QUOTE(Edunpanna @ Jan 29 2007, 09:29 PM)
Greetings='Mezu,
Very interesting. How would one go about creating one the Tibetan way?
It's much the same as working with your Yidam (although this isn't for the meek!)--a more advanced practice. Yidam (wrathful deities usually) and Tulpas (Servitors) both involve intense concentration. For Yidam work, the magus constructs kylkhor (mandala) to safely "contain" the Yidam until the Yidam bonds with the magus (normally a lifetime bond of teaching and power). This is like a "triangle of manifestation" in western terms, but usually a much more complex design, involving images of the Yidam, geometric shapes, often made from painted sand, one by one, taking months. At the end of this labour (itself an act of power), visualization becomes somewhat automatic, and manifestation is through concentration, mantra, a form of gnosis.
For Tulpa's it's typically more just an intense concentration visualization. But since I'm not particularly "automatic" in terms of my visualization abilities, I chant a mantra and use a wooden drum until a form of gnosis is achieved. It helps to concentrate on an image at first, then to mantra chant, then to visualize -- in my case.
Since the lamas teach that all reality is an illusion, therefore imagination can create a reality as real as the mountains we see around us, it really is all about understanding that manifestation is from within, concentrating, visualizing and achieving Gnosis. In Tibet this is normally accomplished through intense long-term meditation, often across days, or chanting, until the subconcious mind "takes over or emerges." As the mantra is chanted -- I almost always use the OM MANI PADME HUM (the Tibetan equivalent of the name of God in western ceremonial... the Om Mani Padme Hum contains the entire essence of truth according to the gurus, even though its strict translation seems to mean nothing. When vibrated, it is very powerful. While vibrating, visualize and concentrate on the mission/image. Know it is manifesting, and it will, then concentrate on giving it form.
I can make it appear for me, but not for others -- yet?