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A Lamp to Illuminate the Five Stages

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Tsongkhapa’s A Lamp to Illuminate the Five Stages (1419) is a comprehensive presentation of the highest yoga class of Buddhist tantra, especially the key practices—the so-called five stages (pancakrama)—of the advanced phase of Guhyasamāja tantra. Beginning with a thorough examination of the Indian sources, Tsongkhapa draws particularly from the writings of Nāgārjuna, Aryadeva, Candrakīrti, and Nāropā to develop a definitive understanding of the Vajrayana completion stage. Whereas in the generation stage, meditators visualize the Buddha in the form of the deity residing in a mandala palace, in the completion stage discussed in the present volume, meditators transcend ordinary consciousness and actualize the state of a buddha themselves. Among other things, Tsongkhapa’s work covers the subtle human physiology of channels and winds along with the process of dying, the bardo, and rebirth. This definitive statement on Guhyasamāja tantra profoundly affected the course of Buddhist practice in Tibet. (Source: Wisdom Experience)

Citation	Kilty, Gavin, trans. A Lamp to Illuminate the Five Stages: Teachings on Guhyasamāja Tantra. By Tsongkhapa (tsong kha pa). Edited by Thupten Jinpa. Library of Tibetan Classics 15. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2013.

Table of Contents About the Book Texts Translated Quotes

• General Editor’s Prefacexiii
• Translator's Introduction1
• Technical Note17

A Lamp to Illuminate the Five Stages

Core Teachings on the Glorious Guhyasamāja, King of Tantras

• 1. Homage and Introduction21
• Part 1. Divisions of Highest Yoga Tantra
  • 2. The Two Types of Tantra25
  • 3. Specific Explanation of Guhyasamāja Method Tantra43
  • 4. Praise of Guhyasamāja55
  • 5. Commentarial Traditions59
• Part 2. The Path of Guhyasamāja
  • 6. Training in the Guhyasamāja75
  • 7. The Two Stages83
  • 8. Explanation of Evām and of Bliss and Emptiness91
  • 9. The Necessity of Penetrating Vital Points on the Body 123
• Part 3. The Divisions o f the Completion Stage
  • 10. The Core Instruction 137
  • 11. TheFiveStages 143
• Part 4. Body Isolation
  • 12. Identifying Body Isolation 167
  • 13. Types of Body Isolation 181
  • 14. How Body Isolation Is Incorporated into the Six Yogas 191
  • 15. The Practice o f Body Isolation 199
• Part 5. Speech Isolation
  • 16. Identifying Speech Isolation 213
  • 17. Divisions,Functions, and Movement of the Winds 217
  • 18. Significance of the Mantras 253
  • 19. Prānāyāma Meditations 267
  • 20. Vajra Repetition 295
  • 21 . Experiences in Prānāyāma Meditation 309
• Part 6. Mind Isolation
  • 22 . The Nature of Mind Isolation 333
  • 23. The Three Appearances and the Intrinsic Natures 341
• Part 7. The Conventional-Truth Illusory Body
  • 24. Gaining Instructions on the Illusory Body
  • 25. Methods of Attaining the Illusory Body
  • 26. The Mixings
• Part 8. The Ultimate-Truth Clear Light
  • 27. Stages of Attainment443
  • 28. The Outer and Inner Mastery 447
  • 29. The Two Meditative Absorptions 453
  • 30. How the Path of Tantra Must Occur on the Sutra Path 463
  • 31. How Clear Light Is Incorporated into the Six Yogas 475
• Part 9.The Stage of Union
  • 31 . The Two Truths Inseparably Combined 483
  • 33. How the Stage of Union Fits into the Six Yogas 503
• Part 10. Tantric Activities
  • 34. General Presentation of Activities 509
  • 35. HighestYoga Tantra Activities527
  • 36. Rituals for the Three Activities541
  • 37. The Attainment of Complete Enlightenment559
• Colophon and Dedication563
• Table of Tibetan Transliteration567
• Notes569
• Glossary605
• Bibliography617
• Index629
• About the Contributors649

