Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary)
by Gyurme Dorje | 1987 | 304,894 words
The English translation of the Guhyagarbha Tantra, including Longchenpa's commentary from the 14th century. The whole work is presented as a critical investigation into the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, of which the Guhyagarbhatantra is it's principle text. It contains twenty-two chapters teaching the essence and practice of Mahayoga, which s...
Chapter 8 - Consecration of All Limbs as the Ѳṇḍ
[Full title: Consecration of All Limbs as the Ѳṇḍ and the Subsequent Emanation of the Seals]
Then all the ղٳ岵ٲ uttered this meaningful expression which is said to consecrate spontaneously all the limbs as the maṇḍala. [1]
Manifestly perfect through the Magical Net,
All things are (sealed by) the seal of supreme enlightenment.
This seal of the Secret Nucleus Definitive
With Respect to the Real is hard to transcend. [2]The union (which comes about) through combination
Of two sets of five, namely.
The syllables on the solar disks of ṣoⲹ
And the syllables on the lunar disks of Ratnasambhava,
Is the causal basis for the emergence of seals or hand-emblems. [3]The two syllables O� and MŪ� unite at their (finger)-tips;
And the (remaining) eight seed-syllables conjoin,
Meeting at their (finger)-tips.
They form the seal granting supreme bliss.
In which all conquerors are equipoised. [4]Four seed-syllables are concealed and cohere at his heart.
On his raised (finger)–tip with the syllable HŪ�
Appears a blazing vajra.
Restrained on their lunar disks are the concealed
Seed-syllables which ring a bell
And, with an embrace, support it on "reality�. [5]Four seed-syllables are concealed and cohere at her heart.
On her raised (finger)–tip with the syllable MŪ�
A ringing bell blazes forth.
On solar disks five seed-syllables embrace "activity".
And bowing, she looks on with a smiling demeanour. [6]Four seed-syllables are concealed and cohere at his heart.
On his raised (finger)–tip with the syllable O� is a blazing wheel.
Restrained on their lunar disks are the concealed
Seed-syllables which ring a bell.
And with an embrace support it on "reality". [7]Four seed-syllables are concealed and cohere at her heart.
On her raised (finger)–tip with the syllable LĀ�,
A ringing bell blazes forth.
On solar disks five seed-syllables embrace "activity".
And bowing, she looks on with a smiling demeanour. [8]Four seed-syllables are concealed and cohere at his heart.
On his raised (finger)-tip with the syllable SVĀ is a blazing gem.
Restrained on their lunar disks are the concealed
Seed-syllables which ring a bell.
And with an embrace support it on "reality�. [9]Four seed-syllables are concealed and cohere at her heart.
On her raised (finger)-tip with the syllable M�,
A ringing bell blazes forth.
On solar disks five seed-syllables embrace "activity�.
And bowing, she looks on with a smiling demeanour. [10]Four seed-syllables are concealed and cohere at his heart.
On his raised (finger)–tip with the syllable Ā� is a blazing lotus.
Restrained on their lunar disks are the concealed
Seed-syllables which ring a bell.
And with an embrace support it on "reality". [11]Four seed-syllables are concealed and cohere at her heart.
On her raised (finger)–tip with the syllable PĀ�,
A ringing bell blazes forth.
On solar disks five seed-syllables embrace "activity",
And bowing, she looks on with a smiling demeanour. [12]Four seed-syllables are concealed and cohere at his heart.
On his raised (finger)–tip with the syllable HĀ is a blazing sword.
Restrained on their lunar disks are the concealed
Seed-syllables which ring a bell.
And with an embrace support it on "reality". [13]Four seed-syllables are concealed and cohere at her heart.
On her raised (finger)-tip with the syllable T�,
A ringing bell blazes forth.
On solar disks five seed-syllables embrace "activity",
And bowing, she looks on with a smiling demeanour. [14]Then there are the symbolic hand-emblems.
Which begin with the night lotus and the orange tree�
Namely, the shoot of gems, the blazing sword.
The white lotus, the blazing vajra,
The doctrinal wheel, and the corn-ear of gems.
And there are the beauteous form, the garland of gems,
The lute and the supreme dancing gesture.
The flower-garland, the supreme incense,
The butter-lamp, the scented oil and so forth.
(The female Bodhisattvas) embrace "activity"
And (the male Bodhisattvas) support (a bell) on "reality".
Their heads are tilted and bowed.
As in the case of the aforementioned great seal.
They embrace in the disposition of the non-dual expanse. [15]The seals or hand-emblems of the wrathful deities
At the four gates are respectively
The cudgel surmounted by human skulls which is brandished.
The vajra which subjugates,
The skull with large snakes which subjugates,
The crossed-vajra which subjugates through activity.
The iron hook, the lasso, the iron chain, and the bell.
Abiding at the four gates,
These (deities) bow and embrace in the previous manner. [16]The six sages have diverse seals.
When subsumed, they number six seals.
Their female consort is the non-referential expanse of reality.[17]Samantabhadra is meditatively equipoised.
His pristine cognitions diffused.
The one who is his female consort
Is perfect in sameness.
And seated in the lotus posture. [18]There are, moreover, diverse modes of seal or hand-emblem�
Alternatively, the very (seals should be applied)
Of their (respective) ղٳ岵ٲ,
Or the gesture of the "indestructible palms". [19]If the supreme provision of the great seal
Is encountered by one of skillful means and discriminative awareness.
There is neither stirring nor movement.
All things in their entirety
Abide in the disposition of the great seal. [20]The limbs (of the central deity)
Are endowed with the forty-two (deities). [21]These themselves emanate limbs.
And the forty-two then become diffused threefold. [22](Illustrated) by the supreme central deity
Who is endowed in this way.
The conquerors and the supreme conqueror
Are similarly endowed.
As are the twelve (surrounding pairs of Bodhisattvas).
And the six (sages) who have a diffusion of blazing light. [23]
Including these, (the maṇḍala) is inconceivable. [24]In the unthinkable ten directions and four times
The purposes of training are differently revealed. [25]
As all the vehicles—high and low,
As the erroneous and unthinkably (numerous beings).
And as all great assemblies of peaceful & wrathful deities.
They are everywhere perceived, differently
And corresponding (to volition). [26]As, for example, in the case of a dancer,
This diverse (movement) is revealed
But not depicted in Isolation
From the body (of pristine cognition). [27]In brief, all seals or hand-emblems
Cannot be described as "this" or as "merely one�.
But they are emanated twice and thrice.
This movement & emanation are indeed the real nature. [28]In brief, all movement and stirring in their entirety
Abide in the disposition of the great seal,
But their abiding nature does not abide.
Indeed there is no such abiding at all.
—Such was explained by the pure supreme one himself. [29]
This completes the eighth chapter from the Secret Nucleus Definitive with respect to The Real, entitled the Consecration of All Limbs as the Ѳṇḍ and the Subsequent Emanation of the Seals or Hand-Emblems. [30]