The Four Powerful Animals: Tak (Tiger), Seng (Snow Lion), Chung (Garuda), Druk (Dragon)

Most Bhutanese people are aware of these four animals: the Garuda, the Dragon, the Snow Lion, and the Tiger as they are deeply rooted in our culture. They are seen in the corners of many prayer flags, painted on building walls inside monasteries, crafted on four corners of the buildings, embroidered as hanger and made in masks to display.

Known collectively as "The Four Dignities," they represent sacred qualities and attitudes that Bodhisattvas develop on the path to enlightenment; qualities such as confidence (Tiger), clear awareness (Snow Lion), fearlessness (Garuda), and gentle power (Dragon).

The Four Dignities are mythical animals, which represent various aspects as under:

Tak (Tiger)

The Tiger abides in the South, symbolizing unconditional confidence, disciplined awareness, kindness and modesty. It is relaxed yet energized; resting in a gentle state of being that has a natural sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, referring to the state of enlightenment. 

Associations: main quality is confidence, dominance over forest, and the air element.

Seng (Snow Lion)

The Snow Lion resides in the East and represents unconditional cheerfulness, a mind free of doubt, clear and precise. It has a beauty and dignity resulting from a body and mind that are synchronized. The Snow Lion has a youthful, vibrant energy of goodness and a natural sense of delight. Sometimes the throne of a Buddha is depicted with eight Snow lions on it; in this case, they represent the 8 main Bodhisattva-disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha.

Associations: main quality is fearlessness, dominance over mountains, and the earth element.

Chung (Garuda)

The Garuda is daring and fearless and abides in the north. With great strength and power it soars beyond without holding back. It symbolizes freedom from hopes and fears, the vast mind without reference point. It is a powerful antidote to the negative influences of Nagas (spirits), which can cause disease and all kinds of harm.
Associations: main quality is wisdom, dominance over the sky, and the fire element.

Druk (Dragon)

The Dragon thunders in the sky with the sound of compassion that awakens us from delusion and increases what we can know through hearing. Dragons have the power of complete communication. Just as we do not see sound, we do not see dragons -at least not usually. Displaying a dragon banner is said to protect one from slander and enhances one's reputation. 

Associations: main quality is power, dominance over the sea, and the water element.

No doubts, Tak, Seng, Chung, Druk are four powerful animals and considered highly symbolic and powerful. As such one should have such symbol at home.

  

MANI KABUM (མ་ཎི་བཀའ་འབུམ)

His Holiness the 70th Je Khenpo is presently conferring the oral transmission and teachings on Mani Kabum ( མ་ཎི་བཀའ་འབུམ་གྱི་ལུང་)- teachings and practices on Avalokiteshvari( Chenrezi) at Punakha Thangzona.

Those fortunate people who are receiving this great transmission and teaching must receive with great attention and devotion. You all are very lucky. Make best use of it.

MANI KABUM (མ་ཎི་བཀའ་འབུམ)

The Golden Volumes of Zamatok Mani Kabum were imparted from the sky to human realm by Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara).

They were received by King Lhathothori, the forefather of King Songtsen Gampo, landed on the balcony of his palace.

From the sky a voice informed that after five subsequent generations there would be someone able to decipher them. And therefore the King kept the sacred scriptures as a treasure.

Later in the reign of King Songtsen Gampo, Minister Thoenmi Sambhota was sent by the Dharma King to India to learn 360 languages. Upon his return to Tibet, Minister Thoenmi Sambhota could decipher the Zamatok (volume) Mani Kabum that had imparted naturally from the sky.

The Mani Kabum was written in Gubta Nagara—an ancient language of the Himalayan regions outside northern India—, which has then been chosen by the minister as the standard dharma language.

Having been modified the existing four sets of characters [Gaha, Jaha, Daha and Baha] with another ones respectively [Tsa, Tsha, Dza and Wa], the total number of Gubta Nagara character sets remains the same, which is thirty sets.

The Original Scriptures of Mani Kabum had been kept as a hidden treasure for the benefit of future generations.

Initially acquired by Siddha Dubthob Ngoedrub in Bhutan, they were rediscovered at Thedlung Pungthang Dechen Phodang Dzong Imperial Palace Kingdom of Bhutan.

Five hundred years later, His Eminence Trizin Tsering Rimpoche of Bhutan translated these sacred scriptures into English accordingly.

May those who are fortunate to receive the transition may give your views so that it benefits all.

I have posted the same article last year when His Holiness confers the same in Mongar.

Courtesy: buddhadordenma.org.