The Dakini Heart Essence
In 1928, the timeless wisdom dakini, Yeshe Tsogyal, transmitted the seminal verses of The Dakini Heart Essence (Khandro Thuk Thik) to His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, one of the greatest masters of the 20th century.
Featuring only female buddhas, this compendium includes the three internal tantra-yogas—maha, anu, and ati.
The exquisite dakini circle consists of Yeshe Tsogyal as the outer dakini, Kurukulle as inner dakini, Singhamukha as secret dakini, and Throma as innermost secret dakini.
The teachings and meditation practices most accessible are those of the first level, mahayoga.
This includes the foundational practices (ngondro), the devata deity yoga practices of visualization, mantra, and contemplative stability; severance (chod), transference of consciousness (phowa), and other practices such as fire offerings, feast offerings, and helpful rituals.
At the next level, anuyoga, one finds the practices of chandali (tummo) and the yogas of illusion, dream, luminosity, in-between states and the transference of consciousness.
The culmination of the Dakini Heart Essence is the two aspects of atiyoga Great Perfection— cutting through and crossing over.
Nowadays, mahayoga is the traditional starting point but some masters will bring students directly into atiyoga.
For anuyoga, sadly, there are few living masters teaching Westerners.
Despite this shortcoming, the inclusion of all levels of learning and realization into a single cycle of transmission is one of the special qualities of the profound Dakini Heart Essence path.
