The Vajrayogini Tantra -- Tibet’s Magical Goddess

On Thursday April 25th, 2013, the Hermetic Hour, with host Poke Runyon, will present a discussion on the practice of the Vajrayogini tantra as undertaken by O.T.A. members and Gardenerians at the Sakya Center in Los Angeles in Oct.-Nov.1985 under the direction of Abbott Ludhing Khen Rinpoche of the Sakya Order, Ngor Sect, of Tibetan Buddhism. This was a rare opportunity for Westerners to take initiations, and an extended training course in Tibetan Trantric practice, supervised by Tibetan lamas and delivered in English by an American lama Nagawang Samten. My mentor in anthropology, Dr. Robert Ravitz, had been to Dharmsala, India several times. He recommended the program, and frankly told me: "Poke, you will be getting something that many people have gone to Asia, given up everything, spent years, and still not received, so get the most out of it." I certainly tried to, and found it one of the most meaningful experiences in my magical career. Our sessions with Ludhing Khen Rinpoche and Lama Samten lasted a month. We started with a Hevajrah initiation, as the most important yidam practice of the Order (this was our certification and a "planting of the seed"), followed by Chenrezi initiation, Padmasambhava, White Tara, an intensive Vajrayogini Initiation and practice, from a 100 page syllabus detailing all the rites and practices. This is a complete tantric system, including, Tumo, and Pohwa (death practice).Vajrayogini is very popular with Tibetans and Westerners alike. She is a very close analog to the Canaanite Goddess Anath. Programs like the one we participated in are now being offered more frequently here in America. You might check with H.H. Sakya Trazin's website for details -- So, if you want to find out what it is like to meditate with the Eastern Masters, tune in and we will share our recollections with you.