Sarang Ragini, Ragamala Tradition, c. 1605

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The twelfth house stands for expenses, paternal wealth, criticism, and the left eye etc.

~~ Madhya Parashari, Ch. 9 , Shloka 12

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All Grahas (any Graha) in Vyaya Bhava will be the source of a short life, specifically the luminaries, Shukra, and Rahu.

~~ BPHS  

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"Vyaya" or how he/she is annihilated, comes through: 

• 12th house from radix lagna 

• 12th Lord

• 12th from Chandra

• 12th house from Shani.

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... both the 8th and 12th from Shani stand for consideration respectively in respect of offspring, spouse, and death.

~~ BPHS Ch. 7, Shloka 39-43

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Profile of the pattern of losses (which produce gains of moksha) by observing: 

1. 12th-from-12th, or Labha bhava 

2. Radix (D-1) planets in Meena (Pisces)

3. Radix 12th lord within navamsha 

4. Radix 12th lord within Shashtyamsha (D-60)

5. 12th house from Jupiter

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Moksha

The three "moksha" or "liberation" houses - bandhu bhava, randhra bhava, and vyaya bhava - all show the native's advance from material desires to spiritual dissolution of desire.  It is desire which causes incarnation, and the dissolution of desire which permits liberation.

The twelve rashi (signs) are divided into three equal sections.  The foundation section of each chart, houses 1-4, proceeds from the creation of physical body itself at house-1, and ends in the "resting place, end of matters" of bandhu bhava.  

The fourth house profiles destruction of the one's ego-attachment to the products of Tanu bhava - the end of individuality, merging into the family identity. This merging of individual into family causes destruction of one's primitive identification with individual desires - and elevates the consciousness to the natural affection of putra bhava. 

The personal creativity section, houses 5-8, proceeds from the creation of bodies for children or ideas at house-5 and ends in "emergent mystery" of  Randhra bhava.  In the 8th house, one merges ego-attachment to products of personal creativity into the larger cosmic creative forces.  (That is why healing is an 8th-house function.)  

This merging causes destruction of one's primitive identification with one's own children, creative works, personal achievement, etc. - and elevates the consciousness to the natural compassion of dharma bhava. 

The contribution-to-civilization section, houses 9-12, proceeds from the creation of a body of wisdom-knowledge at house-9,  and ends in "full dissolution" of the social identity in Vyaya bhava.  In the 12th house, one merges the socially defined religious, philosophical level of truth with the ultimate universal truth. 

This merging causes destruction of one's primitive identification with one's own religion, philosophical beliefs, knowledge, etc. - and elevates the consciousness to the natural liberation of Vyaya Bhava, "redemption". 

Vyaya bhava, its lord, 12th-from-Chandra, 12th-navamsha, and L12 in chaturamsha, give prognosis for spiritual liberation in this life.

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Losses on Good Account

Vyaya bhava provides "losses on good account" - that is, material losses converted to spiritual gain, the gain of moksha or liberation.  

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Loss of Identity

Periods of L-12 involve loss of identity. If L-12 is strong - e.g. uccha, swakshetra, or vargottama in important vargas - then the loss of identity may be quite severe. The identity will return, in a more seasoned and spiritualized form, when the period of L-12 has passed. 

Periods of L-12 often involve shocking losses of lifestyle, social definition, identity-defining relationships (such as marriage), and even parts of the physical body. L-12 is a karaka for conflict in marriage & business partnerships. However, L-12 is not a death karaka.

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Foreign residence or extended foreign travel

Periods of L-12 frequently involve foreign travel. Being away from home creates a moderate loss of identity. Living or sojourning in a land where one does not speak the language or understand the customs creates a serious loss of identity. Long lasting periods of L-12 will move the native through a number of identity-losing environments.

The type of foreign travel that insulates the tourist from the culture around them, such as business conferences in international hotels, packaged holiday tours, etc., are expressions of domain-3 (short trips). The period of L-12 should produce more substantial disorientation.  

If L-12 is strong, and rules two travel houses, forecast significant identity loss through living in a  foreign culture during the period of L-12.  (E.g., Shukra for Vrischika lagna rules both domain-7 and domain 12; Guru for Mesha lagna rules both domain-9 and domain-12).  As with all L-12 effects, this loss of identity which puts the ego "on hold" for awhile, gives the native an invaluable experience of ego disengagement, which advances spiritual awareness..

