Hidden Teachings of Tibet: An Explanation of the Terma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism

HIDDEN TEACHINGS OF TIBET

HIDDEN TEACHINGS OF TIBET An Explanation of the Terma Tradition of 1ibetan Buddhism

TULKU THONDUP RINPOCHE

Edited &, Harold Talbott

Wisdom Publications • Bos1on

Wisdom Publications 361 Newbury Street Boston, Massachusetts 02115 ©Tulku Thondup Rinpochc 1986, 1997 All rights reserved. No part of thi1 book may be zeproduced in an~· form or by any means, electronic or me-IJ11 }. 4 A ln1 tsllab o Cunt Padrnasambhava . It is 11 t ktrowtr wlro discovtrrd this irnage. It u•as givttr by)(~ mrd Li11,~ pa (t :19-17¢) to orre oflris rlritfpatro11s, E Ura gya tlrri. J ome o tire Tmnas discovtrrd by Ch'otgyur Urrg pa (t819-187o) are a"a11grd ;, the drsigrr ofa flou•trirw trrt a11dframrd ;, a silver a11d gold box witlr a glass wirrdou•. Tire image at tlrt ettlltr is a ku tshab ktroum as N,v,o dntb Pal bar (bios omill,'l,

1 A lmtsllab (s Ku T llabs, reprcsttrtativt) of um Padmasambhova disrovrrrd by 1Vya11g yima Odur (I IZrl 192) and passtd dowrr tllrougll tire gnrrratio11s ofIris family . ymbolit srriprs are visible 011 tlris imagt. Ku tshabs arc tilt most imponanJ amJ rar Tmna imagts of Gunt PaJmasamblrava, blmrd as his oum rcprrsnrtarives by the ""' lrimsdf. Gttrrrally, tlrrre arc l~rmdrtds ofTmna imag 'I of lrim, bm a rorrli11g to 1114try yi~rgma srripturts rlrm arr o11ly lllltrlty-Jive ltrr tslrab irnagrs. l A ku t lrab o

Gum Padtnasamblrava ,

distovmd by Sa11g .'I.Y Li11g pa (1J4t>-.t)96}. J A lm tshab ltrroum as Grmt rirt tlrod ma (the lma.v,e ofrhe Master with (bast o.fl sltrtll of

A volokitt 11ara trllitltwl ~ Kmtdu (Tht Assnnbl ofAll tltt

~

Bliss~~ Or~n) (S« MEV patt 84J1/6). Tht.followint lim'S rr/111 #tow GurN PadmasaH1bl1ava lrftlllk 4Htl lilfl rrrntrr/ tit is ~, tiWH

;, tM It t CTI, p4tt Jil/j : Haviu,f brn1 ahS«btww in llmtmeplatiou , /Gun~ Padmasambl.ava/ ( OIIIIIftiiiJeJ fM DiJriniJ tiii'Vll I t#tt fi:wrt of llitw atttl tltc-tnturr oftMtrol. ThC'ITIIpoll , oJftmJ ltiM .~ns ofrl• toth atttllfita rtal,s, Jambu~oiJ anJ 14111l.froMau/IS4rowar l4ltt. Fro. tire ti~ cltanwl .~rourttls 4Htl tltt twrnty· our IIKrN plam, Fra.~,.., UICJOd, nsnrttof mtdiciu ,

3 atWIIJftmts) lllfll WIU tJiKovmtJ

.froM Tsi '" Nor bu Am SUM (S« SVDG patt t8tah ). To tlw i~ 's ri.fltt is a caslttt.froM wltidt tht ytllow strOlls of1M ttxts Off Ma ,., Np kQR wm diKovmtl. To its l':ft arr S(JfW tliscovmtl rtlia swlt IU lt.ir anJ pi«n ofclotltitft of

c;.,,., PIIIIMasambltalla anJ

'"""Y ofltis cltitftlistipln. At tlw IOWtr fi-t oftltt i~ is tlw ytllou• strOll ofa ttxt trllitltwl Thu~ tlrNh Yitl zltin

