Vajrasattva – The Buddha of Purification
Vajrasattva, the embodiment of unconditional kindness, is always portrayed with a gentle face and a luminescent countenance. His practices are all related to confession and purification, and he is the supreme remover of obstacles for Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhists. It is said that of all the countless methods to purify obscurations and negative karma, the practices of Vajrasattva are the best. Through meditation and recitation related to Vajrasattva, students can purify their minds in preparation for more advanced Tantric practices. It is believed that all harmful acts can be purified and all obscurations removed though sincere dedication to Vajrasattva and his practices.
Gestures and Attributes
Vajrasattva holds the vajra (or dorje ) and ghanta (or bell ), which together represent the body, speech, and mind of the Buddha. In Tantric ritual, the vajra is held in the right hand and the bell is held in the left. The vajra represents the compassion of the Buddhas, the masculine principle, and the bell represents wisdom, the feminine principle. To achieve enlightenment, these principles must be combined. Used together in ritual, the vajra and ghanta purify the surrounding space of negative energies and raise beneficial energy for positive work.
