Vajra Heart Sangha

Our temperaments, interests, and life experiences shape the ways we engage with spiritual practice, which is why different methods evolved to meet a wide range of human propensities. Yet beneath this diversity runs a shared foundation of loving intention, clarity, and wisdom. In the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, these varied approaches are expressed through the nine yanas, or vehicles, each offering a path toward liberation. Over the past eighteen years, Dana Marsh has dedicated herself to teaching Hinayana and Mahayana methods for transforming the mind. Beginning in 2026, she will invite the Vajra Heart Sangha, where the focus will shift to the Vajrayana practices revealed by Dudjom Lingpa.

Dudjom Lingpa (1835–1904) was a highly revered Tibetan tertön (treasure revealer). His visionary experiences and profound teachings helped shape the modern Nyingma tradition. His revelations emphasized direct recognition of the nature of mind, the importance of compassion, and the integration of deep realization into everyday life. During his lifetime, he became known for producing a substantial body of meditation manuals, ritual texts, and autobiographical writings, now preserved in his collected works. His literary output includes major cycles of practice that later came to be known collectively as the Dudjom Tersar (“New Treasures of Dudjom”), which remain central in the Nyingma tradition.

Engaging with Vajrayana practice calls for a fundamental reorientation of how we view spiritual growth. Rather than imagining awakening as a distant peak to be reached only after long effort, Vajrayana points directly to the awakened potential already present within our own mind. This path insists that wisdom and compassion are inseparable, and that our everyday thoughts and emotions can become stepping stones rather than barriers. For this reason, practitioners are encouraged to establish a strong foundation in ethical conduct, meditative clarity, and the heartfelt wish to benefit all beings, so that the transformative methods of Vajrayana rest on stable ground.

What distinguishes Vajrayana is its dynamic use of imagery, sound, and symbolic forms. Practices involving mantra, visualization, and ritual are designed to reshape our habitual patterns at a deep level, allowing us to experience our primordial nature directly. Vajrayana practices invite us to embody awakened qualities such as loving awareness, penetrating insight, and courageous compassion. By engaging body, speech, and mind in unison, these methods create an immediate and immersive atmosphere in which transformation becomes a lived experience rather than an abstract ideal. When practiced with the right view, Vajrayana becomes a powerful catalyst for inner transmutation, revealing sacredness in the textures of ordinary life and uncovering the luminous qualities that have been present within us from the very beginning.

As mentioned, there are many paths to inner transformation, and the Vajrayana is one of the more advanced routes, requiring dedication and consistent practice. It is not for everyone. This path is sometimes called the “secret” or esoteric path because its methods are powerful and subtle, and are traditionally taught only to students who are prepared and ready. The journey begins with the foundational practice of Ngöndro, which establishes the stability and clarity needed for further training.

As mentioned, there are many paths one can walk to attain inner transformation; this path is not for everyone. It requires a deep commitment of time, consistency, and dedication. This journey begins with the foundational practices of Ngöndro. Once these preliminaries are completed, practitioners can move into more advanced sadhana practices.