Troma Notes
Troma Notes
Troma Notes
Vajrayana Foundation
VAJRAYANA FOUNDATION
TRÖMA NOTES
FROM DUDJOM LINGPA’S TRÖMA NAGMO CYCLE
BASED ON INSTRUCTION BY LAMA THARCHIN RINPOCHÉ
2007 (notes compiled from 2000) Bero Jeydren Publications
Vajrayana Foundation
2013 Eureka Canyon Road
Corralitos, CA 95076
www.vajrayana.org
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means
without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
TRÖMA NOTES CONTENTS
Etiquette for Tröma Group Practice
Trö‐chung Mandala
Tröma Nagmo Mandala
Tröma Nagmo Mantra Visualization
o Mantra Garland
o Nyenba (Approach)
o Drubpa (Accomplishment)
o Lay‐jyor (Enacting Enlightened Activity)
Pacifying
Enriching
Magnetizing
Wrathful
Symbolism of Tröma Nagmo
Etiquette for Tröma Group Practice
Please always chant at a softer level than the umdzé. You should always be able to hear the
umdzé’s chanting over your own voice. The special melodies for Tröma practice were transmitted
as terma, so please try to follow the umdzé’s melody as closely as possible without changing it.
Only the umdzé chants the first line of a section when it is sung with melody and/or when using
the drums. The sangha begins chanting with the second line. This includes verses that are only two
lines long. When a section is repeated, such as with “Refuge and Bodhicitta,” the sangha may
begin chanting the repetitions after a few syllables as usual.
There are a few instances when a verse is chanted in lhuk (without melody), such as the “Seven
Line Prayer,” the “Lineage Prayer,” and a few lines that are not written in verse. For instance, the
first two lines of the practice, as well as others, are written in prose style and chanted without
melody. Another example is with mantra, such as the Sky Treasury mantra. The sangha may begin
chanting these after the first few syllables as usual.
Traditionally only the loppön and/or the umdzé chant the “P’HET.” The sangha does not chant it in
group practice.
The bells are not played while kang‐lings are blown. If you do not have a kang‐ling, then please
pause ringing your bell while others are blowing the kang‐ling. There are specific patterns to
follow when playing the kang‐ling. You can begin to learn the patterns by listening and observing.
Please observe how the loppön and umdzé play the drum. Our drumming should follow with the
same speed, rhythm, and direction as closely as possible, ending at the same time. In general, the
drumming begins with the first beat outwards. The exception is with the dharma protectors Sol‐dü
and Rahula where the first beat is to the inside. The emphasis should be on the inward beat at all
times.
Please do not place texts, pictures, or shrine articles directly on the floor, and do not step over
them. If you see them on the floor, pick them up and set them on something.
It takes time and practice to learn the melodies, patterns, and ways of practicing Tröma, and we
are all continuously learning and improving. Do not worry about not being perfect or making
mistakes. Only by trying and making these mistakes will our practice improve.
NOTES FROM LAMA THARCHIN RINPOCHÉ
VAJRAYANA FOUNDATION
APRIL 2000
Teaching by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche taken from Dudjom Lingpa’s Chos Nyid Nam mKha' kLong
mDzod Las mKha' 'Gro 'Dus Pa' dBang sDud Zil gNon Padma rGyas Pa' Chun 'Phyang bShugs Pg
53‐611
It is important to understand the symbolic form of the deity in order not to perceive the deity as
something real or something solid existing outside of oneself.
ONE FACE The single sphere of Great Exaltation
TWO LEGS Free from the extremes of samsara and nirvana
THREE EYES Three Kayas, spontaneously accomplished (inseparable quality);
opened widely is the awakened state
BREATH with the natural sound of HUNG
ONE MOUTH Opened widely, wrathful; the Great Exaltation of equality
FOUR FANGS Four Immeasurable Thoughts of Bodhicitta to liberate sentient
beings
ONE TONGUE Curled up like lightning; liberates equally samsara and nirvana
TWO EARS Inseparable relative truth and absolute truth
58 HUMAN HEAD MALA 58 discursive thoughts perfected ; 58 wrathful deities are all
purified
58 T E E T H White, like moon glow; purifies the 58 afflictive emotions
HAIR Orange, wrathful, flaming upwards in a topknot with the rest
flowing down; top‐knot represents never having been deluded
from beginingless time. The rest flowing down represents that
inconceivable wisdom activity can penetrate and liberate all
other beings.
