Toh 402The Tantra of the Ornament of the Charnel Ground

AN EXPLANATION OF THE TANTRA OF THE ORNAMENT OF THE CHARNEL GROUND

Śmaśānālaṃkāratantra in the Vajrayāna Tradition

Background

The “Tantra of the Ornament of the Charnel Ground” (Śmaśānālaṃkāratantra) belongs to the Tantra section of the Kangyur and is one of the excellent esoteric scriptures of the tantric, Vajrayāna tradition. This sutra is classified as Yoga Tantra or Anuttarayoga Tantra according to different traditional classifications. It preserves symbols and methods of practice connected with the transformation of spiritual energy in extreme circumstances.

The word “Śmaśāna” (ཐ་སྤེ་གནས།) refers to the “charnel ground,” a place for contemplating impermanence and the emptiness of phenomena. In Tantra, the charnel ground is not only a physical place but also a spiritual symbol of the place that chastens impermanence, where all ordinary concepts are utterly destroyed. “Ālaṃkāra” (བརྒྱན།) means “ornament” or “adornment,” that is, spiritual elements arranged to adorn awakening. Therefore, this sutra speaks of transforming dark and difficult places into pure Buddha-realms through the power of wisdom and compassion.

Main Content

This sutra teaches esoteric ritual practices (sādhana) connected with Buddhas or bodhisattvas of wrathful nature, for the purpose of transforming negative forces into merit. Through recitations (mantra), detailed visualization, and sacred pledges (samaya), practitioners are taught how to enter the meditative state of a powerful protective deity.

The practices in this sutra include establishing a mental altar (maṇḍala), invoking the deities, joining this with particular recitations, and performing symbolic actions to accumulate merit (puṇya) and wisdom (jñāna). Mental states such as wrath and fear, emotions usually regarded as obstacles on the path of purity, are transformed into instruments for cutting off the roots of afflictions and ignorance.