I have a question about practicing individual Tsok if/when we miss the group Tsok and also for the 2nd Tsok day of the month. When I have done that, I have sometimes done VYCT but also 5 Dakinis, as well. When we do the Tsok Feast in either of these sadhanas, do we do the full sadhana at that time? Or, if not, what are necessary elements to include before and after Tsok? Thank you.
Dakini's Whisper
Thank you for the question.
As a Vajrayana practitioner who has received the Highest Yoga Tantra empowerment, we have a commitment to practice a Tsok offering twice a month, 10th and 25th of the Tibetan lunar calendar. If you practice any deity in the Highest Yoga Tantra class such as the Five Dakinis or Vajrayogini, you can do any Tsok based on one of the deities you practice. The essence is the same - the inseparability of the deity, your master and your true nature.
In Dakini’s Whisper, we practice “Vajrayogini Cho Tsok” together on Dakini Day, the 25th of the lunar calendar. This particular Tsok is unique in the Ear-Whispered Lineage and exquisite in lineage blessings, profundity and completeness. This Tsok practice is open to all DW members. In other words, even if you are only practicing the Five Dakinis and not Vajrayogini practice, you can, and in fact should, join VYCT and fulfill your Tsok commitment. You need a small amount of Bala (meat) and Madana (alcohol) at least as an offering if nothing else is available.
In answer to your second question about the proper way to perform personal Tsok, regardless of a deity, you have to finish the sadhana up to either the torma offering or the dedication before you start Tsok. There are three ways to fulfill Tsok – Extensive, Middling and Concise. Here, I just talk briefly about the case of VYCT. The extensive is going through the entire text. The middling is what we usually do in group practice. The concise is as follows:
First practice the Vajrayogini Short Sadhana, finishing Self-Generation and including Torma Offering, 11a. Then, start VYCT at the Actual Practice, 35b through Inviting the Guests of Offering, 40a. Then resume at Requesting the Fulfillment of Wishes, 49a through Offering to the Vajra Master, 50b. Then, conclude with the Hundred-syllable mantra, Emptiness Meditation and Auspicious Prayers, 67b – 70a. There is a way to fulfill a Tsok commitment in the case of an emergency but I'm not going to mention here.
For more details about Tsok and Torma offering, please read the booklet DW Media recently published if you don't have a copy.
Thanks very helpful
Thank you Khandro-la. This helps! And thank you, TK for the idea of starting this blog. It's amazing how much valuable information is being conveyed through it!