Hello,
Regarding the Invocation Prayer of Dorje Shugden, (https://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/invocation-prayer-of-dorje-shugden), there is a visualization of “rays of light from my heart, invite from the natural sphere..” Is there any initiation that is required to visualize this light when reciting the invocation, or can one visualize this light from the heart without initiation? If initiation is required is there an alternative way to visualize this?
Best wishes,
Answer from Pastors
Pastors
September 8, 2018 #1 AuthorDear Ken,
Thank you for your interesting question! You are indeed right about needing initiation to engage in the corresponding visualization of lights emanating from one’s heart to invite Dorje Shugden. This can be any deity initiation in which you are given permission to generate oneself as the meditational deity. In the case of Dharma protector practices, one engages in these meditational deity practices before one engages in Dharma protector practices. For those without initiation, we engage in the Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa.
For those of us without initiation, when we recite the invitational verses, we can visualise Lama Tsongkhapa sitting on top of our heads. His size is similar to the size of our thumb. One should concentrate on visualizing Lama Tsongkhapa sitting on top of our head. When we recite the line that says “rays of light from my heart, invite from the natural sphere..” we imagine that lights shine out from Lama Tsongkhapa’s heart, not ours, to invite Dorje Shugden. I hope this helps. Thank you.