By Khenmo Drolma,
In Buddhism, healing, ultimately, is a peaceful mind filled with love. We have many practices and visualizations to help us embody that realization. Tibetan Buddhism particularly cultivates images that evoke a personification of that state as various deities. It is sometimes explained that this is similar to light passing through a crystal lens, becoming a multicolored rainbow reflection, or many images to inspire devotion for different kinds of minds.
Within the family of Buddhas that evoke compassion, there are famously 21 Taras, who represent the activity of compassion. Lady Parnashavari, the dakini who is attired in green leaves of medical plants, is the 20th of the 21 Tara, the one who protects us from contagious diseases such as the Coronavirus we have today. I find her image compelling, as unlike most deities, who are depicted in royal attire, she is clothed in medicinal plants and herbs. She also carries medicinal plants and a bow and arrow and battle axe to vanquish illness (ignorance). She sits with one leg extended, ready to jump into action, an ancient super-hero! The significance is to cultivate confidence in our own seed of wisdom and that of others by imagining a powerful accomplished example.
Chanting mantra unites our body, speech, and mind with her realization, and we send that state to all beings.
Mantra: OM PI-SHA-TSI PARNA-SHA-WARI SARVA MA-RI PRA-SHA-MA-NI HUNG
This explanation of the mantra comes from one of our great teachers:
OM: sacred syllable that consists of three sounds A, O and M, representing Buddha’s purified body, speech and mind. Here in particular, the sounds are invoked to prevent, protect, and liberate our body, speech, and mind from the epidemic disease such as the coronavirus.PISHATSI: a female divinity of great powers such as a dakini or yogini who can protect, prevent and liberate beings from all negative and obstructing forcesPARNA: a leaf of a tree or a plantSHAWARI: a tribal lady of the forest who masters magic and healing using forest herbs and medicines.PISHATSI PARNASHAWARI: a powerful dakini who is attired in green leaves of medical plants that are remedies to all illnesses and pestilences
SARVA: all, everythingMARI: illness or pestilencePRASHAMANI: pacifierSARVA MARI PRASHAMANI: the Pacifier of all illnesses and pestilencesHUNG: to attain the siddhis (attainment), to fulfill the aspiration, to be established in the deity-state, the Parnashavari-hood.
Abbess of Vajra Dakini Nunnery, Ven. Khenmo Konchog Nyima Drolma has studied with the foremost Buddhist teachers of our time. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1997 after a distinguished career at the Maine College of Art as a professor of sculpture. After completing philosophy studies and solitary retreats, she was given the responsibility of abbess. She teaches the Buddha Dharma internationally, with an emphasis in the practical application in daily life. In addition, she has created a Tibetan Nun Leadership Program and is the International Chair of a historic monastic gathering in India in 2020. www.VajraDakiniNunnery.org
