Dakini - in Tibetan Buddhism

In Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism
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Schools Nyingma Kagyu Sakya Gelug Bön Jonang
Key concepts Three marks of existence Skandha Cosmology Saṃsāra Rebirth Bodhisattva Dharma Dependent origination Karma
Major figures Gautama Buddha Padmasambhava Je Tsongkhapa Dalai Lama Panchen Lama Lama Karmapa Lama Rinpoche Geshe Terton Tulku
Practices and attainment Buddhahood Avalokiteśvara Four stages of enlightenment Tantric yoga Paramitas Meditation Laity
Major monasteries Changzhug Drepung Dzogchen Ganden Jokhang Kumbum Labrang Mindroling Namgyal Narthang Nechung Pabonka Palcho Ralung Ramoche Sakya Sanga Sera Shalu Tashilhunpo Tsurphu Yerpa
Major festivals Chotrul Duchen Dajyur Losar Monlam Sho Dun
Texts Kangyur Tengyur Tibetan canon Mahayana sutras Nyingma Gyubum
Art Sand mandala Thangka Ashtamangala Tree of physiology
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Although dakini figures appear in Hinduism and in the Bön tradition, dakinis occur most notably in Vajrayana Buddhism and play a particular role in Tibetan Buddhism. There the dakini, generally of volatile or wrathful temperament, acts somewhat as spiritual muse (or inspirational thoughtforms) for spiritual practice. Dakinis are energetic beings in female form, evocative of the movement of energy in space. In this context, the sky or space indicates shunyata, the insubstantiality of all phenomena, which is, at the same time, the pure potentiality for all possible manifestations.

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