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Lagnesha in domain-12

If lagnesha occupies domain-12, identity remains weakened throughout life. The native may be a spiritual aspirant, a late-in-life immigrant, a subordinate in domineering relationships, or they may work in a sanctuary enclosure such as hospital, monastery, prison, or  research lab. Whatever the environmental cause, the native's identity is masked (often by a uniform) and their ego individuality is constrained by the obscurity of their role.

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Sacrifice, Selflessness

Given its task to complete dissolution of all three developmental stages of ego-attachment, it is easy to see why Vyaya is the preeminent house of sacrifice. Latin "Sacra" means sacred; "ficere" means to do or make.  "Sacrifice" is the process of transforming a lower vibrational entity into a higher vibrational entity.  Sacrifice, whether "willing" or not, is the keynote of Vyaya Bhava.

Charitable donations, expenses of holy pilgrimage, and earnings lost while time is spent in meditation & selfless service, are the type of financial loss profiled in domain-12 and 12th-from-Moon.

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Spouse and children

As 6th-from-7th domain-12 signifies conflict in marriage and business partnership. During periods of L-12, the conflict may manifest as spouse/partner's illness, financial troubles, law breaking, or other imbalanced behaviors. 

As 8th-from-5th, Vyaya bhava turns the cycle of birth & death regarding children. L-12 is *not* a karaka for death of child. Rather, L-12 signifies major phoenix-like trauma and healings, including surgeries or psychic therapies, for the children - esp. the first child. 

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If Dhana's lord is in Vyaya Bhava, the native will be adventurous, be devoid of wealth, and be interested in other's wealth, while his eldest child will not keep him happy.

--- BPHS Ch. 24, shloka 24

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Marriage problems in domain-12:

6th-from-7th indicates animosity in marriage and illness or indebtedness of the [first] spouse  

6th-from any bhava shows the person represented by that house engaged in their karmic struggle with enemies, debts, and disease.  So, naturally, 6th-from-7th represents debts of the [first] spouse. If your 6th house or its lord is strong, this life will be scripted to enforce neutrality regarding the spouse's debts.

Periods of L-12 do come around regularly. Like any other type of loss, impoverishment through the illness, animosity, or poor financial judgment of the spouse are precious opportunities for moksha.  Simply approach the problem with neutrality, accepting the reality of karmic payoff through the vehicle of spouse's contribution to your life.

12th-from any house shows one's liberation from bondage to that house's signification.  For example, 12th-from-7th which is Ari bhava shows final divorce, the end of the first marriage.  12th-from-2nd or tula bhava shows shows second final divorce, the end of the second marriage. Etc. [Note divorce is not 12th house; but rather 6th house which is 12th-from-yuvatisthana.]

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Gems for L-12

If your 12th house or its lord is strong AND you are married, do not wear the gem for L-12!  Doing so encourages marital conflict.

By contrast, L-12 can be a very auspicious planet for the celibate religious. If you have taken vows of austerity, you consciously desire ego-detachment, and you like living in an enclosed space, then L-12 will help you. 

If you are finished having a personality - just really done with it - by all means accept the gift of the gem for L-12!

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Fantasies, Imagination, and Pleasures

As the wellspring of detachment from material reality and the bridge between one's current and previous lives, Vyaya houses the subconscious, the imagination, dreams, and fantasies. All moksha houses are "resting places" or beds.  Naturally Vyaya is associated with  "bed pleasures" - romantic-sexual fantasies, and the companions who help us indulge them.  

Perhaps ironically, elaborate sexual imagination detracts from the "business" of marriage.  As 10th-from-10th, yuvati bhava is primarily concerned with public status gained through partnership.  As 3rd-from-5th, yuvati focuses on "task" of producing children. While the "task" is famously accomplished in approximately three minutes, matters of Vyaya bhava are liberated from the ego-attachment to time... So there is a natural animosity between the public performance of marriage duties versus the resource-squandering private indulgence in "bed pleasures".

Of course it is possible to develop the romantic and sexual imagination within the bounds of holy matrimony.  However, yuvati bhava is an "artha" or material gains house.  Ego-attachment to status of marriage is a good thing for the stability of organized society, but it is not a good thing for spiritual liberation.  One of the peculiar effects of loosening of ego bondage to public status is the loosening of rules for expressions of love.  

