The Dorje/Vajra represents the firmness of spirit and the achievement of high transcendental virtues, can drive towards the Truth, and destroy unawareness. Made like a scepter, it can be single or double and is said to hold the power of lightning. In many Eastern civilizations, it’s compared to the meteoric hammer of Thor, and to the thunderbolt and scepter of Zeus, as an indestructible weapon for the wrathful deities and spiritual power for the benevolent gods.
In Tibetan Buddhism, the term "Dorje" (also spelled as "Dorje" or "Vajra" in Sanskrit) holds significant mythological and symbolic meaning. "Dorje" translates to "indestructible" or "diamond," while "Vajra" means "thunderbolt" or "diamond scepter." Together, they are a powerful and sacred representation of indestructibility, spiritual power, and transformative qualities. It symbolizes unobstructed enlightenment and serves as a reminder of one’s inherent potential for awakening. It’s often associated with the qualities of clarity, strength, and compassion.
The iconography of this scepter that is said to represent a lightning bolt is multi-layered. At the center of the Dorje/Vajra is a small, flattened sphere which is said to represent the underlying nature of the universe. It is sealed by the syllable hum (hung), representing freedom from karma, conceptual thought, and the groundlessness of all dharmas. Outward from the sphere, there are three rings on each side, which symbolize the three-fold bliss of Buddha nature. The next symbol found on the Vajra as we progress outward are two lotus flowers, representing Samsara (the endless cycle of suffering) and Nirvana (the release from Samsara). The outer prongs emerge from symbols of the Makaras sea monsters.
In Tibetan Buddhism, the term "Dorje" (also spelled as "Dorje" or "Vajra" in Sanskrit) holds significant mythological and symbolic meaning. "Dorje" translates to "indestructible" or "diamond," while "Vajra" means "thunderbolt" or "diamond scepter." Together, they are a powerful and sacred representation of indestructibility, spiritual power, and transformative qualities. It symbolizes unobstructed enlightenment and serves as a reminder of one’s inherent potential for awakening. It’s often associated with the qualities of clarity, strength, and compassion.
The iconography of this scepter that is said to represent a lightning bolt is multi-layered. At the center of the Dorje/Vajra is a small, flattened sphere which is said to represent the underlying nature of the universe. It is sealed by the syllable hum (hung), representing freedom from karma, conceptual thought, and the groundlessness of all dharmas. Outward from the sphere, there are three rings on each side, which symbolize the three-fold bliss of Buddha nature. The next symbol found on the Vajra as we progress outward are two lotus flowers, representing Samsara (the endless cycle of suffering) and Nirvana (the release from Samsara). The outer prongs emerge from symbols of the Makaras sea monsters.