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...
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Text 20.3 (Commentary)
[Guhyagarbha-Tantra, Text section 20.3]
A symbolic representation (of the victim),
With the five nectars or five edibles.
Should be prepared with the name attached.
Once (the victim) has been summoned.
Stab the effigy with the ī of indestructible reality�
Reduced to atomic particles,
It should be offered to the assembled host. [3][Tibetan]
bdud-rtsi lnga-'am zas-lnga-la /
mtshan-ma ming-du bcas-par-bya /
bkug-nas rdo-rje phur-pas gdab /
rdul-du byas-nas tshogs-la dbul / [3]
Commentary:
[The second section is the rite of the stabbing ī (which comments on Ch. 20.3):]
A symbolic representation (mtshan-ma) or effigy of the victim should be (-nar-bya) prepared (bcas) from materials which include soil from the footprints fresh with the scent of the victim mixed with the five nectars or (bdud-rtsi lnga 'am) the five edibles (zas-lnga-la), i.e., the flesh of fish, molasses, dark sesame, honey and rice. That form should bear the Inscriptions of the victim's name (ming-du) attached to its forehead, of the clanname attached to its heart, and with the appropriate lifesupporting talisman and the syllables MĀRAYA PHA� attached to its genitals.[1] One should draw on bark, cotton or paper a surrounding series of syllables JA�, which effect the summons, and insert that inside (the effigy) or else attach it back and front, whichever is appropriate.[2] Once the actual victim has been summoned (bkug-nas) by means of mantras, contemplations and seals, one should visually created one's ī, made of iron and so forth, as Vajraī, the ī of indestructible reality (rdo-rje phur), and stab the effigy (gdab) with (-pas) it in the heart and so on.[3] Visualising that the body and speech (of the victim) are reduced to atomic particles (rdul-du byas-nas), it should be offered (dbul) as a burnt offering to the assembled host (tshogs-la) of Karma Heruka or to the assembled host of the deity of the 6 wrathful rite who was previously visualised in the hearth.
[The third is the rite of the dance-steps of oppression (which comments on Ch. 20.4):]
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Footnotes and references:
[1]:
The syllables MĀRAYA PHA� express the wrathful rite. See above, p. 786. On the significance of the "life-supporting talisman" (bla-btags / bla-gnas), which is a magical means of personal protection often in the form of a fierce animal, see the life of gNyags Jñānakumāra in NSTB, Book 2, Pt. 5. pp. 281-289. and note; also Nebesky-Wojkowitz, Oracles and Demons of Tibet, pp. 173-174. 481-483.
[2]:
"The syllables which effect the summons" ('gugs-byed-kyi yi-ge).
[3]:
The wrathful rite is effected by Vajraī in the form of an iron material ī. Cf.. p. 1262, the rite of subjugation effected by Padmaī in the form of a copper material ī: p. 1263-1264, the rite of enrichment effected by Ratnaī in the form of a sold material ī: and p. 1265. the rite of pacification effected by Buddhaī in the form of a silver material ī.