Nor bu (1« S VDG patt 18ta/6}, wlticlt ltiU six sy/14hln writtm by tltt lwnJ ofGurN ~ .... IAirM tJW AmoUin IU KM tsW Tltorrt tro1 ,.. (tlw rtprtU'fftatiw tlt4t libmun by

S«in~) tHS distovmtlhy

Ttr

IMt Ln~ pa (t¥-t714J.froSita "t TtWto ;, t61o witlt 1M ytllow scrolls oftltt ttxts Off

4

Ntctar wattr ami ambrosia of accomplishmmiJ. With thtst mattrials atul chnnical wattr {Tht Guru/ matk tht clay atul (thm tht imagt) with his own hatul, Tht sizt ofhis thumb (mTshcm Ga11g). ftuitk, ht put tht rtlics (Ring b rtl) of tht stvttl Tathagai4S, Of Prahrvajra, ManjuJri, •risi11IUJ, Vmt~tlamitra ttc., tht ailtpts, Hair, pitttS ofrlothi"Jl• bodily rtmaitu atul substanm ofaccomplishmttll. And tht Guru's mua/ ml, hair mul tSSmct;

s

6

· nd ambrosia, mrdirinr and rtd and hrart syllablrs, and so on , As til mdosurts (~Z"".'~s) . Hr paimrd ;,,,,;,1, natural vmt~illiPtl

And prormiv lor and pnfonutd tilt toll rrrati 111. At 1l1at tim , umrrou

l..'l•o•vltd.ll -lr ldm , 4/ik and 4/ikinis atlltrtd likr tlrr clouds i11 til sky and blrs td it. nu~ " wal h257 Fire Ox Year, nz8 p2.2o footprint, n195 P%49 eastern, n195 P2.49 northern, n195 P249 southern, n195 P%49 western, n195 P249 footprints on four rocks, n195

P%49 foreknowledge, 105 form, visual, J196 pzzs formalities, hierarchical, 41 fortunate people, eight, toz, ntto p229 fruition period, 148

Gelug school, 37

generosity, 26 gesture, symbolic, to8 gods, 170, 0244 p257

Great Blissful Son, 34 Crcat Mistress of the Desire Realm, 114 Great Perfection, 4 t ground, .21, 45 universal, 33 guide(s), prophetic, 72

Guru, peaceful, 116, nt8t p246 Sadhana, 116, nt7J P%45 wrathful, 116, n182, p2.J6 Heart-sons, nine, 102, n117

p2JS hemp, matted, t)O,I\.22) p254 hermitage of virtues, 99 Hinayana School, 14, 15 hook, 130

hundred (Buddha) families, 99 Hum letters, n194 P249 ima~,~soovered,t51

indivisibility of appearance and emptiness, 35 infallible words, 104 lnnennost Essence, instructions of, 48 insight wisdom, 38 instruct instantly, J1242 p257 instruction(s), tO), nuJ p236 on the Essential Point, ntJ8

p2J9 oftnelrutern1ostESsence,48 Division of, .S instruments, sacred, 118

Technical Terms in English

285

Mahayina,t5,16 common, 17 philosophy, 19 maJ.l(i{ala(s), 34 Eight Great, 102, n103 p226 Jambu continent, tn, n199 mantra(s),1o8, 114, n162 P244 p2so exhorting, 119 Mal)i mantra, 123, n215 p253 six-syllable, 123, n215 p253 Kagyud School, 37 meaning, to;, n133 p238 karma, 51, 58, nt6) P244 absolute, .20 karmic air, 98 meditation, 16 principle, 24 on transferring the conKing and 25 subjects, 53• 125, sciousness, n152 P242 n104 Ppn8, set also disci- Medium of the Four Eleples, twenty-five chief ments, 14.3 knowledge-holders, 47, 120, memory, unforgetting, 67 170, n193 p248 merit, 26 eight great, 52 accumulation of, 26 with Residue, 98 messengers of activity, 142 mind, concentration of, 162 division of the, 48 lakes, four, 121, nt¢ P249 Law(s) of ten virtues, 123, dualistic, .21 ultimate nature of, )5 IU13 P25) of virtues of body (3) nu3 Mind-mandate Transmission/Entrustment p253 (gTad rGya), 61,64-68, 88, of virtues of mind (3) n213 89, 90· 9), 10), 1o6-107, p253 ofvirtuesofspeech(4)n213 109, 125, 129, 132, 1))-135· 147,t58,162,t6;,t69,nt.2t p253 liberation-by-seeing, 112, p.24o, et passim mindness, 158 n152 p2.42 Mind-only School, 23 lineage, 37,49 Vinaya,)B Mind-sidhana, 120 longevity, 117 miraculous powers, 59 Lord, omniscient, 113, n157 Scripts, to8, n141 P240 mirror divination, 136, n239 P243 lotus birth, 51 p257 luminescence, inconceivable, monks, celibate, 8.2 147

