The Lama Norlha practice from the Chokling Tersar is a wealth practice that features the main deity Kyechok Tsülzang (Dzambhala), the third of the twelve emanations of Guru Rinpoche from the Tukdrup Barché Künsel (Dispeller of All Obstacles) cycle of treasures. According to Jamyang Khyentsé Wangpo, this important trasure cycle was revealed when “at age thirty-six, in the summer, Chokgyur Lingpa performed The Wealth-Deity Guru (Lama Norlha) great accomplishment at Gegyal Nang”.1The Breeze That Carries the Auspicious Melody: Replies to Questions Arising from the Life Story of the Great Treasure-Revealer, Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo This practice is renowned for its ability to attract both mundane and spiritual abundance and wealth.
Kyechok Tsülzang is a combination of all the enlightened wealth deities. According to the famous Barché Lamsel prayer, at the sacred site of Chumik Changchup, the Spring of Enlightenment, in Nepal, Guru Rinpoche plunged his kila dagger into the bare rock after taming four female demons. From that very spot, a stream of blessed water sprang forth, which still flows today. In the Chokling Tersar texts, Kyechok Tsülzang is referred to as the one who bestows “the siddhi of holding the sky treasury.” As the bestower of supreme wishes and accomplishments, he presides over a retinue of wealth deities from the four enlightened families of Vajra, Jewel, Lotus, and Karma. Moreover, he is the embodiment of all the three roots of guru, yidams, and dakinis and hence renowned as the wish-fulfilling jewel.
Guru Rinpoche taught that to increase wealth it is vital to know how to make offerings and practice generosity. According to the teachings of the foundational vehicle, one can train in the practice of generosity, traditionally one can begin by giving small things, and then gradually expand by giving more. Buddhist practitioners train in generosity by making beautiful shrine offerings, in addition to being generous to sentient beings.
This Lama Norlha practice employs the skillful means of the Vajrayana by expanding on the practice of generosity. Using Vajrayana view and methods, the practitioner increases both material and spiritual wealth. These are described as outer, inner, and secret wealth. Outer wealth includes material things such as food, clothing, a comfortable place to live, and so on. Inner wealth is a person’s fortune and merit along with personal virtues such as contentment, generosity, and calmness of mind. Secret wealth is understanding the nature of things or emptiness, developing innate inner awareness, and the actualization of the qualities of awakening for the sake of oneself and others.
As a support for the practice of Lama Norlha, one can rely on a sacred image such as this thangka that authentically depicts the wealth deity.
