I came across a Buddhist Scripture that stated:

"Shakyamuni Buddha once wandered in Wu Jin Kingdom to beg for alms.

The Buddha preached the Dharma at the lakeside of Lake Apolalo, which is two hundred miles north east of the capital of Wu Jin Kingdom.

There was an evil dragon that lived in the lake. When the dragon discovered that the Buddha had come to preach the Dharma, he thought it was an intrusion into his territory, so he stirred up a wave that spun to the sky, engulfing the earth. The vicious wave disturbed the Buddha and his disciples.

The Buddha stayed calm and still while emitting an auspicious light. Despite the huge wave and a fierce howling wind, he remained undisturbed.

The Buddha said to the evil dragon, 'Dragon King, do not harbor resentment and anger. Stash them away and live peacefully in a state of compassion!'

The evil dragon did not listen and continued with his violent outrage.

A dark cloud suddenly emerged from the sky. Heavy rains erupted with flashes of lightning, rumbling thunder and howling winds. Sand and stones hurled through the air and crashed to the ground. Trees were uprooted. The Buddha and his followers remained safe under the parasol light of the Buddha. Like sunshine from a thousand suns, the light neutralized the angry roaring of the dragon, leaving only thunder echoing in the surroundings.

At that moment, Mahabala (Great-Power Dharma Protector) suddenly appeared from the void behind the Buddha. Mahabala took on a wrathful form that was brave and fierce, with the angry howling of 'Pei! Pei!' rattling from his mouth.

Mahabala raised his mountain-huge vajra scepter and tapped the cliff of the lakeside. The entire cliff was smashed into dust in just a split second. As the earth trembled with an endless booming sound, the evil dragon was shaken and could not get up.

Mahabala said to the evil dragon, 'Will you obey or will you not? Listen to the Buddha's teaching attentively. If you don't submit, you will end up like this mountain¡Xsmashed into dust.'

The frightened dragon obeyed the order and knelt before the Buddha. It accepted the Threefold Refuge from the Buddha: Namo Buddha ye, Namo Dharma ye, Namo Sangha ye."

These few words from the scriptures invoked many feelings within me.

I always use kind, soft words to advise sentient beings, but they never seem to listen. Take the case of the evil dragon: it was filled with thunderous rage. How can sentient beings listen to teachings that flow from a bodhi heart filled with loving kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity?

Only with the manifestation of Mahabala would the evil dragon become obedient.

Such an approach is like "stopping violence with violence" "using brutality against brutality" or "fighting poison with poison." If you are vicious, I will be more vicious than you.

This is exactly what a wrathful dharma protector does.

When I began to engage in tantric practice, the first dharma protector empowerment that I received was for Mahakala (Da Hei Tian). Mahakala has various manifestations, with some forms having four arms, six arms, and eight arms. There is also a 12-armed form riding on a horse.

Then I received empowerment of the Ten Wrathful Deities: Yamantaka, Aparajita (Unsurpassable Dharma Protector), Hayagriva (Horse-head Dharma Protector), Kundali, Trailokyavijaya, Vajra Fire Raja, Heruka, Padmasuva, Usnisacakravartin, Sumbharaja.

In the Japanese Esoteric Schools, the five Dharma Protectors are the following:
Central - Acala
Eastern - Trailokyavijaya
Southern - Kundali
Western - Yamantaka
Northern - Vajrayaksa

In the Tibetan Esoteric Schools, the five Vajrarajas are the following:
Hevajra
Chakrasamvara
Yamantaka
Ucchusma
Kalachakra

I have also received empowerment for the following:
Mahamayuri
Ragaraja
Vajrakumara

The Three Tantric Spheres are the following:
Self-nature Sphere - Buddha
True Doctrine Sphere - Bodhisattva
Mandate Sphere - Dharma Protector

Dharma protectors are wrathful manifestations of the Buddha that have the purpose of saving sentient beings blinded by anger, lust, ignorance and obstinacy. The fierce appearance of the dharma protector is actually a revelation of the Buddha's great compassion and loving kindness, and represents a profound meaning of using the brilliance of wisdom to subdue all evil and hindrances.

I have practiced Dharma Protector Yoga for a long time.

I try to save sentient beings by following the way of the Bodhisattva, but only when absolutely necessary, the Dharma Protector will appear.

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