Who is Yeshe Tsogyel?
Q: Who is Yeshe Tsogyel?
A: Yeshe Tsogyel is a female deity called a dakini who lived from 757 to 817. She was the wife of Emperor Trisong Detsen and consort of Guru Padmasambhava, and is known in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism as the Great Bliss Queen.
Q: How did she come to be born?
A: According to legend, she was born in the same manner as the Buddha, with a Sanskrit mantra sounding as her mother gave birth painlessly. She is considered a reincarnation of the Buddha's own mother. Her name derives from her birth causing a nearby lake to double in size.
Q: What did Yeshey Tsogyal do?
A: At the age of sixteen, she was initiated into Buddhism by Guru Padmasambhava and after many years of study became enlightened. She wrote down and collected Padmasambhava's teachings and also terma most of his hidden teachings called termas. As wife of Tri-song-day-tsen and consort of Padmasambhava, given to him at her request by King Trisong Detsen, she stands historically at beginning of Buddhism's eclipse over Bön in Tibet.
Q: How does Yeshe Tsogyel appear to people?
A: Tibetans see her as a Buddha who takes form an ordinary woman so that average person can see her Vajravarahi form as fully perfected deity; she displays whatever emanation form will tame any given person just like how full moon appears differently when reflected on different water vessels.
Q: Is there any other significance associated with Yeshe Tsogyel?
A: Yeshe Tsogyel is also considered manifestation Sarasvati and sometimes identified with Bodhisattva Tara.
Q: What are termas?
A: Termas are hidden teachings written down by Yeshey Tsogyal which were revealed by Guru Padmasambhava during his time in Tibet.
