Toh 391The Tantra of Great Power

Exposition of the Mahābalatantra Sutra — Vajrayana Tantra

Background

The Mahābalatantra (The Sutra of Great Tantric Power) is found in the Kangyur, the collection of the new tantras of Tibetan Buddhism. It is one of the important tantric scriptures of the Vajrayana tradition, reflecting the distinctive cosmological thought and practice of realization found in Tantra.

According to the Tibetan tradition, this sutra was taught by Buddha Shakyamuni in a Buddha realm or in an exalted meditative state, where the Dharma goes beyond the understanding of ordinary human beings. Such esoteric teachings are transmitted only to disciples who are ready, through a process of secret question and answer and gradual spiritual cultivation.

The title “Mahābalatantra” means “Great Power,” referring to the transcendent powers that a practitioner can develop through the practice of esoteric Dharma, especially sādhana (contemplative practice) with deities or sacred beings (yidam, iṣṭa-devatā) in the tantric system.

Main content

Although the detailed content of this sutra has not yet been fully translated into Vietnamese from the original Tibetan, we may understand that, in keeping with the conventions of Vajrayana tantric scriptures, the Mahābalatantra focuses on the following points:

First, this sutra teaches the Manifestation of Cosmic Power, the concept that the entire universe is permeated by transcendent powers (shakti). Through sacred visualization and recitation (mantra), the disciple does not seek or rely upon an external power, but opens the latent powers within his or her own consciousness.

Second, this sutra is connected with sādhana practice, a process consisting of four stages: the arising of bodhicitta, integration (samaya), deity visualization (deity yoga) with corresponding mantras, and finally union (yoga) with the formless nature of reality.

Third, this sutra emphasizes the Role of the Guru (the guiding teacher), an indispensable element in Tantra.