Thus those with a strong Vyaya  2nd-from-11th (sensual enjoyment of extramarital affairs)  may enjoy the company of outside lovers.  Alternatively, they may prefer divine love to human love, and accordingly seek sanctuary in monastic life. 

Recent worldwide proliferation of "love marriage" as opposed to traditional arranged marriage signals both loosening of parental ego and the breakdown of society through weakening of marriage duty.  Check the relationship between Vyaya (bed pleasures), putra (sentimental love), labha (extramarital affairs), and yuvati (formal marriage) bhava's to determine the native's balance.

Recent worldwide proliferation of "love marriage" as opposed to traditional arranged marriage signals both loosening of parental ego and the breakdown of society through weakening of marriage duty.  Check the relationship between Vyaya (bed pleasures), putra (sentimental love), labha (extramarital affairs), and yuvati (formal marriage) bhava's to determine the native's balance.

Recent worldwide proliferation of "love marriage" as opposed to traditional arranged marriage signals both loosening of parental ego and the breakdown of society through weakening of marriage duty.  Check the relationship between Vyaya (bed pleasures), putra (sentimental love), labha (extramarital affairs), and yuvati (formal marriage) bhava's to determine the native's relationship balance.

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Body Parts

• left eye
• feet
• lymph system
• wounds from accidents

Strong Vyaya bhava gives clear vision through the left eye and also energetic clarity of reflective intuition, the psychic "left eye".  Feet will be intelligent making an excellent dancer.

Conversely, malefic effect on Vyaya sthana may provide trouble from sluggish lymph drainage or wounds that resist healing, with extended convalescence, especially during L12 periods.

The native blessed with strong Vyaya bhava (feet) and Sahaja bhava (hands) can be skilled in healing through foot reflexology.

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Repaying of Debts

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Foreign Residence - Foreign Travel

Bhukti of the 12th lord will provide foreign travel or foreign residence.  (Compare to 3rd lord who grants short-term travel, such as brief holiday vacations, domestic business trips or frequent intercity commutes.)

For some nativities, "foreign" can mean remaining within the national boundaries of one's own country whilst living amongst a people (for example one's in-laws) or in an ethnic region which is slightly different culturally from the place one was raised. 

For other nativities, if the 12th-lord is especially strong for good or ill, a dramatic change of environment such as moving from the first world to the third world or reverse, can transpire. 

The essence of 12th-house experience is isolation with an element of animosity from the parts of oneself regarding which one is in denial. Therefore whatever extreme of alienation, separateness, and foreignness - that transcendent or terrifying sense of living in a private bubble - the 12th lord by character requires, will occur during the periods of the 12th lord.

The period of the 12th lord might bring a change of residence from one continent to another, or from the city to the countryside, or from the home of one's parents into the home of strangers.  But there will always be a theme of separateness, cultural (possibly national) foreignness, and needing to live in the "sanctuary space" of one's own head in order to survive the mini-death of not being adequately understood or recognized. 

If the 12th lord occupies the sign of Mithuna, for example, periods of the 12th lord tend to induce immersion-type travel experiences where the native must cope with radically different language and culture environments.  Mithuna being a sexual sign, a Mithuna 12th lord brings some tendency to develop sexual relationships with the foreign people during one's sojourn, in order to insure survival by bonding deeply with foreign environments.

Should the gainful 11th lord occupies house-12, the native may experience profit from his longer travels. 

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The 12th-lord brings dissolving energy, the energy of detachment and preparation for death, into whichever house He occupies.

L-12 rules sleep. Native's sleep patterns may be determined by function of L-12. E.g., L-12 in domain-8 is 'hidden' which gives meditation and also loss of normal sleep.

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Maternal Grandfather and Paternal Grandmother

The single most important person in anyone's life, for good or not, is the mother. 

In most cultures, the second most important person at least in childhood is the mother's mother, who is found in the 4th-from-4th, kalatra bhava.  

Maternal Grandfather is 9th-from-4th or vyaya bhava, and Paternal Grandmother is 4th-from-9th or vyaya bhava.  Both persons are profiled partially in the 12th house.  

(Remainder of the profile of these two relatives is found by counting 9th-from-4th -or- 4th-from-9th from Moon.  Especially if you are blessed with a strong moon, the profile of any relative counted from your Moon will be quite revealing!) 

