Toh 1520Untitled

An Explanation of a Tantric Scripture — Toh 1520

Background

This scripture belongs to the Kangyur Tantras, a collection of fundamental practices of the Tantric Vajrayāna tradition. In Tibetan Buddhism, the Kangyur is regarded as the direct teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni and other Buddhas, translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan from the seventh century onward. The Tantras section especially contains secret instructions, transmitted from teacher to disciple through the solemn process of empowerment (abhiṣeka).

Tantric Vajrayāna, also called the Secret Mantra Vehicle (Guhya-mantra-yāna), signifies the swiftest path to enlightenment in Mahayana Buddhism. Unlike the Sutra Vehicle, which relies on the creation of wholesome karma, Tantra uses practices of transformation to take desire and ignorance themselves as means of cultivation, in order to attain Buddhahood in one lifetime or within a few lives.

Main Contents

Although the title of this scripture has not been fully provided, based on the context of the Tantras collection, this scripture contains instructions on Tantric cosmology of the maṇḍala, the attainment of sacred powers (siddhi), or the stages of graded practice.

Similar scriptures in the Kangyur often present core elements: (1) the absolute image of a Buddha or noble being (iṣṭa-devatā) at the center of the maṇḍala, symbolizing the Buddha-mind of one’s own ground; (2) the steps of practice from the creation phase to the completion phase; (3) mantras and visual forms used to activate innate power.

All these teachings are directed toward a single aim: the direct realization that all phenomena are without self-nature (śūnyatā), and the transformation of one’s mind into the great fruition of Buddhahood.