Property:Gloss-def
From Buddha-Nature
This is a property of type Text.
T
''See'' skillful means. +
As Mipham explains, a sādhana is "that which enables one to attain or accomplish a desired end." In terms of tantric practice, he writes, this refers to "all the various practices that utilize the unique methods of the Secret Mantra tradition to achieve whatever spiritual accomplishments one desires, whether supreme or mundane." [ON 534] +
''See'' Anuttarayoga Tantra. +
''See'' view, meditation, conduct, and fruition. +
Five substances that are used as inner offerings in the Secret Mantra tradition: excrement, urine, ova, flesh, and semen. [TD 1362] +
The manner in which all phenomena are devoid of intrinsic existence; the true nature of things. [TD 1110] +
''See'' Sūtra Vehicle. +
The twelve acts that are manifested by all supreme nirmāṇakāyas once they enter the world. These are: 1) descending from Tuṣita Heaven, 2) entering the mother's womb, 3) taking birth, 4) enjoying the activities of youth, 5) enjoying a retinue of queens, 6) taking ordination, 7) practicing austerities, 8) going to the essence of awakening, 9) subduing Māra, 10) attaining complete and total enlightenment, 11) turning the Wheel of the Dharma, and 12) parinirvāṇa. [TD 2334] As discussed in the commentaries translated in this book, these deeds are symbolically visualized in development stage practice. +
The state of buddhahood, in which both the afflictive and cognitive obscurations have been purified. [TD 1237] +
1) One of the forms of buddhahood, which arises from the empowering condition of the sambhogakāya; an embodied form that comes into existence and appears to both pure and impure disciples, working for the benefit of these beings in accordance with their attitudes. 2) A name applied to the reincarnations of great lamas. [TD 1689] Explaining further, Padmasambhava said, "Nirmanakaya is compassion born out of wisdom, magically displayed and manifest in all ways." [DE 190] Also, one of the five kāyas. +
The excellent marks and signs are physical qualities that signify the enlightened state. [TD 2306] +
Beings in the intermediate state of the desire realm; this term literally means "scent-eater" due to the fact that these beings subsist on either pleasant or unpleasant smells, depending on their karmic propensities. [TD 1330] +
These three principles are used to present the most important aspects of development stage visualization. Jamgon Kongtrül explains, "Regardless of whether you are meditating on the development stage in an elaborate or concise form, there are three factors involved. The clear appearance of the visualization purifies one's fixation towards "objective" appearances, recollecting purity eliminates the idea that it is a solid thing, and stable pride vanquishes the belief in an ordinary 'I'." [ND 15] +
Generally, three types of faith are discussed in the scholastic tradition: lucid faith, desirous faith, and the faith of conviction. The first entails a lucid frame of mind that arises in reference to the Three Jewels. The second concerns the desire to take up and reject the four truths. The third involves having conviction in the principle of karmic causality. [YD 607] +
The three meditative concentrations that enable one to attain complete liberation: 1) the gate to complete liberation of emptiness, 2) the gate to complete liberation of the absence of characteristics, and 3) the gate to complete liberation of being without desire. [TD 1569] +
According to Jamgön Kongtrül, the spiritual life-force is the specific seed syllable of the yidam deity, "the unchanging nature of its respective family." [LW 14] +
Quoting the ''Sūtra of the Levels of Buddhahood'', Jigme Lingpa explains, "Mirrorlike wisdom is similar to a reflection that appears on the surface of a mirror, which doesn't really exist. Reflections require no effort and are not something that can be formed. Similarly, when it comes to mirrorlike wisdom, all the various reflections of omniscience do occur, yet do not truly exist. They do not require effort, nor are they something that can be formed." [YT 431] +
A yidam deity associated with the principle of enlightened speech (from the Eight Great Sādhana Teachings). +
As taught in the inner tantras, it is generally considered essential to have all three of these factors present when engaging in the tantric practice of the development stage. By meditating in accordance with the processes of the birth, death, and the intermediate state (which comprise cyclic existence) - the four types of birth and so on-all clinging and appearances related to the three levels of existence are refined away and ''purified''. By meditating on the pure realms, deities, and so forth (which accord with nirvāṇa) the qualities of the fruition, such as the three kāyas, are ''perfected'' in the ground, and the unique potential that allows for these qualities to be actualized comes into existence. In the same manner, penetrating the vital point of both purity and perfection (or, said differently, of the channels, energies, and essences in the vajra body), one is matured for the symbolic wisdom and true luminosity of the completion stage. [TD 1238] +
''See Tantra of the Secret Essence''. +