Consistent with their profile in 12th from lagna, both mother's father and father's mother tend to play more background roles socially and emotionally than, by contrast, the mother's mother in the dominant seventh house.  

However if you are blessed with a strong or busy 12th house, you might find that the social or spiritual influence of the father's mother and the mother's father is remarkably strong.  Often these relatives have left their bodies before we are born; yet, we may hear their psychic voices, or feel an impulse to follow in their footsteps.  

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Other relatives in your radix chart:

mother's father's mother [maternal great grandmother]

 =     4th-from-9th-from-4th     

=    your sahaja bhava, 3rd house

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mother's father's father [maternal great grandfather]

=     9th-from-9th-from-4th    

 =    your randhra bhava, 8th house

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father's father's mother [paternal great grandmother]

=     4th-from-9th-from-9th

 =    your randhra bhava, 8th house

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father's father's father [paternal great grandfather]

=     9th-from-9th-from-9th     

=    your rashi lagna, 1st house

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If you ever see an image such as a painting or photograph of your paternal great grandfather, you might notice a powerful physical resemblance due to this relative's psychic energy helping to form your physical appearance, which is the work of the radix lagna.  

Deceased relatives all have a piece of you!  It's a nice idea to honor them.

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If we do not wish merely to know intellectually about the view of emptiness, but rather wish to experience it ourselves in our own continuum, we should build a firm foundation for this.

Then, according to our mental ability we should hear and consider both the sutras and treatises which teach the profound view of emptiness as well as the good explanations of them by the experienced Tibetan scholars in their commentaries.

Together with this, we should learn to make our own ways of generating experience of emptiness accord with the precepts of an experienced wise man.

~~  H.H. Dalai Lama,  The Buddhism of Tibet. Jeffrey Hopkins (Trans., Ed.), Snow Lion Pub.

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Question: 

In order to realize the truth spoken by the Buddha, is it necessary to be in a retreat situation, or can one realize it by doing work of a helping nature in the community?  And what is the relative importance of both kinds of situations?

His Holiness: 

In general, if one can do both, it is best.  I think this is the practical way to do it; for the greatest part of the year, we have to live in society, we have to lead a good life.  We have to live properly, and be an honest, sincere human being.  But for a few weeks, or two months, or three months, to make retreat, to forget other worldly business and to concentrate solely on one's practice, I think this is the very best way.  

If, however, someone has a special vocation for the hermitic life, if someone has a talent for living and practicing in isolation and can make a special effort to achieve good results, then of course it is a different question.  Then it may be worth-while to live in complete isolation and to put all of one's energies toward practicing.  But this is the exception and quite rare.  I think that among one million people, there may be one or two with this type of talent or vocation. 

~~  H.H. Dalai Lama, Answers: Discussions with Western Buddhists by the Dalai Lama. José Ignacio Cabezón (Ed.) Snow Lion Pub.

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Unless intuition is translated into clear thought, it will have no effect on our life, because no force can act until it is formed and directed.

~~ Lama Angaraka Govinda, The Inner Structure of the I Ching

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Life lasts at the most about a hundred years. This is very short compared with geological periods.

If we spend this short time doing harm our life will have been pointless.

Everyone has the right to happiness but nobody has the right to destroy the happiness of others.

In no event can the goal of human existence entail making anyone suffer.

~~  H.H. Dalai Lama, 365 Dalai Lama: Daily Advice from the Heart, Matthieu Ricard (Ed.)

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The environment where you are doing the meditation should be properly cleaned. 

While cleaning, you should cultivate the motivation that since you are engaged in the task of accumulating great stores of merit by inviting the hosts of buddhas and bodhisattvas to this environment, it is important to have a clean place. 

You should see that all the external dirt and dust around you is basically a manifestation of the faults and stains within your own mind. 

You should see that the most important aim is to purge these stains and faults from within your mind. 

Therefore, as you cleanse the environment, think that you are also purifying your mind. 

Develop the very strong thought that by cleaning this place you are inviting the host of buddhas and bodhisattvas who are the most supreme merit field, and that you will subsequently engage in a path that will enable you to purge your mind of the stains of delusions.

~~  H.H. Tenzin Gyatso, Path to Bliss: A Practical Guide to Stages of Meditation. Geshe Thubten Jinpa  (Trans.), ed. Christine Cox, Snow Lion Pub.

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