【Description】
Why does one end of the phurba have a sharp angle like a weapon? Why is a terrifying image engraved upon it? Why is the vajra pestle engraved with lotus flowers, and why does it feature sharp ponits and three or five prongs? What are the functions of the vajra pestle and phurba as dharma instruments for practitioners? Why are they described as “diamonds”? Please listen to this introduction from Grandmaster JinBodhi.
【You will learn】
- The symbolic meaning of vajra pestles and phurbas
【Featured aphorisms】
- No matter how the environment changes, you must apply determination to fulfill your ideals.
- As a practitioner, you must be determined to eliminate the five poisons from your inner world and take care of all sentient beings in your outer world.
- Only determination can bring breakthroughs, and only after a breakthrough can you move beyond.
【Content】
The shapes of pestles and phurbas manifest power. The bottom part is like a weapon or a sharp knife. Their meanings could be many. The first one is to curb evil with evil or attack poison with poison. In our life, at different times or places, we are full of fear. Its function or meaning is similar to that of the eyes on Tibetan Dzi beads. Be they vajra pestles or phurbas, their shapes are strength and power.
Look at this, if it goes like this, woo, shoo, what does it look like? A rocket, right? It is meant to pierce through obstacles. How determined are we? Like diamond (vajra). To break through obstacles, we have to be tough, right? The tool we use to carve stones or gemstones must be a diamond drill, right? We have to be harder or tougher to grind hard things. Diamond is the hardest substance in the world. Thus, to describe the hardest or toughest things, we use the word “diamond”. This is not made up, but refers to the quality of the matter. When a diamond object becomes this shape, it is obviously a powerful support or tool to pierce something with.
This powerful, frightening image implies our fortitude. No matter what, I am determined to carry out my plan. I am not afraid of difficulties, and I am more frightening than difficulties or terrors. However, I am compassionate. With determination, we can learn about unknown things, conquer human afflictions, and pursue truth. As a symbol, if we extend this object to the Universe infinitely, we can pierce through obstacles limitlessly.
On vajra pestles, there are lotus shapes. This hard, tough material shaped in a dragon pattern implies fortitude and compassion. We are eternal, determined, and unchangeable. In addition to this concept and mentality, the dragon image means powerful Universal beings help and protect us to achieve aspirations. This power works internally and externally. Internally for our practitioners, we need to destroy our five poisons: greed, hatred, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt or these five mental wrong behaviors. Externally, it is compassion and protecting all sentient beings. Sometimes, we cannot achieve our vows even if we aspire to. We need to have incomparable fortitude like this object made of diamond. Let it be stable. This is an aspiration. Only with fortitude, a firm mind, can we achieve something or breakthroughs.
When such a dharma tool is created, fortitude is the first feature. Without fortitude or firmness, a part of it will collapse. This tool will be broken. Like a plane, if one of its wings is broken, the plane will crash, right? Then we cannot achieve success. Thus, it needs several supports. That is why there is a structure with a few thick strands. There are three, five, or nine strand vajra pestles or phurba. These strands represent different achievements. Say, three-strand pestles symbolize three types of dharma practice. I may first practice speech, mind, body or actions of benefiting all sentient beings. They imply our different practices and accomplishments. These are the meanings of these dharma tools. Only with fortitude, can we break through obstacles. After firmly breaking through obstacles, we can transcend.