Please note that in 2011 Rinpoche requested that the title of the book be changed from A Chat About Heruka to A Teaching on Heruka. The book is now out of print, but is available to initiates as a pdf.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has requested that only those with full Heruka or Vajrayogini initiation read this book. Two chapters from this book are available for the general public; however if you would like to read the entire book, please complete the Initiates Only Materials Request Form. We will reply with instructions on how to place your order. Thank you for your interest in this profound path.
Editor's Introduction
In the spring of 1997, I was doing retreat in one of Vajrapani Institute’s lovely retreat cabins when I heard that Zopa Rinpoche was arriving to attend an FPMT board meeting. Several questions had arisen during the retreat, and Zopa Rinpoche was kind enough to meet with me to answer them. Specifically, I was puzzled by the Eight-line Praises to Heruka and Vajrayogini, verses that I had recited daily for decades, but whose meaning was a mystery to me. Rinpoche gave a brief answer, but said that since other people in the area also did that practice he would like to explain it to the group. I was delighted, for I hardly expected that he would offer to teach.
Thus followed what Rinpoche called “a chat about Heruka,” in which he explained emptiness in depth, and the Three Purifications. Only on the last day or two did he talk about practices specific to Heruka and Vajrayogini: left side conduct and the Eight-line Praises. Later, I transcribed and edited these teachings to form this book. Although Rinpoche wanted to explain the hand offering, time was limited, so he referred me to a teaching he had given on this practice at Tushita Retreat Centre, Dharamsala, in 1990 and recommended that it be included in the book. I clarified questions that arose while editing this book with Rinpoche in the summer of 1999.
Please, this book is to be read only by those who have received initiation into the Highest Yoga Tantra practices of Chakrasamvara or Vajrayogini.
I recommend reading it slowly, stopping to think about each paragraph. Take the opportunity to apply Rinpoche’s teachings to yourlife right now. The text of the sadhana is written in italics, with the commentary below.
Parts extracted from the Chakrasamvara sadhana have been italicized.
I would like to thank the residents of Vajrapani Institute for making these teachings possible, Venerable Lhundrup Ningje for proofreading the manuscript, Nick Ribush for publishing this book, and Dharma Friendship Foundation in Seattle for supporting me while I worked on it. My deepest gratitude goes to Zopa Rinpoche for his kindness in giving these teachings and for having the confidence in us that we are capable of practicing them. All errors are my own.
Bhikshuni Thubten Chödron
Seattle, Washington, USA
30 May 1999