interdependent cimunstances, 79

.

2.86 Index

fully ordained, 38

offering,

monkey meditator, nobJe, fulfilling, 1,51, russ p26o 122, 11204 p251 feast, 76, 140, IU43 p257 month, monkey, u2, n2oo Omniscient Guru, t)), nz36 p2,50 p2.57 sheep,76 Mother of the Buddhas, 23 path(s), 21, z6, 45 Mount Meru, n199 pzso Path of spirits, n2.57 p261 mountain, Copper Colored, n90 p223, patience,z6 n154 p2.42, nz63 pz6t, see peace, great, 23 perception, pure, 17 also Cimaradvipa Perfection, Great, 41, et pasfour rocky, 121, n195 P249

sim Nigas, 140, n~4 p2.57 natural state, 164

nature, absolute, 20,21

luminescent, 1.59 of things, 2) nectar, 1,52, 1,5), n2.59 p26t negation, 25 new tantra categories, n184 P247

nihilism, 28 Nine Heart Sons, 102, 104, n104 pz28, n117 p235 Nirvit;ta, 45 non-entities, u non-returner, 92, 16o, n266 p262

nubients, extraction of, 119, n188p248 Nyingma, 1), 37, n91 p224, n92 p224, n1o4 pu7, et pas-

sim obligations, 114, nt6t P244 observing the, 114, nt6t

P244

perfections, six, 26 Period, 148, nzst p259 Fruition, 148, n251 p259 Practice, 148, n251 p259 Scripture, 148, rust p2.59 Merely Symbolic, 148, n251 p259

permission, 133, n229 p2.5.5 phenomena, appearing, 34 phenomena, arising, cessation, and abiding of, 21 philosophy, Mahiyina, 19 places, Vajra-sacred, 121 postulation, interdependent 22

poverty,40 power of awareness, 130,1.59 of knowledge, 1U48 pzs8 manifestative, 36 miraculous, .59

ten, 146, n248 pzss preparatory practices, 73, 76 Primordial Buddha, 101, n96

pns primordial sphere, 100 primordial wisdom, sphere o£130

Technical Terms in English 287 principle, karmic, 2.4 Prophetic Authorization, 49, 68

Guides, 68, 137 Pure Land, n97 p225 rainbow body, 98 Riktasas, Land of,

112,

n154

P2.42

reality, 21 realization, point of, 17 realms, three, 105, nt.)O p2.37 reasoning, intellectual, 92 scriptural, 92 rccollection,141, n2.4s p:zs8 reconcealment, 87, 11,3, 141, 142,14.3 place, 144 teleportational, 14.3, n246 p2s8 rediscovery, 87 religious objects, 69 renunciates, 40 result, 21 ritual, )2 rocky mountains, four, 121, D19S P249 Root Doctrine-Holder, 97 rubrics, to8, n143 P240 sacred obligations, 155 places, eight, 102 sages, 73 saqtsira,45 liberation from, 17 scholars, Indian, 37 schools, eighteen, 1 School, Gelug,37 Ka dam pa, n201 p2so

s

Kagyud,)7 Karma Kagyud, n277 p263 Mind only, 23 Nyingma, 13, 37, n104 p227 Sakya,37 Scripts, Actual Indication, 127 Complete Text, Ss, 86, 128, 1)2 Dakini&) IUusory Miraculous 85, 87, 129 Indian,69 Justanlndication,Ss, 127 JustVisible,8s,86, 127, 1)2,165 Miraculous, to8, 129, t 32, D141P240 Non-Dakini, 69 Non-lliusory Miraculous, 85,129 Provoking the Memory, 128 Sanskrit, 69 secondary, n218 p254 symbolic,6t, 84,92, 93, D140P240 Tibetan,&) Scriptures, Terma, 13 tantric, 32 scrolls of paper, 6t yellow, 68, 92, n127 p237 sealing wax, 78 secrecy, 87 self-appearances, 36 semen (essence), 152 sign, visible, 165 solitary life, 40 son copy, 161 sounds, 165

