Dro’phang Lingpa Tröllö-tsal
the energy of Dorje Tröllö
Nuden Dorje Dro’phang Lingpa Tröllö-tsal is one of the gTértöns of the Nyingma School. Although the gTértöns are becoming better known in the West at this point in history, there are still a significant number of whom many are unaware.
Khandro Déchen comments:
This image is unusual inasmuch as it portrays a Lama in visionary form. Here
Nuden Dorje Dro’phang Lingpa Tröllö-tsal sits upon a
tiger to display the fact that he is an emanation of Dorje
Tröllö. One of the few other examples of Lamas riding tigers is that
of Jomo Pema
’ö-Zér, who is an incarnation of Tashi Chhi’drèn
– the disciple of Padmasambhava
and Yeshé
Tsogyel, who manifested as the tiger upon whom Dorje Tröllö rode. The
tiger’s paws are grounded on clouds to give the impression of flight. It is
said that Dorje Tröllö is shown riding a tiger for several reasons –
one
being, that he
subdued the sky-tiger devil and oath-bound her as a protector of
Vajrayana.
Ngak’chang Rinpoche comments:
It is important that the idea of
subjugation in Buddhism is understood. Usually subjugation renders ‘the
subjugated’ powerless and humiliated – but here we have an entirely
different possibility. Padmasambhava’s subjugation equates with freedom and
honour
– the subjugated demons become protectors of the tradition and are able to
manifest
their previous powers for the benefit of practitioners by whom they are supplicated.
With regard to our experience of the path, we can see our own demonism and
demonolatry in a similar way.
Through the practice of and devotion
toward Padmasambhava and Yeshé Tsogyel our neuroses and dualistic derangements
are transformed into the living colour of the lineage. We too, each in his or her
own way, can become protectors of the lineage. This is vital in the West today where
new age and psychotherapeutic corruption of Buddhism has become so rampant.