Tsongkhapa's Lamp presents one of the most comprehensive and detailed presentations of the highest yoga class of Vajrayana Buddhism, especially the key practices— the so-called five stages (pañcakrama)— of the advanced phase of Guyhasamāja tantra. Beginning with a thorough examination of all the relevant Indie literature, Tsongkhapa draws particularly from the writings of Nāgārjuna, Āryadeva, Candrakīrti, and Nāropa to develop a definitive understanding of the Vajrayana completion stage. Traditionally the work belongs to a class of “hidden texts” that are to be read only by those who have received initiations. The teachings and practices in this volume follow on from those contained in the sādhana volume (volume 13). Whereas in the generation stage, meditators visualize the Buddha in the form o f the Guhyasamāja deity residing in a mandala palace, in the completion stage discussed in the present volume, meditators transcend ordinary consciousness and actualize the state of a buddha themselves. In the course of presenting these practices, Tsongkhapa's work outlines the subtle human physiology manipulated by the tantric adept, especially the network of channels and cakras, as well as the wind energies and vital drops that flow through them. Other topics, such as the Tibetan Buddhist understanding of the process of death and dying, the intermediate state of existence, and rebirth— central concepts of which find their origin in the Guhyasamāja Tantra— as well as theories of human psychology, such as the scope and dynamic of the emotions, dream states, and near-death experiences, are also addressed in detail. This text was Tsongkhapa's last major work, which he completed in 1419, the year of his death. Its impact on the course of tantric practice in Tibet has been definitive for the Geluk school and profound for Tibetan Buddhism as a whole.

-Thupten Jinpa, General Editor

1. Tsong kha pa. rgyud kyi rgyal po dpal gsang ba 'dus pa'i man ngag rim pa lnga rab tu gsal ba'i sgron me. In rje tsong kha pa'i gsung 'bum. Vol. 7: 3-619. bla brang: bla brang bkra shis 'khyil, 199?.
2. Commentary on sarvatathāgata-kāya-vāk-citta-rahasyo guhyasamāja-nāma-mahā-kalparāja, (de bzhin gshegs pa thams cad kyi sku gsung thugs kyi gsang chen gsang ba 'dus pa zhes bya ba brtag pa'i rgyal po chen po). In bka' 'gyur (sde dge par phud), Vol. 81: 179-295. Delhi: delhi karmapae chodhey gyalwae sungrab partun khang, 1976-1979. Columbia AIBS

tantra - Tantra, when juxtaposed with Sūtra, generally refers to the scriptures and texts which discuss esoteric topics. While the term is used to refer to texts on other topics, it is mostly used to refer to the genre of scriptures and texts on themes and topics associated with Vajrayāna Buddhism. Skt. तन्त्र Tib. རྒྱུད། Ch. 密宗

tantra - Tantra, when juxtaposed with Sūtra, generally refers to the scriptures and texts which discuss esoteric topics. While the term is used to refer to texts on other topics, it is mostly used to refer to the genre of scriptures and texts on themes and topics associated with Vajrayāna Buddhism. Skt. तन्त्र Tib. རྒྱུད། Ch. 密宗

sādhana - Sādhana refers to a method of practice through which one can actualise a specific spiritual result, and by extension to the texts and manuals which present such methods. A sādhana in the Vajrayāna Buddhist context generally involves the worship and visualisation of a tantric deity, chanting of mantras, and associated practices. The practice often begins with verses of taking refuge and cultivating altruistic thought, then carrying out meditation on emptiness and the mandala of deity, seven-part worship, chanting of mantras, and finally the dissolution of the deity which was visualised. Skt. साधन Tib. སྒྲུབ་ཐབས། Ch. 修行

Geluk - The Geluk tradition traces its origin to Tsongkhapa, who propagated a modified version of the Kadampa lojong and lamrim teachings. It is the dominant tradition of Tibet, having established its control of the government under the figure of the Dalai Lama. Tib. དགེ་ལུགས་