In all, Padmasambhava stayed for eighteen years in Tibet, be-
tween 747 .. to 765 .., although some sources claimed that
he was there for fifty years. He then disappeared mysteriously
causing several speculations as to his whereabouts. ose of the
Nim-ma Lineage believe that to this day, Guru Padmasambhava
still come to visit and bless his devotees on the 10th day of every
lunar month.e Lotus-born Guru is the embodiment of the entire lineage of
Teaching, both exoteric and esoteric, which has been transmit-
ted by words, mudras and telepathy through 2,500 years. He is
often depicted seated on a red lotus throne upon a white moon-
mat with legs locked in a vajra position. He wears the three royal
robes of the ree Yanas — Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana.
His right hand carries the golden Vajra (diamond-cutter) while
his left, lying on his lap, the Patra or ‘begging bowl which is
filled with the Nectar of Immortality. Clamped to his left side
is his special symbol, the Khatvarga, a three-pronged flaming
staff which has three human heads attached to it, symbolic of
impermanance and other deeper meanings. e Vajra, peculiar
to Vajrayana, is used by Guru Rinpoche to cast spells or exorcise
devils. On his head is a lotus cap adorned with sun and moon
and surmounted by a feather from a vulture’s wing. is master
of all yogas often wears a strange smile, compassionate but with
a hint of wrathfulness. If you are ready to accept him as your
guru some day, he may take your mundane ego and hang it on
his flaming staff. In return he will give you all the knowledge of
the universe and give you a drink of the Nectar to make you for-
get pain and dissatisfaction forever; his Vajra wisdom will also