Khandro Chenmo Yeshé Tsogyel thangka

Yeshé Tsogyel

a Dzogchen yogini

Khandro Chenmo Yeshé Tsogyel is shown here as a Dzogchen yogini. She wears a blue chuba – symbolic of the colour of the Rigpa’i Kujug, ‘the cuckoo of Awareness’. The colour blue is associated with the Dzogchen teachings and with the lineage of naljorpas and naljormas as transmitted within the Aro Gar from Gomchenma Künzang Rang-rig Longtsal. Jomo Chhi’mèd Pema is also portrayed as wearing a blue chuba, as is her disciple Jomo Pema ’ö-Zér – the mother of Khyungchen Aro Lingma. Yeshé Tsogyel has many different forms, according to whether she is portrayed as yidam, Tantric Buddha, Lama, or disciple of Padmasambhava.

The Aro gTér is a pure vision gTérma which was received by Khyungchen Aro Lingma directly from Yeshé Tsogyel.

The colour blue was recommended by Yeshé Tsogyel within that gTérma system as the shirt and undershirt colour to be worn by the gö-kar chang-lo’i dé. Yeshé Tsogyel sits on a lotus and moon disc to symbolise her enlightened state and her ability to effectuate all forms of compassionate activity. Her green ‘halo’ symbolises her capacity to manifest the four Buddha-karmas.