The wrathful deity Vajrakilaya embodies the enlightened activity of all the buddhas in order to subjugate delusion and negativity that can arise as obstacles to spiritual practice. The Vajrakilaya system of meditation is practiced widely in Tibet as well as in Western Buddhist centers. Written by the renowned scholars Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, The Dark Red Amulet presents a line-by-line description of this Vajrayana practice and describes the history of its oral transmission lineage. This book conveys the essential meaning of the Vajrakilaya teachings and provides an invaluable guide for Tibetan Buddhist practitioners to "discover the absolute vajra nature that will transform every duality hindrance into clear wisdom and compassion" The book includes a translation of a brief biography of the text's terton, Tsasum Lingpa, and a chapter of students' questions and the Khenpos' answers.

The Dark Red Amulet: Oral Instructions on the Practice of Vajrakilaya, Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, Snow Lion Publications, Paperback, 240 pp, $29.95

Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche are co-founders and co-directors of Padmasambhava Buddhist Center, based at Padma Samye Ling in upstate New York, which includes more than twenty centers in the U.S.A., Russia, Canada, and Puerto Rico, in addition to monastic institutions in India, Russia, and the U.S.A.

	Contents: THE DARK RED AMULET: Oral Instructions on the Practice of Vajrakilaya
	Preface	xi
	Introductory Prayers	xiii
	Introduction	xv
	A Brief Biography of Great Terton Tsasum Lingpa by Jamyang Khyentse Pema Osel Dongnag Lingpa	xix
1.	The Empowerment of Vajrakilaya	1
	Protection-Boundary Meditation	3
	Pure Perception	8
2.	History of the Vajrakilaya Transmission	11
	Mind-to-Mind Transmission Lineage	11
	Symbolic Transmission Lineage	14
	Oral Transmission Lineage	15
	Nub Sangye Yeshe Rinpoche	24
	Tsasum Lingpa	26
	The Key to Tsasum Lingpa's Termas	32
	Discovering the Dark Red Amulet Terma	39
3.	The Practice Text	43
	The Reading Transmission	43
	History of the Text	43
	Line-by-Line Commentary	45
	Title	46
	Introductory Section	48
	Refuge and Bodhichitta	53
	Dispelling the Obstructing Spirits	57
	Setting the Protection Boundary	61
	Blessing the Offerings	64
	The Main Visualization	67
	Symbolism of the Visualization	74
	Visualization Instructions	77
	Invoking the Jnanasattvas	78
	The Praise	82
	The Mantra Recitation	86
	Practice of the Hung Syllable	89
	Amending Errors in the Mantra Recitation	96
	Receiving the Empowerments	97
	The Completion Stage	98
	Dedication and Aspiration Prayers	101
	Prayer of Auspiciousness	102
4.	The Four Phurbas	105
	The Immeasurable Compassion Phurba	106
	The Symbolic Substantial Phurba	109
	The Bodhichitta Phurba	113
	The Awareness Wisdom Phurba	114
	Practice of the Four Phurbas	115
	Nyag Jnanakumara	123
	Activities of the Symbolic Substantial Phurba	126
	Receiving the Empowerments of the Symbolic Substantial Phurba	127
5.	Vajrakilaya Practice	131
	Obstacles and Signs	131
	Vajrakilaya and the Four Demons	133
	Practicing according to the Nature of Vajrakilaya	137
6.	A Story of the Phurba Yogi	143
7.	Questions and Answers	145
	Dedication and Aspiration Prayers	151
	Vajrakilaya Sadhanas	153
	The Coemergent Union of the Vajra Hero	155
	The Practice of the HUNG of the Powerful Black Phurba	181
	Notes	193
	Glossary of Sanskrit in theMantras	197
	Tibetan Glossary	199
	List of Photographs and Illustrations	201
	About the Authors	203
	Padmasambhava Buddhist Center	209
	Other Publications by the Authors	209