VAJRAYOGINI PRACTICE AND SELF-INITIATION PRACTICE – Do not view the video links without the appropriate empowerment.

Please see here and below access to Paula’s Vajrayogini Video’s via the links, offering wonderful tools to help us deepen our practice. Plus a wonderful explanation about the English chanting of this practice and personal stories to connect us to this profound lineage.

AN EXPLANATION ABOUT THE ENGLISH CHANTING OF THE VAJRAYOGINI SELF-INITIATION by Paula Chichester January 2025.

Sometimes people ask why we take 6 hours to complete this practice. I can only answer that when I was fortunate to do this about 15 times or more with Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, it usually started about 9 pm at night and ended at 9 am in the morning. Rinpoche would chant the chanted prayers slowly; he would stop to meditate at certain parts and we had two breaks with refreshments. Generally the atmosphere was that of a really joyful party. Once, with Ribur Rinpoche, we started about 10 a.m. and finished around 8 pm. They would stop and joke and have fun.

During one of the last practices with Rinpoche, he recorded his chanting on cassettes and gave them to me to make them chantable in English. My first attempt was not completely satisfactory, particularly the kusali tsog. Later, I worked with Lobsang Chonjor and the tunes are correct now. Some people have heard the gossip 20 years ago that the English chanting isn’t to Rinpoche’s liking, but that isn’t true. Rinpoche encourages us to chant in our language, he says it is more joyful, we meditate on the meaning and have deeper meditations–and to receive the blessing. What Rinpoche didn’t appreciate was how I had to shorten the English to fit the Tibetan meters of the tunes. So, when FPMT published the sadhana, the literal translation was placed opposite the Tibetan and English chanting words.

Most people agree that the English chants have the heart meaning of the verses, so if you are familiar with the literal translation, the shorter chanting translation still invokes the meaning of the meditation. I created the abridged verse translation for the English chanting in the same meter as the Tibetan so we can use the exact tune of the Tibetans and this is what Rinpoche stressed. He said we must use the same tunes, not make up our own, because the tunes hold incredible blessings from the realized beings who created the tunes. When I was at Kopan in April of 2023, I joined the Kopan Nuns in the some of evening VY self-initiations that they did for the 49 days. I could chant along with them perfectly in English–while they did it in Tibetan– and it never missed a beat. I could enjoy chanting and knowing the meanings of the words I chanted. It was great!

MAIN POINT is our motivation to develop the three principles of the path in our hearts! … and to experience our subtle body, speech and mind so that when we die, we can meditate on the union of the illusory body and clear light–so we can attain enlightenment and help all sentient beings! However, I am convinced that when we gather as a group and dedicate our practice for the welfare of all sentient beings, we are creating the cause for peace, justice, kindness, forgiveness and generosity.

Much love and gratitude and joy to you all,

Paula