Visualization of a perfect being

I've been playing around with the idea of visualization of divine beings lately.

In the Christian tradition, mostly Catholic and Eastern Orthodox flavors, etc., there is a rich tradition of visualizing Christ and Mary and others in various ways. One could meditate on the sorrows of Christ, for example, or on His virtues, etc. The book The Imitation of Christ was written 500 years ago and basically describes the attitudes of a "Christ-like" life -- humility, morality, life in the face of suffering, kindness, love, etc. It presents a kind of vision of human perfection to contemplate.

Eastern religions, especially Buddhism and Hinduism, have similar traditions. I don't know so much about Hindu devotionalism, but there are numerous Buddhist visualization exercises that involve contemplating the perfections of one of the Buddhas or Boddhisattvas (Shakayamumi Buddha, Amida Buddha, Kannon Bosastsu, etc.).

What interests me is that such exercises, both eastern and western, strike me as less a form of direct "worship" and more of a "submerging" of the self in an ideal of perfection. Figures such as Christ or Kannon can provide a "template" of perfection to contemplate and steep oneself in. Its an interesting philosophy and one I admit I cannot wrap myself around. In its simplist form, trite expressions like "What would Jesus Do?" allow a very small version of this: a way of projecting a kind of higher-order perfection onto a morally impure world. The more complex visualizations and meditations are intended to do different and more profound things to the psyche. They can even be transformational, as in Esoteric Buddhism when one imagines the diety entering you and you simulataneously becoming the diety, as all is one. Or they can have different goals -- Visualization of Amida Buddha is said to be an ultimate aantidote to fear, while others do it with the goal of being reborn in his "Pure land." Many people amidst great suffering have used visualization of this being and his perfect world perhaps to take them away from the horrors of this world...in one of the Amida Sutras, Shakayamuni Buddha teaches the Amida visualisation to a falsely imprisioned woman who is about to die. Even if you attach no spiritual significance to this practice, its psychological value to those in extreme situations should be obvious.

There are probably lots of other examples from different religions, too...it seems a multifaceted practice that can be performed in many different ways.

reply to post by silent thunder


Very interesting. It does seem a recurrent theme, the meditation and emulation of an ideal individual or set of values. Using Christ or some other figure as a sort of spiritual template or guide on how to live life. Perhaps this is somehow tied to God as a Father figure, after all Father's are role models for their children.

This also could be tied into the idea that the ideal exists elsewhere. For instance Plato's theory of forms:

These Forms are the essences of various objects: they are that without which a thing would not be the kind of thing it is. For example, there are countless tables in the world but the Form of tableness is at the core; it is the essence of all of them.[13] Plato held that the world of Forms is separate from our own world (the world of substances) and also is the true basis of reality. Removed from matter, Forms are the most pure of all things. Furthermore, Plato believed that true knowledge/intelligence is the ability to grasp the world of Forms with one's mind.[14]

Source

A very important and maybe in a way a "short cut" to spiritual progress is Deity Yoga as you describe.
The reality of the practise's esp within the Buddhist context has a few attributes and "correct" ways to do this not already mentioned, so I thought you might find it interesting.

Firstly in the beginning stages, unless the practitioner is very confidant in themselves, or has acted in many ways in this life or previous ones, acting in very loving "other being" centred approach to life, being very compassionate, then the practitioner can immediately visualise themselves as the deity, and having all the attributes or "Pride" of the deity straight away.

This is called the "creation" stage of deity yoga.

However for most of us being probably about 99% or more, it is often best to start visualising the deity outside of oneself, and separate, and as you explain then to imagine the deity entering yourself and you becoming them.

However the aim is the same to totally and completely feel, see, and be yourself as that deity.

Now this is where many get confused, esp in the western world as we are brought up to see a separate "Deity" or god "out there", the traditional monotheistic western view of the world.

This eastern Deity Yoga though, even though it may start as that the goal is become the embodiment of the Deities mind body and speech actions. Our lack of love for ourselves, and also our lack of confidence means we find this very difficult in the beginning.

However the ultimate aim of this, is to not really "manifest" "summon", "create", "Imagine" these deities, but to just awaken these qualities within ourselves. They are not something "separate" from ourselves, but we may need to practise like this initially to create a good visualisation practise and slowly integrate that into our awareness.

The qualities and type of being the deity is are just icons and descriptions of part of each of our abilities and hidden natures of our minds and hearts.

We don’t see this part of ourselves, it is clouded by ignorance, ego , lack of confidence and faith, and self loathing.

So the overriding at least Buddhist teachings, that all beings have the seed or potential for enlightenment within themselves, is the basis of this and deity Yoga enables a quicker path than just meditation (depending on the practitioner and teacher of course) might allow for real spiritual progress in this lifetime.

