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Still more gorgeous Buddhist tattoos
of The Worst Horse's readers.
Many thanks to all those who've sent photos. Keep 'em coming!
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See also "Body Vows," Part One and "Body Vows," Part Two, our first looks at "practice tattoos" -- ink which our readers have gotten in self-support for their Dharma practice.
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Here is my back piece inspired by a deep gratitude for the gifts that the dharma has brought to my life, and a reminder to live with compassion and peace. It centers around Green Tara and the spiral contains her mantra.
The thousand petal mandala at the top is inspired by Alex Grey's works. The piece was done by Susan Behney at JinxProof in Washington, DC.
Peace.
-FAB
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I wanted my first tattoo to be beautiful, to be of something I wouldn't regret later, and to mean something.
I think
Avalokitesvara, the Buddha of Compassion, was a good choice and a reminder of what I should aspire to.
Tattoo by Pablo Sela of Iron Cross Tattoo in Santa Barbara, CA.
-GERRY
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I got this tattoo in my lower back during a very spiritual and physical
healing transition in my life.
I love my blue lotus flower and the
Tibetan mantra on top because it does not only reminds me of that
passage in my life but also it keeps me in check to remain spiritual and
devoted to meditation. I also traveled to Thailand and Cambodia and
visited many Buddhist temples (http://mytripinasia.blogspot.com). It was amazing!
-GABI
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This piece was done by 2 artists, the seed letter was first by my regular artist Alisha at Modern Body here in Sacramento.
The 2nd half (clouds) was done by my friend and up and coming tattoo artist Andre of Mania Ink also here in Sacramento.
The reason I originally got this is because of my connection I feel to the Buddha of Compassion. Though I have heard the seed letter HRIH in red symbolizes Buddha Amitayus, that's beside the point.
From the moment I walked into my first Dharma Teaching I was struck by my teacher's words; on compassion and that all living beings in reality wish to be free from suffering and to be happy all the time. What struck me was that weeks before showing up, I had this very same thought. Since that time I never left or missed a teaching from him. I got this piece to remind me of my practice and to remember great compassion. Of course some self-grasping was mixed in wanting this piece,but since the past has passed and doesn't exist anyway, there's no point in regretting getting inked.
I still plan to get a few more. I hope these pieces will inspire myself and countless others, by seeing Buddhist images I hope that each being become blessed by them. That's my main wish.
-DAVID
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This is a tattoo of an ornate traditional Tibetan Lotus with the
Tibetan characters for the 4 attributes written above it. It was
designed by Tracey at Lucky Soul Tattoo in Ansonia, Connecticut. This was
my first Dharma tattoo, placed on my right lateral calf last August.Tracey is currently working on a large piece on my back of the White Tara,
another custom piece. I'll be sure to email a picture when it's finally
completed (June 30th).
-ANN
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The first of my two practice tats, in color, is the official stamp of the namesake of my blog, Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa.
Perhaps Mongolia's most famous mahasiddha, Danzan Ravjaa
(1803-56) created a resurgence of interest in my lineage, the Tibetan
Nyingmapa, from his seat in the Gobi Desert. I'm now here helping with my temple's project
to bring about the monastery's, and this lineage's, revival. The image
expresses the Vajrayana wisdom view. The flames on the outside
represent the way in which wisdom instantly dispels the darkness of
ignorance. The crossed vajras symbolize wisdom's complete stability and
indestructibility. And the scorpion in the middle indicates the
Vajrayana's special methods for harnessing as part of the spiritual
path itself even those energies others consider "naturally negative."
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The
second tat is a diagram from the Tibetan Terton Migyur Dorje's 17th c.
revelations called the Nam Cho (Dharma of the Space of Awareness) which
form the basis of my practice. It's written in the twilight language of
"dakini script" and is called "Liberation Upon Sight," indicating that
those with certain proclivities could attain realization just by seeing
it. My lama, HH Penor Rinpoche, said that now is the time that many
people would benefit from seeing this. So now everyone I meet does.
I write about the experience of getting these tattoos here and here
respectively. It's been a pretty interesting experience in watching
people's reactions, as I'm a fully ordained monk. I also started a
broad, long-running discussion of Dharma tattoos at E-Sangha here. Both tats were done by my man Tulgaa at Sax Studio in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
-KONCHOG NORBU
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Want to share your practice tattoo with other Worst Horses? Write us:
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