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Padmasambhava's Advice #1
Dakini Teachings: Padmasambhava's Oral Instructions to Lady Tsogyal
Padmasambhava, the Indian mystic and tantric Buddhist master, is second only to Buddha Shakyamuni as the most famous personage in the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism. In the ninth century, he made the journey across the Himalayan Mountains to establish Buddhism for the people in that country. Now, more than 1,000 years later, we are able to hear and be touched by his voice as contained within this collection of oral advice. The selections in Dakini Teachings are timely advice - short, direct instructions relating to the three levels of Buddhist practice: Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. The main emphasis of Padmasambhava's teaching is that spiritual knowledge must be personalized and not remain as mere theory. The book includes an introductory discourse by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and a short biography of Padmasambhava by Jamgon Kongtrul the First.
218 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1364
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Padmasambhava
50 books189 followersAccording to tradition, Padmasambhava was incarnated as an eight-year-old child appearing in a lotus blossom floating in Lake Dhanakosha, in the kingdom of Uddiyana, traditionally identified with the Swat Valley in present-day Pakistan. His special nature was recognized by the local king who married him to one of his daughters, Mandarava. She and Padmasambhava's other main consort, Yeshe Tsogyal, developed into realised practitioners. Many thangkas and paintings show Padmasambhava in between them.
Padmasambhava's ability to memorize and comprehend esoteric texts in a single hearing established his reputation as a master above all others. Knowing that the life force of the wife and son of evil minister was about to end, he constructed an accident which resulted in their death. As a result, Padmasambhava was banished from the court and exiled in a charnel ground. Transiting various heavens and hells, he developed the power to transcend the cycle of birth and death, accomplishing the so-called great transference.
His fame became known to Trisong Detsen, the 38th king of Tibet (742–797), whose kingdom was beset by evil mountain deities. The king invited Padmasambhava to Tibet where he used his tantric powers to subdue the evil deities he encountered along the way, eventually receiving the Emperor's wife, identified with the dakini Yeshe Tsogyal, as a consort. This was in accordance with the tantric principle of not eliminating negative forces but redirecting them to fuel the journey toward spiritual awakening. In Tibet he founded the first monastery in the country, Samye Gompa, initiated the first monks, and introduced the people to the practice of Tantric Buddhism.
In Bhutan he is associated with the famous Taktshang or "Tiger's Nest" monastery built on a sheer cliff wall about 500m above the floor of Paro valley. He flew there from Tibet on the back of Yeshe Tsogyal, whom he transformed into a flying tigress for the purpose of the trip. Later he travelled to Bumthang district to subdue a powerful deity offended by a local king. Padmasambhava's body imprint can be found in the wall of a cave at nearby Kurje Lhakhang temple.
According to Tibetan tradition, the Bardo Thodol (commonly referred to as the Tibetan Book of the Dead) was among many treasures hidden by Padmasambhava, subsequently discovered by a Tibetan terton, Karma Lingpa.
Padmasambhava's ability to memorize and comprehend esoteric texts in a single hearing established his reputation as a master above all others. Knowing that the life force of the wife and son of evil minister was about to end, he constructed an accident which resulted in their death. As a result, Padmasambhava was banished from the court and exiled in a charnel ground. Transiting various heavens and hells, he developed the power to transcend the cycle of birth and death, accomplishing the so-called great transference.
His fame became known to Trisong Detsen, the 38th king of Tibet (742–797), whose kingdom was beset by evil mountain deities. The king invited Padmasambhava to Tibet where he used his tantric powers to subdue the evil deities he encountered along the way, eventually receiving the Emperor's wife, identified with the dakini Yeshe Tsogyal, as a consort. This was in accordance with the tantric principle of not eliminating negative forces but redirecting them to fuel the journey toward spiritual awakening. In Tibet he founded the first monastery in the country, Samye Gompa, initiated the first monks, and introduced the people to the practice of Tantric Buddhism.
In Bhutan he is associated with the famous Taktshang or "Tiger's Nest" monastery built on a sheer cliff wall about 500m above the floor of Paro valley. He flew there from Tibet on the back of Yeshe Tsogyal, whom he transformed into a flying tigress for the purpose of the trip. Later he travelled to Bumthang district to subdue a powerful deity offended by a local king. Padmasambhava's body imprint can be found in the wall of a cave at nearby Kurje Lhakhang temple.
