutughtu. I met Rinpoche right after this enthronement. The 14th Dalai Lama appointed Rinpoche to develop the Johang tradition as well as to preserve the Cho Dakini Ear-Whispered Lineage. Rinpoche left his body on March 1, 2012, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after a prolonged illness. In 2016, during a visit to Mongolia, the Dalai Lama announced his belief that the 10th Jebtsun Damba Khutughtu had been reborn in Mongolia and that a process for identifying him had begun. “Through the overwhelming blazing light of your sublime wisdom sun, You overcame the darkness of the army of unawareness, You who were liberated by the robust laughter of Mañjushrī: At the feet of Chökyi Gyaltsen, I pray. In the realms of this vast world, generally and in particular, You took under your care all those who had generated awakened mind, Considering the Teachings and beings in the great land of Mongolia: I pray that the youthful sun of your supreme rebirth may swiftly arrive. Outwardly, you restrained faults of body and speech with the pratimoksha, Inwardly, you strove only for the benefit of others with bodhichitta, Secretly, with the yoga of the supreme two stages, You came as a friend who spread the Victor’s teachings in all their breadth and texture. Through explanation, you extracted the vital essence for the ears of those with clear intellect, Through debate, you crushed to dust the craggy mountain of wrong concepts, Through composition, you laid the brāhmins and rishis to rest in basic space: May you soon be reborn for the glory of the Victor’s teachings .… The general teachings of the Victor, the ripening empowerments of the Kālachakra, The explanations of the tantras and their commentaries, The practice instructions on the six liberating unions and so on: Please swiftly come as the glory of the Teachings, both general and specific. Through utterly pure dependent origination, The sublime blessings of the infallible Three Supreme Ones, And the awakened activity of Queen Shrī Devī, protectress of the Teachings, May the aim of these aspirations be swiftly accomplished without hindrance!” - The Prayer for the Swift Rebirth of the 9th Khalkha Jetsün Dampa Rinpoche by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. |
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NEW SUBTLE BODY TRAINING DAKINI SERIES VI DAKINI’S LAUGHTER Untying the Knots Through Movement & Restorative Yoga 3 Saturdays, July 2, 9 & 16, 1:30 - 3:15 pm, Pacific Time |
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JOIN your fellow DAKINIS for the DAKINI SERIES VI which will explore various loving, fun and skillful ways to untie the knots in the subtle body! We will integrate and digest our experience by resting in restorative posture and meditation for the last 20 minutes of each class. (Artwork above by Lasha Mutual) |
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NEW MONTHLY GROUP PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES Mahamudra, Cho and Vajrayogini OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS! |
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JOIN your fellow DW yogis and yoginis for NEW monthly student-hosted group practices beginning in July! These regularly scheduled (same day/time each month) will offer more opportunities to practice Mahamudra, Cho and Vajrayogini together! Please plan to attend whenever possible. The Zoom link for these practices will be https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88538519556. As always, the times below are Pacific Time. - Ganden Cho Practice with Dan - 1st Sunday of each month, 12:15-1:15pm
- VY Sadhana with Peter - 2nd Sunday of each month, 12noon-1pm
- Mahamudra Practice with Ellen - 3rd Tuesday of each month, 3:30-4:15pm
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NEW MONTHLY DAKINI BOOK DISCUSSION Dakini's Warm Breath by Judith Simmer-Brown Sunday, July 3, 11 am - 12 noon First Sunday of every month OPEN TO ALL! |
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Join us in our new exciting Monthly Book Discussion Group for lively and enlightening dialogue about Judith Simmer-Brown’s, Dakini’s Warm Breath. In this dynamic book, Judith integrates stories, commentaries and historical research to provide the reader with considerable traditional background information along with a compelling spiritual exploration of the Dakini in our own lives! All are welcome! The Zoom link will be https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83228307087 |
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PRACTICE WITH KHANDRO-LA! Thursday, July 14th, 4 - 5:15 pm, Pacific Time |
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Khandro-la will guide students in an Ear-Whispered Lineage Practice. For more information, visit our DW website or contact dakiniswhisperteam@gmail.com. |
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NEW DW Media Publications VAJRAYOGINI & TROMA NAKMO SADHANAS - TEXT AND TUNES is now available in the DW Media Store. |
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- Text - A Long Sadhana of Vajrayogini Self-Generation with Supplemental Notes (restricted), available at DW Media Store. - Tunes - A Long Vajrayogini Sadhana (restricted), available at DW Media Store. - Text - A Sadhana of Troma Nakmo (restricted), available at DW Media Store. - Tunes - A Sadhana of Troma Nakmo (restricted), available at DW Media Downloadable. | | |
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