Dondrub Shugden, can u get ahold of said picture with Protector in the fire?
Icy mentions that we practice Tantra after receiving the Protector initiation and that we then identify closely with him and recite his mantras. I don't know his specific meaning, but the language sounds like Icy is saying that the Protector initiation is a Highest Yoga Tantra wang, that we can practice tantra after the initiation, and that we self-generate as the Protector. All three of these implications are incorrect.
Please allow me to share some clarification I received from Je Losang Tsering Lotsawa (David Gonsalez). He received this clarification from Trijang Dorjechang's previous attendant Gelong Losang Choepel, and sealed it with perfect understanding of Lama Tsongkhapa's Ngarim Chenmo explanation of these things. Furthermore, for those of you who respect the Dalai Lama as a teacher, the Dalai Lama was consulted regarding this and asked the Lotsawa to clarify this for not only Westerners, but many qualified Geshes who were doing things incorrectly.
To practice tantra, we must receive a Wang into the mandala of a tantric Yidam. To preform tantric rituals we must self-generate as a Yidam. Dorje Shugden is not a Yidam, he is a Dharmapala; his initiation does not give permission or instruction to self-generate as the Dharmapala, or permission to perform tantric rituals. It is necessary to receive the proper Wang in order to do those things. The Solitary Hero Yamanataka of 13-Deity Yamanataka is typical prerequisite, but other Yidams are also qualified. For example, some sadhanas use Heruka 5-Deity sadhana as part of the Kangso.
To attend a fire puja, at the very least we must have received a Wang of Highest Yoga Tantra because these are 'secret' rituals and this is a qualification given by Vajradhara. During fire puja, unless we ourself have completed the close retreat of the Supramundane guest of the fire puja, we are not permitted to recite the section of sadhana where we make offerings to the Supramundane guest. Similarly, we can recite the tantric sadhana encasing self-initiation and can be present at self-initiation, but unless we have completed the close retreat of the Yidam whose self-initiation is being performed, we are not permitted to recite or meditate in the self-initiation section of sadhana. The reason for this is that Fire Puja and Self-initiation are considered 'Actions of the mandala' and we are not permitted to perform such actions until we have completed the close retreat of the particular Deity whose practice we're performing. Another example to help clarify is though we may have the Wang of Heruka and Vajrayogini, if we have performed the close retreat of Vajrayogini with closing fire puja, we are permitted to do the Vajrayogini self-initiation, but not the Heruka self-initiation and vice versa. If we have done the close retreat of Solitary Yamantaka with fire puja, we can do his self-initiation, but not the self-initiation of other deities.
To attend Dorje Shugden fire puja, we must have received a tantric Wang. To perform Dorje Shugden fire puja, by which I mean reciting the verses to the Supramundane guest or making the actual offerings, we must have received the Yamantaka Wang, completed the Yamantaka close retreat with subsequent fire puja, received Dorje Shugden life-entrustment, completed a Migtsema close retreat, and completed the Dorje Shugden close retreat. These things come from Vajradhara, Lama Tsongkhapa, and other lineage Gurus of the Gelug. If people aren't following this, it is inappropriate, though these days it is often the case that people just do things out of either unknowing, or simply not caring about having the proper qualifications.
Je Losang Tsering Lotsawa (David Gonsalez of Dechen Ling Press) clarified many things. He received clarification from Trijang Dorjechang's attendant Gelong Losang Choepel, as well as impeccable understanding of Lama Tsongkhapa's Ngarim Chenmo. The Dalai Lama for instance, even suggested that Je Tsering Lotsawa clarify such things, particularly the differences between a Wang and Jenang, not only for Westerners, but for Geshes as well who were making mistakes. My notes here are also based on a fire puja transcript in which the Dorje Shugden fire puja is explained.
