Yab-yum (Tibetan: ཡབ་ཡུམ། literally, "father-mother") is a common symbol in the Tibetan Buddhist art of India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet. It represents the primordial union of wisdom and compassion, depicted as a male deity in union with his female consort through the similar ideas of interpenetration or "coalescence" (Wylie: zung-'jug; Sanskrit: yuganaddha), using the concept of Indra's net to illustrate this.[1] The male figure represents compassion and skillful means, while the female partner represents insight. In yab-yum the female is seated on the male's lap. There is a rare presentation of a similar figure but reversed, with the male sitting on the female's lap, called yum-yab.[2]
The symbolism is associated with Anuttarayoga tantra and, while there are various interpretations of the symbolism in twilight language, the male figure is usually linked to compassion (karuṇā) and skillful means (upāya-kauśalya), while the female partner is linked to "wisdom" (prajñā).[3]
Iconography
Yab-yum is generally understood to represent the primordial (or mystical) union of wisdom and compassion.[4] In Buddhism the masculine form is active, representing the compassion and skillful means (upaya[5]) that have to be developed in order to reach enlightenment. The feminine form is passive and represents wisdom (prajna), which is also necessary to enlightenment. United, the figures symbolize the union necessary to overcome the veils of Maya, the false duality of object and subject.
These figures are frequently worked in the shape of statues[6] or reliefs, or are painted on thangkas. Yab-yum may also be represented through the aniconic signification of yantra and mandala.
Tibetan Buddhism
In Tibetan Buddhism, the same ideas are to be found concerning the bell and the dorje, which, like the yab-yum, symbolize the dualism that must be transcended. The sacred Tantric practice leads to rapid development of mind by using the experience of bliss, non-duality, and ecstasy while in communion with one's consort, either visualized, or in the case of advanced practitioners, in some cases physical. In one important Anuttarayoga text, where Tilopa expounds the meaning to Naropa, it is said:
When you rely on a consort, the wisdom of empty bliss will arise, so enter into union—the blessing of method and wisdom. Bring it down slowly, retain it, reverse it, and draw it back up. Bring it to the places in the body and let it spread throughout. When you remain free of desire, the wisdom of empty bliss will appear.[7]
Indicating the advanced nature of the actual practice with consort, the verses are the last in what is already widely considered as a text for the most advanced practitioners, a fact clearly evident in the story about Naropa's receiving the teaching.[8]
Sadhana
The symbolism of union and sexual polarity is a central teaching in Tantric Buddhism, especially in Tibet. The union is realised by the practitioner as a mystical experience within one's own body.[9] Yab-yum represents the practice of the karmamudrā or "action-seal", a tantric yoga involving a physical partner.
^Neville, Robert C. (1987).New metaphysics for eternal experience, Journal of Chinese Philosophy 14, 357-370
^Simmer-Brown, J. (2002). Dakini's Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism. Shambhala. p. 159. ISBN978-0-8348-2842-1. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
^Keown, Damien. (2003). A Dictionary of Buddhism, p. 338. Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-860560-9.
^The Marriage of Wisdom and Method By Marco Pallis
^"Life of Tilopa & The Ganges Mahamudra Thrangu Rinpoche". www.namsebangdzo.com. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
^Herrmann-Pfandt, Adelheid. "Yab Yum Iconography and the Role of Women in Tibetan Tantric Buddhism." The Tibet Journal. Vol. XXII, No. 1. Spring 1997, pp. 12-34.
