Mountains of Light

 

Meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition

High in the Himalayas, among wind-whipped peaks and chanting monasteries, a unique stream of Buddhist meditation began to take shape. Tibetan Buddhism, also known as the Vajrayāna or “Diamond Vehicle,” emerged in the 8th century CE, rooted in the teachings of Indian Mahāyāna and Tantric Buddhism. It is a path both devotional and precise, spiritual and psychological, grounded in the belief that enlightenment is not only possible. – but accessible within this lifetime.

Brought to Tibet by revered Indian masters such as Padmasambhava and Śāntarakṣita, these teachings merged with local Bon traditions, evolving into a rich and intricate form of practice. Tibetan Buddhism honors the same foundational truths taught by the historical Buddha, yet its methods are strikingly diverse: chanting, visualisation, ritual, breath control, mantra, and deity yoga – all designed to awaken the mind’s natural luminosity.

One of the most distinctive elements is deity meditation, or yidam practice. Here, the practitioner visualises an enlightened being … not as something external, but as a symbolic mirror of their own deepest nature. Whether through Tārā, the embodiment of compassion, or Manjushri, the wisdom aspect of the awakened mind, these archetypes become sacred gateways to inner transformation.

This is not about worship, but recognition. You are not praying to the deity; you are remembering who you truly are.

Meditation Practice: Visualizing the Inner Deity

While full deity yoga requires traditional initiation and guidance, a simplified seed practice can still offer a beautiful doorway into Tibetan contemplative experience.

“Look at your mind. That is meditation.” – Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Gentle visual practice:

1. Sit quietly, spine upright, shoulders soft. Breathe naturally.
2. Close your eyes and bring your awareness to the space just above your head.
3. Imagine a gentle golden light, radiating from a peaceful presence. Let this light take the form of a loving figure – perhaps a Buddha, a divine feminine presence, or simply a glow of kindness.
4. This figure represents your own awakened nature – compassionate, wise, steady.
5. With each in-breath, draw their light into your heart. With each out-breath, let your heart soften and open.
6. Sit with this connection for several minutes, then gently dissolve the image into light, allowing that light to rest in your chest.

This practice reminds us that what we seek is already within us – merely obscured by habit and forgetting.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Type of Meditation: Visualization, Deity Yoga, Mantra
Root Tradition: Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayāna)
Key Region: Tibet, Himalayas
Rough Timeframe: 700 CE – Present

Breath of the Beloved
Into the Silence
Letters of Light
Flowing Stillness
The Path of Insight
The Vedic Era
Whispers from the Ancient World
The Evolving Art of Meditation