AUGUST 2025

The Tibetan Buddhist Pantheon

Pantheon, in the Tibetan Buddhism, refers to the enormous array of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, protectors, and spirits integrated into Vajrayana practice. In the previous two newsletters (June and July 2025), we traced the sacred hierarchy of Vajrayana Buddhist iconography—from the subtlest realm of formless awareness to the more accessible manifestations of enlightened energy. The list is more often described as a mandala - a sacred universe radiating from the Primordial Buddha, the ultimate source of formless, timeless awareness (called the "Dharmakaya). From this infinite source unfold countless emanations of wisdom and compassion, each appearing in forms suitable for guiding beings to liberation.

The 42 Peaceful Deities (pictured above) and the 52 Wrathful Deities (pictured below) form the Buddhist mandala of the intermediate, after-death, state. They are described in the Bardo Thodol (The Tibetan Book of the Dead) because they appear in the after-death state. If the consciousness recognizes them as its own nature, liberation is possible at that point. If not, rebirth in one of the 6 realms (the human realm being one) follows according to the laws of karma.

From the Primordial Buddha to Compassion in Action

To summarize: Among these manifestations emanating from the Dharmakaya are the Dhyani Buddhas, each embodying an essential aspect of awakened consciousness. These archetypal Buddhas are not historical figures but representations of pure awareness. They function as powerful tools for transformation—each one purifying a specific mental affliction and revealing the enlightened quality hidden beneath.

Descending from these cosmic Buddhas are the Bodhisattvas, beings who vow to remain in the cycle of birth and death until all sentient beings are liberated. They offer not just philosophical guidance, but an energetic presence that supports and inspires the practitioner's journey.

From here, we encounter the Yidams—meditation deities who may appear in peaceful or wrathful forms. Through deity yoga—visualization, mantra recitation, and identification—the practitioner learns to transform negative emotions into wisdom, wrath into skillful means, and duality into direct realization. Practitioners first visualize the form of the deity (samayasattva) and then invite the Wisdom Being (jñānasattva) to merge with the visualization, bringing it alive with awakened presence.

After the Peaceful Deities appear in the after death state, if recognition does not occur, the mind encounters the Wrathful Deities. These might appear terrifying but they are the same wisdom energies as the peaceful deities, only manifesting in wrathful form to cut through fear and attachment. They are not “evil spirits” but rather the fierce compassion of awakened mind. Their frightening forms shock the consciousness, attempting to break through habitual ignorance. As Padmasambhava advises, “Peaceful and Wrathful, they are your own mind. Do not fear them as other. Recognize them and you are free.”

Wisdom Protectors

At the outer edge of this enlightened mandala stand the Dharma Protectors. A "Dharmapāla" is a specific class of enlightened or oath-bound beings whose primary role is to safeguard the Buddhadharma, its practitioners, and sacred spaces. They are generally divided into two categories. Wisdom Protectors of Awareness are direct manifestations of enlightened mind, such as Mahākāla and Palden Lhamo, who embody the uncompromising energy of awakened awareness. When invoked through prayer and ritual,they remove obstacles on the path, protect sacred teachings and lineages, and enforce the integrity spiritual commitments. Wisdom Protectors of Oath-Bound Spirits were originally worldly spirits or deities, but through the power of great masters (especially Padmasambhava in Tibet), were bound by oath to serve and protect the Dharma. Dorje Legpa and Rahula are examples of Oath-Bound Protectors.

Gesar of Ling

5 Print Vertical Gesar Flag

Size: 2'-4"x 12 ft - 6 in

Sale Price this month $68

“I am the lord who rides the swift horse of the wind.

I fight not for myself, but to clear the path for the Dharma.

My arrow strikes not flesh, but the darkness of ignorance.”

- Gesar

Gesar occupies a unique and complex place in the Vajrayana Buddhist pantheon. Part mythic warrior-king, part enlightened protector, he does not fit neatly into the traditional "hierarchy" like Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, or Yidams, but his role is highly significant in some Tibetan Buddhist and Bön traditions. “The Epic of King Gesar,” renowned as the longest epic poem in the world, Comprises more than a million verses—and is still expanding through oral tradition. The stories have been preserved for centuries by bards and singers across Tibet, Mongolia, and Bhutan..

Gesar is not merely a cultural hero; he is regarded as an emanation of enlightened energy. Many traditions connect him with Padmasambhava, while others view him as an incarnation of Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Born into the kingdom of Ling, a semi-mythical land in eastern Tibet, Gesar grew up to become a warrior-king. His mission was to subdue demons, hostile forces, and corrupt rulers who oppressed the people. In doing so, he not only protected the Dharma but also restored harmony and justice to the land. His epic tales are understood as allegories of the spiritual path: the enemies he fought symbolize destructive emotions such as pride, anger, and greed.