There is however an ultimate aim of Deity yoga not mentioned so far. As far as the sitting mediation practise goes, obviously you are trying at that time, to allow and be the qualities of the perfect being you are meditating on. However to truly practise when you then go about your daily business to try and still act and be as the deity would in that situation.

ALSO of more importance though, doing this practise and once first tasted, not just "Visualised", when you first experience a merging of yourself with the "created" deity, like in subject/object meditation when the perceiver becomes the perceived etc, and true unity of subject/object occurs in this practice, well then at that first time of experiencing this, usually very briefly initially, after that point in time you come to realise that ALL other beings are also truly deep down this nature. So it is very good as destroying any negative/selfish aspects of your ego. If you have a firm belief from direct personal experience that all beings also are the deity, or have it within themselves, well the behavioural and actions of your life after that point can never be the same.

Simply put how can you hurt, upset, not be humble towards, not love and respect the perfect being?

Now this is a bit of a trick of the ego to, as it still means you have the initial feelings of something separate still there separately, a "deity" or "energy" whatever out there separate from you dualism. "Christ" "Buddha" whatever is in those beings so I should treat them better, by shouting at someone who hurt me I am infact shouting at JC or Buddha etc... you see where it can lead to as known a "Fast track" spiritually if done properly and with dedication. But this trick of the ego initially is one of the very few ego tricks which is infact positive spiritually.

Finally there is the ultimate aim of this practise, and it has little to do with leading many to enlightenment in this incarnation. Certainly many do through deity yoga actually do become the qualities, behaviour and speech actions of the compassion and mindfulness of the deity, but for most we are not able due to Karma or lack of faith etc to do this in this lifetime.

So you might think it is still a good practise if it means I become more like the consciousness and being I want to emulate, and as shown it certainly can change your outlook and lead you to do "good" create good Karma or please your god whatever your preference, and to respect others more.

However the aim of the practice is to help those like me who are unable to become enlightened in this lifetime, to actually enable us to do that after death, and if not to reach enlightenment then at least to be able to ensure we have a good rebirth (if you see that as material incarnation say as a human or animal, or heaven and hell etc no difference).

When the consciousness leaves the body after death, before we go to a new rebirth or realm, be it good or bad, there are a few times when the true nature of our mind appears when you see yourself stripped of ego, attachments anger etc, now the physical shackles are left behind.

This true nature of the mind is actually the same nature, as the true nature of being we are trying to experience in deity yoga.

The complete experience of merging and being the deity in this lifetime will contain a glimpse of this. This is the same thing which as said above causes many to change their behaviours and such like after it, when they realise that is also in all other living beings.

What happens then is for someone who has practised Deity Yoga properly in this lifetime (THIS REQUIRES A TRUE TEACHER AND ALSO INITIATION TO BE EFFECTIVE, YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS THEMSELVES HOPEFULLY ONE WHO IN THIS STATE MOST OF THE TIME) and have glimpsed this part of themselves, the true real natural nature of themselves, well then when it appears briefly after death you can recognise it as its not new or scary, intimidating or missed ignored, if at that time you merge with that aspect, and it will probable manifest in your experience as the deity you have practised on, so if you do your practise then in the in-between stage, see the deity or true nature of mind, merge with it and become one with it, realise it is a projection but part of your own mind/being.... well it is taught you can reach enlightenment at that time.

There are further times before final rebirth or destination where similar chances occur, if this practise has been done well in life, as it becomes almost habitual to become the state of that being as done so much in life, it is like a programme that runs automatically, rather than the usual fear, anger, attachment etc.

This is a deep subject so I will not add much more and advise anyone with further interest to research this much.

I will add from a very highly recognised Tibetan Buddhist who is realised as an incarnation of a previous teacher. When he died last incarnation, rather than merging and becoming the deity and breaking free from suffering in the physical plane, due to his many many prayers and wishes over many lifetimes to keep returning to help other beings before he is free himself, well further on than that described above, as he would ignore it on purpose, he would waited till just before his human rebirth and seen his parents as the deity and his consort in union (which represents not tantric sex as many mistake but the merging of Emptiness (lack of separate ego I / me you/ all is one the nature of the deity if you like) and Wisdom, and created favourable and chosen rebirth where he would be able to be taught again the teachings and have the best ability to help other beings reach enlightenment.