TEN FINGERS Five wisdoms and five kayas, spontaneously perfected
TEN TOES Purifies five aggregates and five poisons; feet pressing down
closes the door of samsara
TWELVE JOINTS OF HER BODY Very supple, very beautiful, purifies the 12 links of
interdependent origination and the 12 bodily junctures
SECRET BHAGA Expanding; union with unchanging Great Exaltation
TWO BREASTS Effulgent; She holds followers by compassion, nurturing like a
mother to her child
BODY Magnificent and extremely terrifying, all‐perfected samsara and
nirvana into vast state
DANCING POSTURE Purifies the eight consciousness
EIGHT CEMETERY ORNAMENTS i Purifies the eight sense objects
KHATVANGA The 3‐point khatvanga top is the male consort, which represents
great exaltation. The staff is very straight made of chu‐shing
wood, symbolizing bodhicitta. The five–colored silk ribbons
represent all kayas and purelands are fully perfected.
LOTUS Stainless, never attached to samsara or nirvana
MOON DISC Faultless, stainless
SUN DISC Perfected all qualities
CORPSE She stamps on it sealing all the doors of samsara
Exaltation. Fulfills all disciples’ hopes.
RIGHT HAND HOLDS DRIGUK Symbolizes wisdom to cut grasping to self or ego
LEFT HAND HOLDS BLOOD‐ Symbolizes bestowing the two levels of siddhis to practitioners;
FILLED KAPALA Blood symbolizes desireless desire or Great Desire
WISDOM FIRE, Inseparable vast expanse and primordial wisdom
LIGHTS AND RAINBOWS
BODY APPEARS Form is empty like a rainbow, but nature is non‐existent;
symbolizes the dharmakaya that is unborn, unceasing, and
unchanging.
Symbolizes dharmakaya and unobstructed energy potential to
manifest. Form is Vajra Krodhi Kali. Purpose of having a “body”
is to destroy cause (delusion) and result (suffering). All Buddha
fields are perfected in her body, and her body pervades all
Buddha fields. Overpowered by wisdom, samsara and nirvana
become one taste, free from limitations.
i
The three garments, the two ornaments and the three smeared things compose the eight.
The following list of the eight charnel ground ornaments is taken from: A Small Golden Key; pages 84‐85 by Thinley
Norbu, published by Shambala Publications 1977/1993
The Three Garments:
Elephant skin is a sign that ignorance has been subdued by the ten strengths
Human skin is a sign that desire has been subdued by "desireless great compassion"
Tiger skin is a sign that anger or hatred has been subdued by wrathful compassion
The Two Kinds of Fastened Ornaments:
1. Human Skull Ornaments, dried and fresh:
The crown of five dry human skulls
The garland of fifty fresh heads
The bracelets of fragments of human heads
2. The Five Snake Ornaments:
White‐spotted snake hair ribbon, which is an ornament that symbolizes subduing the caste of naga kings
Yellow‐spotted snake earrings, which is an ornament that symbolizes subduing the caste of naga nobility
Red‐spotted snake necklace, which is an ornament that symbolizes subduing the Brahmin caste of nagas
Green‐spotted snake bracelet, which is an ornament that symbolizes subduing the ordinary caste of nagas
Black‐spotted snake belt or sash, which is an ornament that symbolizes subduing the lowest caste of nagas
The Three Smeared Things:
Ashes piled on the forehead
Blood spotting the bridge of the nose or cheeks
Human fat smeared on the chin
The list of the five mudra bone ornaments of the female deity is taken from: A Small Golden Key Pages 86, by
Thinley Norbu, published by Shambhala Publications 1977/1993
The Wisdom of Dharmadhatu is shown by the cakra on the crown of the head
Discerning Wisdom is shown by the pair of earrings
All‐Equalizing Wisdom is shown by the short necklace
Mirror Wisdom is shown by the bracelets and anklets
All‐Accomplishing Wisdom is shown by the girdle