Long Life Puja

Our Long Life Practice, “Vital Essence in a Vase of Amrita,” is a rejuvenation practice in which the participants summon the vital energy and life force from the elements and universal powers through meditation and visualization. The visualizations are in alchemical terms, extracting from the elements and ingesting an elixir of amrita, immortality. In this sadhana, the elixir is collected by the Eight Indian Vidhyadaras and retained in a symbolic longevity vase (representing the body).

In the Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, the Eight Vidhyadaras are siddhas, Indian Buddhist masters, each of whom holds a particular transmission of teachings. The Vidhyadaras are associated with longevity and even deathlessness. Each of them gave transmission to Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), who brought those practices to Tibet. So, in this brief practice, the full powers of vast tantric traditions, spanning hundreds of years, are harnessed for longevity.

Guru Rinpoche said:

As the first of all activities,
The vidyadhara should achieve longevity!
Of all activities, the first should be long-life practice.
If life is long, it can be virtuous,
And the purpose of this life and the next can be achieved.

(from an oral teaching by Orgyen Topgyal Rinpoche, http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Long_life_practice)

The purpose of this longevity practice is to strengthen our creative energy and extend our lifespan so that we can continue to practice and be of loving service to all beings. Like our Queen of Great Bliss and Chöd practices, this ceremony is from the Longchen Nyingtig Cycle of Teachings and was shared with us by Lama Tsering Wangdu Rinpoche.

Everyone is welcome to attend and observe the practice, which is held occasionally on a Saturday afternoon from 1:00 to 2:30 pm.