Our traditional Ling Gesar flags depict King Gesar in the center – bearing his magical weapons and riding his winged steed Kyang Go Karka. The Supernatural Animals of the 4 directions (Garuda, Dragon, Tiger and Snow Lion) occupy the four corners. Their inner meanings represent exalted qualities of the human mind: fearlessness, dignity, confidence and unconditional cheerfulness. The text supplicates King Gesar and sings his praises. It contains mantras for overcoming obstacles and conquering enemies.

Material: High quality cotton, hemmed on all sides and on the tongues. There is a sleeve and ties for attaching to a pole.

Individual Gesar Flags in 5 colors (28 in x 34 in.) - On sale this month for $35/ each

Set of 5 colors: On sale this month for $175

Historical and Lineage Gurus in Tibetan Buddhism

In Vajrayana Buddhism, the role of the guru, or spiritual teacher, is of supreme importance. The guru serves not only as an instructor in doctrine and practice but as the living embodiment of enlightened wisdom and compassion. To understand Vajrayana’s spiritual transmission, one must look both at its historical figures and its vast lineages of gurus.

The Historical Gurus

Vajrayana traces its foundation back to India, where great masters such as Nāgārjuna, Asanga, and Śāntarakṣita developed the philosophical and meditative systems that shaped Mahayana and Vajrayana thought. Most significant for Vajrayana was Padmasambhava, known as Guru Rinpoche, who brought tantric teachings from India to Tibet in the 8th century. These early masters are remembered not merely as historical teachers but as enlightened beings whose blessings continue to empower practitioners today.

Padmasambhava, the great Indian master, brought the Buddhist teachings of the Secret Mantra Path to Tibet in the eighth century. Also known as Guru Rinpoche,, he is revered as the Second Buddha, he entered this world to enlighten all beings.

Guru Rinpoche Print on 100% cotton

15 in x 21 in $18

Milarepa is often referred to as the Lord of the Yogins. He is proof that for an ordinary person, the Vajrayana path can lead to Buddhahood in one lifetime. The Kagyu lineage is traced through Milarepa and his closest disciple, Gampopa. This print is a folk art depiction of Milarepa's life.

Milarepa Print on 100% cotton

13 in x 18 In $10

The Lineage Gurus

Vajrayana emphasizes unbroken lineages, where teachings and empowerments are passed directly from teacher to student. These lineages ensure authenticity, preserving both the outer teachings of philosophy and the inner transmissions of tantric practice. The Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug schools each trace their roots to Indian mahāsiddhas and Tibetan masters, maintaining distinct streams of practice. Within each school, the teacher-disciple relationship is considered a sacred bond through which realization is awakened.

The Guru as the Living Lineage

Ultimately, in Vajrayana, the guru is seen as inseparable from the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The guru embodies the wisdom of past masters, channels the blessings of the lineage, and serves as the direct gateway to realization. Through devotion and trust, disciples receive not only instructions but the subtle transmission of awakened mind itself.

Thus, the historical and lineage gurus together form the heart of Vajrayana Buddhism. They link practitioners to the living stream of enlightened wisdom that has flowed unbroken for centuries, guiding countless beings toward awakening.

Next Month

In September's Newsletter I hope to complete this series on the "Heirarchy of the Sacred Buddhist Realms," by covering the "Worldly Protectors, Guardians, Wealth Deities, Local Deities, and Nature Spirits.

On Sale This Month

Prayer for Averting Nuclear War

The Dzogchen Master and accomplished Tibetan Buddhist Yogi, H.H. Chatral Sangay Dorje (1913-2015), wrote this special prayer to avert nuclear war. Chatral Rinpoche's spiritual consort, Sangyum Kamala, asked Radiant Heart Studios to design prayer flags with this prayer and make them available. Displaying them in great numbers all around the world will help to counteract the nuclear threat.

On this 2 ft x 10' prayer flag, the Prayer for Averting Nuclear War is written in both Tibetan and English on each of the 5 colors of high quality cotton cloth in a vertical display. There is a red border on the pole side (which has both ties and a sleeve), and there are 10 colorful streamers with "enhancing mantras" sewn to the outside edge of the flag.

This month this 5 color vertical prayer flag is $10 off. Sale Price: $50 (pole not included)

We also carry several other sizes and styles of this Prayer to Avert Nuclear War:

For Poles & On Ropes.