External links
Media related to Yab-yum images at Wikimedia Commons
January 06, 2023
former, brothel, amsterdam, brothel, tibetan, ཡབ, literally, father, mother, common, symbol, tibetan, buddhist, india, bhutan, nepal, tibet, represents, primordial, union, wisdom, compassion, depicted, male, deity, union, with, female, consort, through, simila. For the former brothel in Amsterdam see Yab Yum brothel Yab yum Tibetan ཡབ ཡ མ literally father mother is a common symbol in the Tibetan Buddhist art of India Bhutan Nepal and Tibet It represents the primordial union of wisdom and compassion depicted as a male deity in union with his female consort through the similar ideas of interpenetration or coalescence Wylie zung jug Sanskrit yuganaddha using the concept of Indra s net to illustrate this 1 The male figure represents compassion and skillful means while the female partner represents insight In yab yum the female is seated on the male s lap There is a rare presentation of a similar figure but reversed with the male sitting on the female s lap called yum yab 2 Heruka in Yab Yum form On display at Gangaramaya Temple museum Contents 1 Origins 2 Iconography 2 1 Tibetan Buddhism 3 Sadhana 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 Footnotes 7 External linksOrigins EditThe symbolism is associated with Anuttarayoga tantra and while there are various interpretations of the symbolism in twilight language the male figure is usually linked to compassion karuṇa and skillful means upaya kausalya while the female partner is linked to wisdom prajna 3 Iconography EditYab yum is generally understood to represent the primordial or mystical union of wisdom and compassion 4 In Buddhism the masculine form is active representing the compassion and skillful means upaya 5 that have to be developed in order to reach enlightenment The feminine form is passive and represents wisdom prajna which is also necessary to enlightenment United the figures symbolize the union necessary to overcome the veils of Maya the false duality of object and subject These figures are frequently worked in the shape of statues 6 or reliefs or are painted on thangkas Yab yum may also be represented through the aniconic signification of yantra and mandala Tibetan Buddhism Edit In Tibetan Buddhism the same ideas are to be found concerning the bell and the dorje which like the yab yum symbolize the dualism that must be transcended The sacred Tantric practice leads to rapid development of mind by using the experience of bliss non duality and ecstasy while in communion with one s consort either visualized or in the case of advanced practitioners in some cases physical In one important Anuttarayoga text where Tilopa expounds the meaning to Naropa it is said When you rely on a consort the wisdom of empty bliss will arise so enter into union the blessing of method and wisdom Bring it down slowly retain it reverse it and draw it back up Bring it to the places in the body and let it spread throughout When you remain free of desire the wisdom of empty bliss will appear 7 Indicating the advanced nature of the actual practice with consort the verses are the last in what is already widely considered as a text for the most advanced practitioners a fact clearly evident in the story about Naropa s receiving the teaching 8 Sadhana EditThe symbolism of union and sexual polarity is a central teaching in Tantric Buddhism especially in Tibet The union is realised by the practitioner as a mystical experience within one s own body 9 Yab yum represents the practice of the karmamudra or action seal a tantric yoga involving a physical partner Gallery Edit Heruka with prajna Vajravarahi 1544 AD Discovered in Nepal statue on display at Prince of Wales museum Padmasambhava in Yab Yum Chakrasamvara Vajravarahi Bhairava and Kali in unionSee also EditMaithunaFootnotes Edit Neville Robert C 1987 New metaphysics for eternal experience Journal of Chinese Philosophy 14 357 370 Simmer Brown J 2002 Dakini s Warm Breath The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism Shambhala p 159 ISBN 978 0 8348 2842 1 Retrieved 18 January 2020 Keown Damien 2003 A Dictionary of Buddhism p 338 Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 860560 9 The Marriage of Wisdom and Method By Marco Pallis upaya Encyclopaedia Britannica Paramasukha Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi Archived from the original on 2011 07 10 Retrieved 2008 12 22 Natural Awareness Mahamudra texts www naturalawareness net Retrieved 2017 12 31 Life of Tilopa amp The Ganges Mahamudra Thrangu Rinpoche www namsebangdzo com Retrieved 2017 12 31 Herrmann Pfandt Adelheid Yab Yum Iconography and the Role of Women in Tibetan Tantric Buddhism The Tibet Journal Vol XXII No 1 Spring 1997 pp 12 34 External links Edit Media related to Yab yum images at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yab Yum amp oldid 1116086830, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