288 Index of symbolic words, 88 sources, other, 167, n274 p.263 sphere, ultimate, 30, 35 of primordial wisdom, 83 spirit(s), local, 112, nt 55 P242 lake, 112., n153 p24.2 Stage, Perfection, 39, 1o6, n136 p2.J8 of training, two, 39 state, natural, 164 luminous, ICYJ wisdom of luminous, 164 streams, seven, 169 transmission o(, n2.81 p2.64 structures, organizational, 41 Sub-Continent, Western, ll.2, D154 P242 Subjects, set Kingand.25subjects substances, symbolic, to8 Siitras, basic philosophy of, 19 canon of,15

Tang dynasty, 53 tantras, andent, 38 new,39 seventeen, 49 three Inner, 17 three Outer, 17 six (four), t6 Tantrayina, 14 tantric tradition, ancient, 39• n9.z P224 ancient Buddhist, 101

teachings, canonical, 101 demonic, IJ.2, n.2.27 p255 esoteric,9), n91 p2.23 from earth and stones, 168 instructional, to8 psychic vision, 156 pure vision, 61, 101, n95 P2.24 transcription of, 86 Ten Powers, 146, n2..JS p258 texts, (of Kha dro Nying thig) mother, 107, n137 p238 son, 107, n137 p238 symbolic, n134 p238 thoughts, beneficial, 16 three baskets, 38 throne-holder, 97 trainees, ascetic esoteric, 40 training, spiritual, ground of, .21 path of,21 resu1t of, 21 two stages of, 39 tranquility, J8 transcribing, tJ2, nuS p.zs5 ~scription of teachings, 86 transfonnation, great, 52 translation period, later, 39 Transmission, of aspirational empower· ment, 64 aural, 47 of Compassionate Blessing, 64 of empowerment, 107 entrustment to J:)ikinis, 65 indication, 47 of instructions, 103

Technictd Terms in English

289

of Termas, short, 45, 49 vajra body, 17, 3.2., n.zso p259 of the yellow scroll, verbal, vajra lands, 126 vajra-mind, 34, n.zso p259 65 long, of the canon, 45, 46 vajra-speech, 34, t 35, n250 mind, 46, 47, 101, n98 p225 p259 prophetic authorization, 63 Vajrayina, 14, 1.7, nt48 p241 prophetic empowerment, vehicle, 6) adamantine, n148 P241 recitation, 103, n124 p236 of Hearers or DiscipJes, 14 of Termas, 63 of seekels of enlightenment, three common, 49 14 of Silent Buddhas or SeUthree uncommon, 49 triple-body, 6o Buddhas, 14 triple gem, 114, n16o P244 virtues, ten,123, n213 p253 vision, triple vajras, 147, JUSO p259 truth, ordinary experiential, 165 absolute, 20, 22, 23 psychic, 13.z, 165, nu6 p255 conventional, 20, 21, 22 pure, 61, 101, 165, n9s p224 relative %0, 22 of symbolic script, 88 vow-holders, 105, n135 p238 two,22,2),24·3l·34 two superior, 34 twenty-five, king and subjects set King and 25 subjects. wanderer, ascetic, 73 wisdom, t6, 26 accumulation, of, 26 ultimate mind, magical disQikinis,51 play of,Js deity, 1)5,11238 p257 self-appearances, 36 of disaiminating awareultimate sphere, ness, ..zo, 21 compassion of, JS free from elaboration, emptiness of, )5 insight, 38 nature of, 35 minor-like, n182 P247 union of bliss and emptiness, spontaneously arisen, 35 worldly deities, three cate17 of bliss, clarity&: emptiness, gories of, uS, nt86 p248

2'

