Buddha Shakyamuni is the fourth of one thousand founding Buddhas who will appear in this world during this Fortunate Eon, and the founder of Buddhism in this world. He is the principal object of refuge for all Buddhists. He is holding a begging bowl filled with three nectars indicating that he has conquered the “demons” of uncontrolled death, a contaminated body and mind, and delusions, and is touching the ground indicating his power to subdue all negative forces.

Medicine Buddha functions to release living beings from outer and inner sickness. His body of blue wisdom light indicates that he is an emanation of the healing power of all the Buddhas; his hands hold a bowl filled with medicinal nectar and a medicinal plant. Through relying upon Medicine Buddha with faith we develop a special power of body, speech and mind, which we can use to help others through healing actions.

Avalokiteshvara embodies the universal compassion of all Buddhas. His first two hands pressed together at his heart symbolize respect for his Spiritual Guide, and hold a jewel symbolizing his own enlightenment. His second left hand holds a white lotus flower, symbolizing his complete purity of body, speech and mind; and his second right hand holds a crystal mala, symbolizing that he can free all living beings from samsara.

Prajnaparamita the manifestation of Buddha’s perfection of wisdom – holds a vajra and a scripture of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. Her remaining two hands are in the mudra of meditative equipoise. Her hands teach us that through training in meditation on the perfection of wisdom we can accomplish the higher perfection of wisdom, the union of great bliss and emptiness, through which we can attain enlightenment very quickly.

Green Tara the female Buddha of active compassion who, as the manifestation of the ultimate wisdom of all the Buddhas, is known as the ‘Mother of the Conquerors’. She is also known as the ‘Great Liberator’ who pacifies all sickness, poverty, misfortune, fighting and quarrelling, and causes the Dharma and all good fortune to flourish.

Vajrasattva the Buddha of purification, the manifestation of the minds of all the Buddhas, appears specifically to purify the negativities of living beings. He is the same nature as Buddha Vajradhara, differing only in aspect.

Vajrapani is a Tantric enlightened being who bestows special power on our body and mind. Through receiving his blessings we will develop the inner strength to overcome our daily problems and sufferings, and to eliminate our delusions, especially our self-grasping ignorance.

1,000 Armed Avalokiteshvara embodies universal compassion. His eleven faces (ten for his emanations of the ten directions and his root Guru, Buddha Amitabha) indicate he benefits living beings through countless emanations. A thousand arms indicate he’s the synthesis of the thousand Buddhas of this Fortunate Eon. Eyes in each palm indicate he watches over and cares for infinite living beings.

Vajradhara is the founder of Vajrayana Buddhism, or Tantra, and the source of all the Tantric teachings. He is the same mental continuum as Buddha Shakyamuni but displays a different aspect. Buddha Shakyamuni appears in the aspect of an Emanation Body, and Buddha Vajradhara appears in the aspect of an Enjoyment Body.

Dorje Shugden is a Buddha appearing in a protecting aspect, whose main functions are to avert inner and outer obstacles that prevent practitioners from gaining spiritual realizations, and to arrange all the necessary conditions for their spiritual development. The Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Wisdom Buddha Manjushri.

White Tara is an enlightened being whose function is to bestow long life, wisdom and good fortune. If we rely upon her with faith, she will protect us from contagious diseases, the dangers of fire, and other disasters, as well as from untimely death. Ultimately she will guide us to the deathless state of Buddhahood.

Amitayus the Buddha of long life, wisdom, and merit – has a red-colored body and sits with his two hands in the gesture of meditative equipoise, holding a vase filled with nectar of immortality. Amitayus is the Enjoyment Body aspect of Buddha Amitabha. He is seated on a throne supported by peacocks indicating his connection with Buddha Amitabha.

Maitreya is the Buddha of loving-kindness. His hands are in the gesture of teaching Dharma, holding two lotuses symbolizing his omniscient wisdom. The lotus on his right supports the Wheel of Dharma and the vase on his left is filled with life-giving nectars. On his crown is a stupa symbolizing his Spiritual Guide, Buddha Shakyamuni.

Vajrayogini is a female enlightened Deity of Highest Yoga Tantra. She is standing on worldly deities demonstrating that she has destroyed attachment, hatred and ignorance. Her body is in the nature of the perfection of wisdom of all the Buddhas, and her five adornments are the other five perfections of all the Buddhas.

Heruka an enlightened Deity of Highest Yoga Tantra, is the manifestation of the compassion of all Buddhas. He embodies the union of the very subtle mind and emptiness – the ultimate nature of all things—the way things actually exist – as symbolized by his embracing Vajravarahi. Aspects of his body reveal the basis we need to abandon, the spiritual path we need to practice, and the result we need to accomplish.