Vajra Strike
Tuesday, May 30th, 2006The Sanskrit word vajra is resonant and paradoxical. The two principle meanings of vajra are diamond, or adamantine, and lightning, or thunderbolt. The diamond is one of the hardest, most durable natural substances, while lightning is one of the most swift and ephemeral. Both the diamond and the thunderbolt share qualities of strength and precision and are brilliantly expressive of the mode of appearing of our world as light.
A vajra Guru is one who reveals Reality in the manner of a streak of lightning illuminating a dark sky. A vajra Guru is also the root or Sat Guru with whom one finds oneself in an unbreakable relation.
Vajra is associated with teachers and methods of the highest caliber and directness.
Tantra is the vajra path, and many of the methods associated with Tantra are designed to open us with swift precision to the naked encounter with unconditioned life.
At the most literal level, many Tantrik practices deliberately engender a state of astonishment or stunned openness. This can be accomplished through exposing a student to fear, anger, shock, surprise, extreme or excessive conditions, heightened sensation, deprivation, and any number of other means, including direct transmission of the natural state.
The Vijnanabhairava Tantra even recommends tickling and sneezing as friendlier gateways to the condition of openness.
Recently, I have received some forms of vajra practice that have catapulted me into a state of wordless astonishment.
Then, the other day I received this message from the Zhouyi,* my oracle of choice:
You attempt to capture deeply felt emotions with words. You experience awkwardness and embarrassment trying to verbalize the depth of your inspiration, joy, love, and gratitude. However, your true feelings are beyond eloquence.
OM Shanti,
Shambhavi
*Information about the Zhouyi can be found at Divinations and Timings or Consulations.
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