"Means of accomplishment." Tantric liturgy and procedure for practice, usually emphasizing the development stage. The typical sadhana structure involves a preliminary part, which includes the taking of refuge and arousing bodhichitta; a main part, which involves the visualization of a buddha and the recitation of mantra; and a concluding part, which includes the dedication of merit to all sentient beings. +
The different versions of her biography give varying details about her place of birth, the names of her parents, and so forth. In his Ocean of Wondrous Sayings to Delight the Learned Ones, Guru Tashi Tobgyal states that her father's name was Namkha Yeshe of the Kharchen clan and that she was born in Drongmochey of Drag. At first she was one of King Trisong Deu-tsen's queens, but later was given to Padmasambhava as an empowerment fee to be his spiritual consort. During the empowerment of Assemblage of Sugatas, her initiation flower fell on the mandala of Kilaya. Through this practice she became able to tame evil spirits and revive the dead. She was the chief compiler of all the inconceivable teachings given by the great master Padmasambhava. Having remained in Tibet for two hundred years, she departed for the celestial realm of the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain without leaving a corpse behind. In The Precious Garland of Lapis Lazuli (p. 352), Jamgőn Kongtrűl says: Yeshe Tsogyal was a direct incarnation of Dhatvishvari Vajra Yogini in the form of a woman. She served Padmasambhava perfectly in that life, engaged in sadhana practice with incredible perseverance, and attained a level equal to Padmasambhava himself, the "continuity adorned with inexhaustible body, speech, mind, qualities, and activities." Her kindness to the land of Tibet surpasses the imagination, and her compassionate activity, which is no different from Padmasambhava's, continues unceasingly. +
The teachings of Hinayana and Mahayana that regard the practices of the path as the causes for attaining the fruition of liberation and enlightenment. +
The conferring of power or authorization to practice the Vajrayana teachings; the indispensable entrance door to tantric practice. Empowerment gives control over one's innate vajra body, vajra speech, and vajra mind and the authority to regard forms as deity, sounds as mantra, and thoughts as wisdom. See also Four empowerments. +
The community of practitioners; usually the fully ordained monks and nuns. The "noble sangha" means those who have achieved the path of seeing, from among the five paths, and therefore are liberated from samsara. +
n the district of Lhodrag situated to the south of Samye in Central Tibet, a child was born to Nyangtőn Chokyi Khorlo, a renowned Nyingma yogi, and his wife, Lady Yeshe Drőn. The child was named Nyima Oser, "Beam of Sunlight," an extraordinary being, who possessed eight marvelous signs, including three moles in the shapes of the syllables OM AH HUNG on his forehead, throat, and heart center. After being concealed at home until the age of twelve, unknown to other people, he was taken to a fair arranged by his uncle. At the fair he outshone everyone in the horse race and, when seated upon a small throne by his uncle, Nyima Oser expounded bodhichitta, inspiring deep faith in the whole gathering. Because of the twelve-year-old long hair that was wrapped around his head to hide his ushnisha and the OM in his forehead, he was given the name Lord Nyang Ral, the "Braided Master of Nyang." Until the age of twenty-five, he studied the prevalent tantric systems of Nyingma and Shijey with many great masters. Following directions given to him by Padmasambhava in person, Nyima Oser went to the cave named Imprint of the Rak-shasa's Claw and to Pearl Crystal Cave of Pama Ridge, where he received empowerment and blessings from both Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal. During the following years, Nyima Oser revealed an incredible number of terma treasures. Without propagating a single of these teachings, he kept them secret and remained in retreat at Samye Chimphu for six years. During the retreat, Padmasambhava appeared for seven days and bestowed upon Nyima Oser whichever profound instruction he requested. Finally, Padmasambhava dissolved into Nyima Ŏser's heart, producing an experience of bliss, clarity, and nonthought, which lasted for six months. On another occasion, Yeshe Tsogyal commanded him to go to Lhodrak and establish a temple there for the benefit of beings. Later Nyang Ral Nyima Oser went to Lhodrak, where innumerable disciples gradually gathered around him. Due to the tremendous impact of the terma treasures he revealed, Nyima Oser is considered the first of five tertŏn kings.
A class of beings, both male and female, often mentioned as recipients of the residual offerings in a feast ceremony. They also appear in the retinue of Buddhist deities acting as offering servants and dancers. +
Love, compassion, joy, and impartiality. Also called the "four abodes of Brahma" because their cultivation causes rebirth as the king of the gods in the realm of form within samsaric existence. When embraced by the attitude of bodhichitta, the wish to attain enlightenment for the welfare of others, their cultivation causes the attainment of unexcelled buddhahood. +
A tantra belonging to Kriya Yoga, also known as ''Meaningful Lasso Tantra''. Ananda (kun dga' bo) One of the ten close disciples of the Buddha and his personal attendant, who recited the sutras at the First Council and served as the second patriarch in the oral transmission of the Dharma. +
The two main aspects, means and knowledge, of vajrayana practice. Briefly stated, development stage means positive mental fabrication while completion stage means resting in the unſabricated nature of mind. See also Completion stage; Development stage. +