KECHARA

46 FEATURES • DORJE SHUGDEN
THE SYMBOLISM
OF
DORJE SHUGDEN
Learning about Dorje Shugden’s
iconography is a great way to
discover his nature, function and
the methods that are applied in
his practice. Dorje Shugden’s
outer appearance is beautifully
described in various prayers and
praises to him, and these reflect
his inner intent and wishes.
WISDOM FIRE
A dark wind-swept wisdom fire
emanates from the King Protector
arises from his realisation of
Bodhichitta and burns up our
obstacles and obscurations that
are results of our negative karma.
LOTUS
Dorje Shugden is on a lotus to
signify that his actions are based
on great compassion.
SUN DISC
On top of Dorje Shugden’s lotus
is a sun disc that represents the
realisation of emptiness.
SNOW LION
The snow lion represents
fearlessness that arises upon
victory over ignorance, attachment
and hatred. The snow lion also
tramples enemies such as
afflictive emotions that arise
from a self-grasping and selfcherishing
mind.
WRATHFUL LOOK
The wrathful or fierce look on
Dorje Shugden and the snow lion
has a special significance. When
we see it, it appears frightening
because ego fears nothing more
than being confronted with the
truth. But from Dorje Shugden’s
side, wrath represents extreme
compassion and a quick and
powerful energy to come to the
practitioner’s aid.
HEART OF THE ENEMY
The enemy heart denotes the
root of suffering – ignorance.
Holding the heart in his hand
means Dorje Shugden ‘rips out’
our ignorance and blesses us
with more wisdom. The heart in
this case, refers to the innermost
essence and our deepest wish –
enlightenment.
MONK ROBES
Dorje Shugden wears monk
robes that represent pure, ethical
outer conduct (the Pratimoksha
vows).
DOMED HAT
Dorje Shugden’s domed hat
represents the highest view in
Vajrayana Buddhism, Madhyamaka,
of which Nagarjuna was the
first propounder, and which Je
Tsongkhapa presented in his
teachings with unsurpassed
clarity for our present time.
WISDOM SWORD
Dorje Shugden holds aloft a
wisdom sword in his right hand,
which cuts through the delusions
that keep us from seeing reality
directly.
TAMING HOOK
Dorje Shugden holds a taming
hook in the crook of his left arm
to show that his power works
throughout the three realms of
existence.
JEWEL-
SPOUTING MONGOOSE
Dorje Shugden’s jewel-spouting
mongoose shows that his
practice is able to provide us with
our material and spiritual needs.
WEARING SHOES
Dorje Shugden wears shoes
(tiger skin boots), which show us
that he appears in the guise of a
worldly god. This means that he
is closer to us ordinary beings
and it is easier to propitiate him
than other enlightened Dharma
Protectors such as Kalarupa.
THIRD EYE
Dorje Shugden’s third eye
(wisdom eye) in the middle of his
forehead perceives directly the
totality of relative and absolute
reality – past, present and future.