According to Tibetan tradition, the Bardo Thodol (commonly referred to as the Tibetan Book of the Dead) was among many treasures hidden by Padmasambhava, subsequently discovered by a Tibetan terton, Karma Lingpa.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 31, 2012
I got this book because I got curious about dakinis, female deities that originated in India, but are now widely adored in Tibet.
Tulku Urgyen wrote an introduction which, though short, is packed with information about Tibetan deities. Basically, all these multiplicities of gods are inter-emanating. "The real wisdom Dakini is the empty quality of luminous wakefulness," Urgyen writes.
He says perception is the "male" aspect of our consciousness, but notes that the "empty" quality within our perception is a "female" quality. "Thus the great mother of Dharmakaya [Prajnaparamita] is the basis for all the dakinis."
There are three roots to Tibetan spiritual practice, Urgyen says, Guru, Yidam and Dakini. The guru is the teacher. The yidam is the deity which one visualizes oneself to be. The dakini is the protector.
Yeshe Tsogyal, the consort of Padmasambhava, is also his manifestation as one of the five dakini emanations of Vajra Yogini.
Urgyen classifies dakinis into 3 groups: Wisdom-, activity- and mundane-dakinis. The wisdom dakinis are Prajnaparamita, Vajra Varahi and her 5 emanations, and Arya Tara. These three are emanations of the primordial ground of emanation, the empty quality within all perceptions, aka Samantabhadri. Her dharmakaya (truth body) emanation is Prajnaparamita; her sambhogakaya (luminous body) emanation is Vajravarahi; her nirmanakaya (physical) emanation is Arya Tara, who emanates as Yeshe Tsogyal.
Urgyen adds that the mundane dakinis dwell in 64 specific locations: 32 major sacred areas, 24 minor sacred valleys, and the 8 charnel grounds. But these 64 locations also refer to centers of our physical bodies, where the dakinis dwell as energies.
Tulku Urgyen wrote an introduction which, though short, is packed with information about Tibetan deities. Basically, all these multiplicities of gods are inter-emanating. "The real wisdom Dakini is the empty quality of luminous wakefulness," Urgyen writes.
He says perception is the "male" aspect of our consciousness, but notes that the "empty" quality within our perception is a "female" quality. "Thus the great mother of Dharmakaya [Prajnaparamita] is the basis for all the dakinis."
There are three roots to Tibetan spiritual practice, Urgyen says, Guru, Yidam and Dakini. The guru is the teacher. The yidam is the deity which one visualizes oneself to be. The dakini is the protector.
Yeshe Tsogyal, the consort of Padmasambhava, is also his manifestation as one of the five dakini emanations of Vajra Yogini.
Urgyen classifies dakinis into 3 groups: Wisdom-, activity- and mundane-dakinis. The wisdom dakinis are Prajnaparamita, Vajra Varahi and her 5 emanations, and Arya Tara. These three are emanations of the primordial ground of emanation, the empty quality within all perceptions, aka Samantabhadri. Her dharmakaya (truth body) emanation is Prajnaparamita; her sambhogakaya (luminous body) emanation is Vajravarahi; her nirmanakaya (physical) emanation is Arya Tara, who emanates as Yeshe Tsogyal.
Urgyen adds that the mundane dakinis dwell in 64 specific locations: 32 major sacred areas, 24 minor sacred valleys, and the 8 charnel grounds. But these 64 locations also refer to centers of our physical bodies, where the dakinis dwell as energies.
March 27, 2010
This is the best book I've come across that describes the proper approach to meditation and spiritual development using Tibetan Buddhism as taught by Padmasambhava, aka Rinpoche or Padmakara. The chapters are jam packed with information, fast paced, and often fascinating.
March 17, 2016
The "Secret Teachings" are the best advice for experiential practice I've yet to find. Taken in concert with recent re-readings of other classical texts, The Dakini Teachings gets uprated to five stars!
August 3, 2021
I'm done with it. Best guide on how to understand that you are not doing your spiritual practice well no matter what you're doing. F**k off, really.
April 26, 2023
Thank you.
July 7, 2015
it's really nice!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews