Alex Wilding

Seeing this way of expression as poetry is perhaps one step closer than seeing it as merely symbolic. Okay, I hope that little stroll in rather abstract thought hasn't been too long. Let's take a look at how darkenings appear concretely in the literature and liturgy. As I hope is already clear, a darkenie is always female.

Seeing this way of expression as poetry is perhaps one step closer than seeing it as merely symbolic. Okay, I hope that little stroll in rather abstract thought hasn't been too long. Let's take a look at how darkenings appear concretely in the literature and liturgy. As I hope is already clear, a darkenie is always female.

She can take almost any form, sometimes very unpleasant, but to be honest, most often she is attractive or even seductive. I once saw a photo of my teacher in the kitchen of an old lady to whom he had been taking some food and other support. There was a poster or hoarding of some sort showing Jennifer Lopez and which could be seen at the back of the room.

She can take almost any form, sometimes very unpleasant, but to be honest, most often she is attractive or even seductive. I once saw a photo of my teacher in the kitchen of an old lady to whom he had been taking some food and other support. There was a poster or hoarding of some sort showing Jennifer Lopez and which could be seen at the back of the room.

It turned out that it was simply being used to shut out the wind. The teacher had not recognised J-Lo, iconic as she may be to us, but thought that she was simply some kind of kitchen darkening, a case of very pure perception, I think. I was at this point going to say that there are three main types of darkening, but having had a little check-up,

It turned out that it was simply being used to shut out the wind. The teacher had not recognised J-Lo, iconic as she may be to us, but thought that she was simply some kind of kitchen darkening, a case of very pure perception, I think. I was at this point going to say that there are three main types of darkening, but having had a little check-up,

I realised that, surprise, surprise, it's not that clean and simple. There are all sorts of lists, and they don't all agree with one another, but some things do all the same stand out.

I realised that, surprise, surprise, it's not that clean and simple. There are all sorts of lists, and they don't all agree with one another, but some things do all the same stand out.

Firstly, starting from the top, so to speak, we have the Dakinis who are active expressions of enlightenment, and who inhabit what are known as the Buddha fields, which is why they might be known as field-born Dakinis. These include forms of the Buddha, such as the semi-wrathful Vajravarahi, or the peaceful Tara. Secondly, we have the Dakinis who inhabit cemeteries.

Firstly, starting from the top, so to speak, we have the Dakinis who are active expressions of enlightenment, and who inhabit what are known as the Buddha fields, which is why they might be known as field-born Dakinis. These include forms of the Buddha, such as the semi-wrathful Vajravarahi, or the peaceful Tara. Secondly, we have the Dakinis who inhabit cemeteries.

To understand that, I think we need to remember the Indian origins of this line of thought, in which cemeteries are frightening, dangerous places, haunted by carrion-eaters, and some of those carrion-eaters may even have been human beings. Hmm...

To understand that, I think we need to remember the Indian origins of this line of thought, in which cemeteries are frightening, dangerous places, haunted by carrion-eaters, and some of those carrion-eaters may even have been human beings. Hmm...

So let's remember that if darkness of that sort are described in our visualization practices, they embody a dangerous and terrifying force, even if modern Western cemeteries are peaceful, tidy, and almost pretty. Somewhat similar to that are the dakinis of the 24 power places that are believed to have existed in India. These dakinis too may be invoked in some tantric visualizations.

So let's remember that if darkness of that sort are described in our visualization practices, they embody a dangerous and terrifying force, even if modern Western cemeteries are peaceful, tidy, and almost pretty. Somewhat similar to that are the dakinis of the 24 power places that are believed to have existed in India. These dakinis too may be invoked in some tantric visualizations.

There are dakinis who become dakinis by successfully taking up Vajrayana practice and achieving the results, who are then known as mantra-born dakinis. Then again, some dakinis just appear spontaneously. And it should not be forgotten that dakinis may also take human form.

There are dakinis who become dakinis by successfully taking up Vajrayana practice and achieving the results, who are then known as mantra-born dakinis. Then again, some dakinis just appear spontaneously. And it should not be forgotten that dakinis may also take human form.

In any event, when they appear in tantric liturgies, or for that matter in life stories, they do embody an insight or a way of being that might previously have been closed to the yogi. Darkini might give a great meditator a teaching that she has been guarding in Darkiniland, written in Darkini's script. If the practitioner is capable of deciphering it, this may be a great treasure.

In any event, when they appear in tantric liturgies, or for that matter in life stories, they do embody an insight or a way of being that might previously have been closed to the yogi. Darkini might give a great meditator a teaching that she has been guarding in Darkiniland, written in Darkini's script. If the practitioner is capable of deciphering it, this may be a great treasure.

One of the most famous human Darkinis was Yeshe Tsodyal. She was Guru Rinpoche's main consort when he was in Tibet and is remembered with great fondness today. And having mentioned the word consort, I think it's important to underline again that much of this material comes from cultures with a totally, totally, totally different mindset where sex is concerned.

One of the most famous human Darkinis was Yeshe Tsodyal. She was Guru Rinpoche's main consort when he was in Tibet and is remembered with great fondness today. And having mentioned the word consort, I think it's important to underline again that much of this material comes from cultures with a totally, totally, totally different mindset where sex is concerned.