Toh 418The Hevajra Tantra [Part 2: Illusion]
Pāli / Sanskrit:Hevajratantra
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Commentary on the Hevajra Tantra — Part II: Illusion
Background
The Hevajra Tantra (Toh 418) is one of the most important scriptures of Vajrayana tantra, within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Hevajra (Heruka in some contexts) is a manifested deity of Buddha Shakyamuni, symbolizing the union of unborn and undying wisdom with universal compassion. Part II of this tantra, with the theme “Illusion,” focuses on the illusory nature of all phenomena and the path of practice connected with this understanding.
The Hevajra Tantra is highly regarded in the Eastern Tibetan traditions (the Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug schools) as a profound causal ground: an advanced tantric Dharma requiring the cultivation of proper capacity and the guidance of an authentic spiritual master (guru). Part II goes especially deeply into the philosophy of the illusory nature of the cosmos and consciousness, called Māyā-satya, the truth of illusion.
Main Content
Part II of the Hevajra Tantra teaches that the entire universe, including pure realms, deities, and even our own body, speech, and mind, has an illusory nature, like a magician who creates enchanting but unreal images. There is no absolute distinction between phenomena and space, between what creates and what is created.
The tantra teaches that when practicing Hevajra through visualization meditation, the practitioner should not cling to the image as absolute reality, nor should it be regarded as completely nonexistent. This is a distinctive tantric Middle Way (Madhyamaka): it acknowledges the appearance of Hevajra, with two faces, sixteen arms, weapons, and an embrace within a ring of fire, while at the same time recognizing that these are manifestations of unborn and undying mind, emptiness (śūnyatā).
This section also teaches inner transformation: when the practitioner trusts that the entire universe, including oneself, is a manifestation of Hevajra, the mind is liberated from clinging and from attachment to objects. This is called “practice in subtle essence” (subtle practice).
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