Toh 459The Later Secret Tantra, The Wrathful Thought of the Vajra

An Exposition of the Tantra “The Root Lion of Space—The Wrathful Thought of the Vajra”

Background

The Vajracaṇḍacittaguhyatantrottara (The Later Secret Tantra of the Wrathful Thought of the Vajra) is one of the important tantric scriptures of the Vajrayāna tradition preserved in the Kangyur—the collection of Tibetan translations of Buddhist scriptures. This tantra is the “later” or supplementary section (uttara) of the cycle of teachings associated with the Vajra Maṇḍala, in which the teachings are expanded and penetrate more deeply into subtle systems of practice.

In the tantric tradition, “wrath” (caṇḍa) is not petty anger, but the power to master the mind—a spiritual form of anger transformed into the strength to destroy inner obstacles. The “root lion of space” symbolizes the primordial mind unobscured by ignorance. In its tantric context, this scripture focuses on how to activate the powers hidden deep within consciousness through the force of sanctified wrathful awareness.

Main Content

This tantra continues and deepens the teachings concerning wrathful yidams (deities of tantric practice). Instead of regarding wrath as a negative condition, Tantra transforms it into a powerful spiritual instrument. The power of wrathful awareness (caṇḍa-citta) is used to:

First, shatter ignorance and every form of mental disposition (āśaya-vāsanā)—the latent tendencies that perpetuate saṃsāra. Second, swiftly invoke the power of accomplishment (siddhi) through ritual practices (kriyā) and visualization, helping practitioners transform their nature (prakṛti) into buddhahood. Third, establish a firm bond (samaya) with protective deities (ḍākinīs and bodhisattvas) to safeguard Dharma practice.

The tantra emphasizes that true power does not arise from spiritual violence, but from clearly understanding the empty nature (śūnyatā) and selflessness (anātman) of all phenomena.