17 universal ground, 32

vajra, triple, 34, n2so p259

Yima(s), resultant, 17 three,14

290 Index Yoga(s), branch,tt6 heart or essence, u6

2.

root, 116 yoginis,four,121

TECHNICAL TERMS IN TIBETAN AND SANSKRIT

Abhidharma,ts, .38 Abhisekha, 93, nto6 p~29 Abhyantaravarga, nt)8 p~)9 Agama,117 Amfta, ntsi p2.42, n259 p261 )unuyoga,t7,J9·48 A'odgSal Gyi Khams, 107

A'od gSal Gyi mKhyen Ch'11, 164

A'od gS11l Gyi dGongs Pa, 107 A 'od dSal gNyug Ma'i Rig Pa, to6 Anuttarayoga, 39, u;, n171 P245 Atiyoga, 17, 39, 48, n174 P245

B11bs So, 101 B11g Ch'11gs, 132, n1o4 pu7 dBang,9J,tOJ a'811ngs, n114 p2,31, n115 p2J4 Bhlimipila, 0155 p242 Bhur bhu va, 105, ntJt p2.37 Bodhisattva, 16, 93, 102, ntt8 p2J5 Bodhisattvayina, 1.4 Bong Nga, 152 Brahmi, rutz p.z.;3 'Bras Bu'i Dus, 148 Byin rLabs, 1.o8

Cakra, n152 p242

Cakrasaritvara mal)4ala, tzt Caryiyoga, 17,39 Chag gya, n152 p~ IChags Kyu, 130 Chang Chub Sem pa see Bodhisattva Che chog Dud tsi Yon ten, ntOJ p226 Chig dril, 116, n1.8o p246 Chi nyed pa Kh.yeo pa, n217 P2 53 Chi pung, u6, nt77 p246 Chir mi Dog pa, n266 p262 Chi ta wa Khyen pa, n217 P2SJ Cho dag, tOt, 162, nto.z pu6 Cholug,37

Ch'os Kyi dNgos Grub, ro6 Ch'os Nyid gNyug Ma, 9, 164 Chud len, 119, nt88 p248 Cittamitrin, t6 Cittavarga, n138 p239

a'Dab gTer, 113 brD11 gZhan, rutS p254 Dag sNang, 095 p224 brDa brGyud, 101, n99 p.z.z; Qikas, 114 Qikini, tO), 114, Rl25 p2)6 Dam chen, n135 p238 Dam Tshig, 114, 155, nt6t

P244

Technical Terms in Tibetan 11nd Sanskrit 291 brD11 a'Phrod, 108 gD11ms Khrid, to& Daubala, n248 p258 DaSakusalakanna, 11213 p253 brDa Yig, nt40 p24o Dhannadhatu 30 Dharmakiya, 30, JS mDo sDe, n144 p24o, n145 p2.f1, see 11lso Sutra Dom,75 Don brGyud, 1o8 Dor je Phur pa, 52, 117, n103 p226, see also Vajrakila Dor je Theg pa, n148 P241 Drag sNgags, 119 Drom bu, n126 p2J7• see also

Gyal wa Gong gyud, n98 pns

lftadevata, nt8J p247 Jambudvipa, n199 p250 Jam pal Shin je shed, n103

pn6 a'Tigs rTen P11'i sDe gSum, uS, nt86 p248

Jig ten Chod tad, ntOJ p226 Jig ten Wang chug, n175 p246 Jiiina, n217 p253 Jnana J;)akini, nus p236 )ung wa Zhi; n159 P244

gTersGrom Drub chen Gyed, n187 p248 Drub pa Ka gyed, n103 p226 Drub thab, n151 p241 Dud Ion, n26o p261 Dud tsi,n152P2.f2,D259 p261

gDung, 98 Du tha, n122 p236

Dzam bu ling, n199 p250 rDzogs pa ch'en po 41, 124, n91 P%24• n109 p2JO, et passim, see also Mahisandhi rDzogs Rim, to6, ngt P224• nt)6p238

Ka bab Chu wo Dun, 11281

p264

bKa' Bt~bs Lung bsTan, 104 bKa'Lung,103 bKII'Ma, 101, n91 p224, n93

P224

Kang wa, n255 p26o I