"Lotus-born." Same as Guru Rinpoche. The Sanskrit names Padmakara and Padmasambhava are used interchangeably in Tibetan literature, and sometimes the Tibetan translation, Pema Jungney, is used. See also Guru Rinpoche. +
The terrestrial pure land of Guru Rinpoche, situated on the subcontinent Chamara to the southeast of the Jambu continent. Chamara is the central of a configuration of nine islands inhabited by savage rakshasas. In the middle of Chamara rises the majestic copper-colored mountain into the skies. On its summit lies the magical palace Lotus Light, manifested from the natural expression of primordial wakeful-ness. Here resides Padmasambhava in an indestructible bodily form, transcending birth and death, for as long as samsara continues and through which he incessantly brings benefit to beings through magical emanations of his body, speech, and mind. +
Tibetan translator and disciple of Padmasambhava. At first, he was an influential Bőnpo priest, but later he studied with Padmasambhava and also learned translation. Due to his miraculous power, he is said to have tamed a wild yak simply by a threatening gesture. He offered numerous Bőnpo teachings to Padmasambhava, who then concealed them as a terma treasure. +
The Vajrayana system of taking fruition as the path by regarding buddhahood as inherently present and regarding the path as the act of uncovering the basic state. This is different from the causal philosophical vehicles of Mahayana and Hinayana, which regard the path as that which leads to and produces the state of buddhahood. Ultimately, these two approaches are not in conflict. See also Secret Mantra. +
(i) A synonym for Vajrayana. (2) A particular combination of sounds symbolizing and communicating the nature of a deity and which lead to purification and realization, for example, OM MANI PADME HUM. There are chiefly three types of mantra: guhya mantra, vidya mantra, and dharani mantra. +
The second great Dharma king of Tibet, who invited Guru Rinpoche, Shantarakshita, Vimalamitra, and many other Buddhist teachers to Tibet, including Jinamitra and Danashila. In The Precious Garland of Lapis Lazuli, Jamgŏn Kongtrűl dates Trisong Deutsen as being born on the eighth day of the third month of spring in the year of the Male Water Horse (802). Other sources state that year as his enthronement upon the death of his father. Until the age of seventeen he was chiefly engaged in ruling the kingdom. He built Samye, the first great monastery and teaching center, which was modeled after Odantapuri. He established Buddhism as the state religion of Tibet, and during his reign the first monks were ordained. He arranged for panditas and lotsawas to translate innumerable sacred texts, and he established a large number of centers for teaching and practice. +
A master in the Dzogchen lineage and the crown ornament of five hundred panditas, who attained the indestructible form of the rainbow body. He received the transmission of Dzogchen from Shri Singha and Jnanasutra. Vimalamitra is regarded as one of the three main forefathers for establishing the Dzogchen teachings in Tibet, especially the Instruction Section, which he chiefly transmitted to five people: King Trisong Deutsen, Prince Muney Tsenpo, Tingdzin Sangpo of Nyang, Kawa Paltsek, and Chokro Lui Gyaltsen. Having translated these extremely profound instructions, he concealed the texts at Samye Chimphu for the sake of future generations. On his departure to the Five-Peaked Mountain in China, Vimalamitra made the promise to return once every century in order to clarify and propagate the teachings of the secret, innermost essence, Sangwa Nyingtig. The oral lineage of his teachings on the Instruction Section was continued by Tingdzin Sangpo of Nyang, who also concealed one set of the scriptures. One hundred and fifty-five years after Vimalamitra departed from Tibet, an emanation of him named Dangma Lhűngyal took out the hidden texts. They are now included in the collection known as Vima Nyingtig the "Heart Essence of Vimalamitra." In his role as lineage holder of Nectar Quality from among the Eight Sadhana Teachings, he is counted among the eight vidyadharas of India, the receiver of the Eightfold Volume of Nectar Quality. According to this lineage, he was born in Elephant Grove, an area in the western part of India. He was learned in both the common and extraordinary topics of knowledge and received teachings on the tantras from Buddhaguhya and many other illustrious masters. Having practiced, he reached the accomplishment of the vidyadhara level of mahamudra and wrote numerous treatises, mainly on the teachings connected to the Magical Net. +
"New Schools." The New Schools are the Kagyű, Sakya, and Gelug as well as Shijey and Chő, Jordruk, Shangpa Kagyű, and Nyendrup (the Kalachakra system). +