Bokar Rinpoche

Bokar Rinpoche was born to a nomadic family in Western Tibet in 1940. Recognized as a reincarnation by the Sixteenth Karmapa, he studies at Bokar and Tsurphu Monasteries. He left Tibet at twenty and completed his two three-year retreats under the guidance of Kalu Rinpoche. A most remarkable Kagyu meditation master, he teaches Vajrayana practice in Buddhist centers throughout the world. His radiant peace of mind, ineffable love and the refinement of his intelligence are the signs of his great accomplishment.

Writing in

Chenrezi Lord of Love
Principles and Methods of Deity Yoga
ISBN 0-9630371-0-2
P24- 26 Excerts Here
"If you have all the knowledge and science in the world, but lacks love and compassion can never truly accomplish anything beneficial for others. But one who has Love and Compassion deeply within himself with accomplish benefit for others in everything he does"

"every person whose heart is moved by love and compassion, who deeply and sincerely acts for the benefit of others without concern for fame, profit, social position, or recognition expresses the activity of Chenrezi (the deity)"

"Wherever there is compassion in whatever form it represents the mind of chenrezi"

So the deity meditation for example Chenrezi will increase and allow you to see the compassion in yourself.

There are many deities within for example Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhism, and also in for example Gnosticism even Christ himself ( I have a strong belief Christ was a Practising Deity Yogi, maybe even the Chenrezi form there is much evidence!) so I am not saying that Chenrezi is the right or only one. Really a Teacher is required, who will know your predisposition and which deity best suits your nature for the best progress.

Elf

Edit.

[edit on 1-3-2010 by aenti]

what did jesus do that says being a genius or intelligence potential of humans, it is clear how all jesus life value is based on miracles he accomplished in the name of his lord father and his teachings were meaning too like you said to find god heavans, and that is how he was very clear in predicting the suffer for anyone till full death before getting up someplace but then because of god support to it, through him or not it is not the issue point, since through him because as he was saying he is so special as son of god and done it first

sorry to contradict your delight in agencing harmonious words together, but truth comes first and always it would be that way as it always was that way

well about buddha your translations of facts must be as wrong too, but christianity everyone is forced to not buddhism so sorry for lacking arguments to proove you wrong there

from my perspective, there is no perfect being and ever was, it was a way by entertaining that illusion supports to mean truth life in creations from who cant be true yet because they want to be creators, so they need continously some truth justifications by meaning truth livings from what can never be recognized by truth existing at the first place

you must realize that you cant keep insiting on divisions when it comes to consciousness life which is of truth roots, absolute reality as the root of all truth always sources and ends, mean that there is never perfection and surely not perfect being

to be perfect is to be odd and to be odd is to have an opposite and to have an opposite is to never be true

last point for who always insist on claiming commonsense logics being robots talks,

the point of being true is not truth, being true is objective absolute positive reality for rising above and invent what you love there anything you are then
you can understand dont you? that when you have a logical ground you can then rise above or it is very difficult to grasp, sorry to deceive you then but this is the whole point and nothing else

Edit.

[edit on 1-3-2010 by aenti]

reply to post by aenti


cheers?? are you always drunk in your heads or do you come here with a drink in your hand,

the material is not a truth fact, when you consider as true from you then it is up to you to justify your sense of accepting that rhetoric, you give life to objective expressions from you as a living one
in the new testament of the bible there is nothing that can assert jesus being a genius of anykind, few disciples repeated the same happenings jesus did in childish ways by changing one word here or there from the other witnesser of the same visit jesus did, or incident to assert the happening being true from the frequencies of the happenings repetitions

there is no sentence in the new testament saying that jesus created something out of his mind as super intelligent human or a sentence that meant jesus preachings saying that path for men

jesus in the new testament was the son of the creator and not someone himself, so he had clear message for his fellowers and had powers confirming being supported for those messages from birth

and like i said, all the preachings in the new testament converge to repeat the same word of jesus to men, that they should leave themselves lives and seek eternal life in god infinite light wills for governing kingdoms of heavens, which justify in a way why a lot of people hated him despite all the miracles he was doing really healing a lot of people and always barely wearing shoes on his feets, so never bothering any rich man powers and making it clear for all his followers that they should never look of any violence feature, so why that hate ? because his message was very clear at the maximum he went for, that all this life is nothing and the kingdom of god is all

visualisation of a perfect being is all about the thread, so the argument saying how perfect being mean evil living opposition to truth, it is in the center of the op discussions
what is perfect is always simply the truth, the phenomenology of truth means certainty always so its expansions while same is fantastic, adding the opportunities it creates of being free out of it enjoying what you want as long as you respect truth expansions and stay relatively true yourself

but the perfection is only to truth as it is one truth source, the perfection is that unification between before and after within now including all, this is about objective intelligence that concern only truth
while beings is something else their value is their free living true moves and that is never objective since it is the living itself source end

chinchin enjoy lol