If you were facing a life-threatening scenario, would you call emergency services on your phone, calling for help from well-trained first responders — or call your kindly relative. If disaster strikes, we inevitably first think of our wonderful first-responders. In almost any scenario, we are conditioned to look for help from those who are best trained and equipped to help us. Although advice of a loved one can be helpful, you need action and activity when you are in trouble.
CONTENTS
00:00 Introduction to Wrathful Deities
01:31 Our Buddhist First Responders in meditation
02:54 Chenrezig Avalokiteshvara becomes Black Mahakala dramatic visualization
06:50 How Wrathful Deities emanate from the Buddhas
07:01 The Incredible Hulk comic book metaphor
08:09 Extraordinary power of ferocious enlightened deities
08:42 How does it work? The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra
08:56 Arnold Schwarzenegger and the biker gang?
10:22 Manjushri transforms into Yamantaka: Wisdom Empowered
11:05 Yamantaka painting by Ben Christian
11:20 Amitabha transforms into Hayagriva: Compassion Enraged
12:19 Tara becomes Palden Lhamo: supercharged savior
12:20 Palden Lhamo painting by Thomas Edwards
13:15 Why work with the embodiment of shadow? Transforming the “poisons” instead of suppressing them.
14:40 A vivid practice: how wrathful Buddhas can be easier for some people —working on the negative forces — to visualize.
15:43 For those of us without empowerment we can rely on “first-responder” Tara — and other peaceful Buddhas — to help us. Tara, in our comic book metaphor, is Wonder Woman — always ready to help us.

NOTE: Empowerment and a teacher is required for most of these practices, although it is usually acceptable to make offerings to the wrathful (and all) forms.

MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra by Rob Preece On Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tntkpw (affiliate link)
A Guide to the Deities of the Tantra (Meeting of the Buddhas Book 3) On Amazon: https://amzn.to/3A5DKeZ (affiliate link)
Tara in the Palm of Your Hand by Ven Zasep Rinpoche On Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HYk531 (affiliate link)

In Mahayana Buddhism, the first responders, the ones who save us from obstacles and demons, are embodied in Karma Activity Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, such as Tara or Guanyin.
Or, when we declare a state of emergency, in the form of Wrathful Aspects of the Buddhas.

The First Responders in Vajrayana Buddhism

In our meditational practices, the first responders – at least in some forms of Mahayana Buddhism — are the wrathful deities. Since Buddhas have transcended our mental limitations, they can appear in any form whatsoever.

The wrathful forms are our first responder team. Instead of uniforms, guns and rescue equipment, our Buddhist first responders are burly, ferocious, powerful, towering presences that intimidate our psychological and external demons.

Whether you view “demons” and obstacles as psychological, or as supernatural beings, it is helpful to visualize the Enlightened and helping forces as “wrathful, monstrous, gigantic.” The psychology is obvious. If you are facing an emotional “vampire” you want a more wrathful “force” to burn away the negative force — something much stronger than the attacking monster.

Chenrezig becomes Mahakala

For example, if you were working on a charitable project, and finding it daunting, you might draw strength from the great Bodhisattva of Compassion Chenrezig or Avalokiteshvara. The tasks are daunting. Those who are suffering are endless. You feel helpless. In this case, perhaps, if you had the practice from your teaching, you might turn to Chenrezig's more wrathful form.

Psychologically, this gives you meditation a boost of compassionate but fierce energy.

You are meditating on the compassionate one, the Buddha of active compassion Avalokiteshvara, or Chenrezig. Although is thousand arms of compassion are reaching out to all beings with their love and compassion, it is not enough....

... It can be helpful to think of the wrathful deities as “monstrous” and "more powerful" aspects of the peaceful Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. In modern, comic-book terms, we might think of superheroes such as the Incredible Hulk. Just as Doctor Bruce Banner in this comic book is the peaceful scientist, he can become the Hulk in times of emotional stress. In the stories, they are both a force for good, but the Hulk is much more pumped up. In a similar way, when we meditate, compassionate Amitabha can transform into ferociously compassionate Hayagriva, or wise Manjushri into fearsome Yamantaka, or Chenrezig into Mahakala.. These are the more "super charged" wrathful forms of each of these glorious ones.
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