Yeshe Tsogyal, Ocean of Wisdom Awareness, is the outer aspect of the Dakini Heart Essence mandala. She is at once a female buddha, a wisdom dakini, and a renowned master in the tantric Tibetan tradition of Vajrayanan Buddhism.

Through her relationship with the Lotus Born master, Guru Rinpoche, and through her own realization, she created a profound and dynamic style of Vajrayana practice that transcends time, gender, and culture.

A spiritual mother guiding both men and women, this remarkable manifestation of enlightenment awakens the true ultimate nature and brings limitless enlightened activity into the world for the benefit of all beings.

"Know the Dakini to be your own mind". Khungpo Naljor.

Jamgon Kongtrul speaks about Yeshe Tsogyal

In his Ocean of Blessings, Jamgon Kongtrul states that the Lady Yeshe Tsogyal appeared in Tibet as an emanation of Dhatvishvari Vajra Yogini and was essentially not different from the consorts of the five buddhas.

In her dharmakaya aspect, she is known as Samantabhadri Prajnaparamita. in her sambhogakaya level, she manifests in the form of the great consort Dhatvishvari and therefrom she displays an inconceivable number of nirmanakaya appearances however it way is necessary to guide beings to enlightenment.

In the pure lands she appears in the form of Sarasvati, Noble Goddess of Eloquence, where she shows the skillful means for generating the light of wisdom in all aspects of knowledge, both the outer and inner levels of philosophy.

In the presence of Buddha Shakyamuni, she emanated in the form of Ganga Devi and acted as the custodian of the treasury of the Mahayana teachings.

In the snowy land (of Tibet), she took rebirth as a qualified dakini into the family line of the Kharchen clan and became a consort accepted by Guru Rinpoche.

By the power of her immense training, she accomplished perfect recall. Traversing the secret path of Vajrayana, right to the letter, she achieved the supreme vajra abode of the twelfth bhumi. Perfecting the great power of realization of the natural Great Perfection, she arrived at the stage at the end of the four visions.

Acting as the offciial compiler of Guru Rinpoche’s teachings, she traveled with him everywhere in the central and surrounding lands of Tibet and concealed innumerable major and minor treasures..

At ythe moment, she resides in her rainbow body's indestructible form in the Palace of Lotus Light on (the continent of) Chamara. Indivisible from the never-ending adornment wheels of Guru Rinpoche's body, speech, mind, qualities, and activities, she pervades throughout the reaches of space to benefit beings for as long as conditioned existence exists.

Dakini Song

Written by Khyungpo Naljor a twelfth-century Tibetan master who had a visionary experience in which a lion-headed dakini appeared and sang this song.

Crystal dakini guards against interruptions.
Jewel dakini increases wealth.
Lotus dakini gathers energy.
Action dakini gets everything done.
When wanting and grasping hold sway
The dakini has you in her power.
Wanting nothing from outside, taking things as they come,
Know the dakini to be your own mind.

The essence of mind is knowing.
Know that the crystal is the non-thought of mind itself
And the crystal dakini guards against interruptions.
Know that the source of wealth is contentment
And the jewel dakini fulfills all wants and needs.
Know that the lotus is the non-thought of freedom from attachment And the lotus dakini gathers energy.
Know that action has no origination or cessation
And the action dakini gets everything done.
Those who do not understand these points
Can practice for eons and know nothing.

Yeshe Tsogyal Resources

Purchase, Item #116
Tamboura of Devotional Yearning: A Short Prayer Briefly Recounting the Life Story of complete Freedom of the Supreme Dakini, Yeshe Tsogyal, Victorious Ocean of Wisdom
CWD, vol. tsha, pages 150–160. By Jamgon Kongtrul. Annotated. 12 pages. English only.
$15.

The Eight Mirrors:
The Life of Yeshe Tsogyal & Our Own Spiritual Path
Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo

The Eight Mirrors are drawn from the eight chapters of Yeshe Tsogyal’s life story which is not only her personal gift to us but also a poignant portrayal of a heroine's journey to enlightenment. Beautifully translated as, Mother of Knowledge”, this spiritual autobiography can be understood as an invitation to modern day aspirants to explore the landscape of their own spiritual paths.

By many accounts, Yeshe Tsogyal was a real person who lived in 8th century Tibet. She completed the journey to full enlightenment through her relationship with the renowned master, Guru Rinpoche. Although a realized master in her own right, she often serves as a role model of how to navigate the twists and turns of the spiritual path. In this respect, her personal accountr is most valuable when understood and experienced as a sacred myth that we can enter into and later emerge, as if initiated, with a new identity and fresh insight. By working with these Mirrors as gateways of awareness, we learn how to challenge our hidden ego and how, moment by moment, to see our higher transcendent wisdom.

In an Eight Mirrors retreat, we tap into the life experience of Yeshe Tsogyal, re-living it within ourselves. As an experiential exchange unfolds between our individualized world and our underlying wisdom nature, we come to see who we truly are, where we have been, and where we are heading in our evolution. In a gentle and spacious environment, through talks, creative exercises, discussion, and meditation, we delve deeper and deeper into the spiritual journey and gradually bring ourselves into alignment with our highest aspirations and greatest purpose.