Quilts for Kids - Nepal

Our April 2025 Newsletter featured charitable organizations that sponsor Buddhist monks, nuns, yogis and yoginis. Because I came across another group that's dear to my heart, I've decided to add charitable organizations that help impoverished children in the Himalayan regions. If anyone can recommend more, please send me a link,

I used to study Buddhism in Kathmandu every winter. I lived near the Bodhinath Stupa. There were dozens of children begging for money around the stupa. Most of them lived in the tent city across the road from the stupa. The majority of people in this community were poor and uneducated. Alcoholism and domestic violence were rampant, and child-marriage was the norm. Women raised the children and cooked, and men did odd jobs. By the age of 7 most girls were sent out to the main road to pick through garbage or to beg money for their family. All of this kept the cycle of discrimination and poverty going, and put young women at risk for accidents, arrest, harassment & sexual abuse. Two-thirds of the uneducated children were girls. There were no public schools available to them and tuition at the privately run schools was way more than their impoverished families could afford. I talked a few parents into letting me sponsor their daughters’ schooling, got them enrolled and paid the tuition. Very few were able to stay in school for long.

Ravina

One young girl I sponsored, Ravina Kaur, contacted me when she graduated from high school, to say that she had found a new sponsor to help her attend college. I was delighted recently when I learned that she had graduated from Sweet Briar College and then received a master’s degree (with top honors) from the University of Massachusetts Boston College of Management. A non-profit organization, called Quilts for Kids Nepal, sponsored Ravina’s higher education in the United States. Ravina now the manager of Quilt for Kids Nepal.

In 2006 a retired investment banker, James Hopkins,seeking a deeper meaning in life, moved to Kathmandu. While working near the tent city, he encountered women hand‑stitching quilts for dowries. He bought one quilt, brought it back to the U.S., sold it, and used the proceeds to send the maker’s child to school—the first child in the camp to receive an education.That act became the spark for Quilts for Kids Nepal, which now combines quilt-making by economically disadvantaged women with funding education for at-risk children through quilt sales.

Without some outside help, most children in the "beggar's camp" would never have an opportunity for education. Through direct donations and through the sale of quilts, Quilts for Kids keeps children off the streets and sets them on a new path -- one of self-discovery and growth

Educating girls has proven to be one of the most important ways of breaking poverty cycles. Girls with the higher level of education are less likely to get married and have children at an early age. Additionally, if all women had a secondary education, child and maternal deaths would be cut in half. This means longer, happier lives for millions.

Fancy Quilt- Change of Seasons

Size: Approximately 75”x 85” (with slight variations). Hand-stitched in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Made from 100% cotton cloth. Two-layer design with thick batting inside.

Price: $390

Quilts for Kids Nepal had sent nearly 400 children to school and their organization is growing every year. By purchasing a quilt, you directly fund the education of a child. Of course, you don’t need to buy a quilt to sponsor a child. $390 a year pays for one child’s education for the whole year. They are a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization in the US. No matter how much you give, 100% of your donation will go to support the needs of this very special community in Nepal.

How to Donate

August's Free Drawing

The rice paper print chosen for August's drawing is called Srid Pa Ho or a Mewa Grid. It is a cosmic diagram used in Tibetan astrology and divination. The 196 squares (14x14) each contain a Tibetan letter or numeral. These squares represent a time-space matrix involving Elements (earth, water, fire, air, space), Trigrams, Numbers (mewa), Animal signs, Days, Months, Years, and their associated energies. This grid is used in the creation of the Tibetan calendar, in Medical diagnostics, Geomantic evaluations (ie. Feng Shui), and protective talismans and rituals. The deity holding the wheel protects and enforces cosmic law and reminds the viewer of impermanence and karmic consequences. The figures beneath the deity represent vanquished obstacles or demonic forces. The mantras and astrological formulas in the ring around the square include the names of planets, days of the week, and protective invocations.

If you'd like a chance to win this print, email me your name and address to prayerflags2@gmail.com.

Please don't forget to include your mailing address.

Congratulations to Stuart Cooper of Melbourne, FL

for winning the Heruka rice paper print!

This Month's Practice and Naga Offering Calendar

(See our website for more information about Naga Offerings and Prayer Flag Ceremonies)

The 6th month of the Tibetan calendar started the 3rd week of July and goes until August 24. This is the month that the Nagas harvest their food. If you make offering to them on the Naga Offering Days (teb) they will bestow healthy children and increased prosperity on you. The best days to make offering in the 6th month are August 3, 9, 18, 22, and 23). If you bother them by making offering on the other days, the "dok" days,( especially on August 7th and 10th), your offering will appear to them as rotten and there's no telling what they might do.

Most of the Tibetan 7th month, is in September. The offering days and "dok" days will be listed in September's newsletter. During the 7th Tibetan month the Nagas will be enjoying the food they harvested in the 6th month.