Essay name: Hevajra Tantra (analytical study)
Author:
Seung Ho Nam
Affiliation: University of Kerala / Faculty of Oriental Studies
This is an English study of the Hevajra Tantra: an ancient Sanskrit text that teaches the process of attaining Buddha-hood for removing the sufferings of all sentient beings. The Hevajratantra amplifies the views and methods found in the Guhyasamaja Tantra (one of the earliest extant Buddhist Tantras) dealing with Yoga and Mandalas.
Chapter 3 - Tantric Doctrine in Hevajra Tantra
22 (of 138)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
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[HT] The perfected yogis neither hold dear nor have contempt for any one. All
beings belong to the families of the Five Buddhas but by the fact that beings are
embodied they appear as relative and limited. (II.11.8) 183
While in Ratnagotravibh膩ga, the Tath膩gata's Gotra of the practitioner
is decided on the basis of his or her disposition and then accordingly
placed under the lineage of 艢ravakas, Pratyekas or Bodhisattvas.
Hevajra Tantra, also brings to focus the Caste system which is basis
of Indian social system. It propagates how the members of each caste
with their particular inclinations and traits can attain spiritual
advancement with the practise of "Hevajra Tantra. The fact that the
discrimination of the castes is superficial is emphasised in the following
extracts. This also proves that the seed of the Buddha if understood as
the "Emptiness of the Mind" and is the "Innate Primordial Clear Light
Mind:" it is present equally in all beings irrespective of their caste and
creed. So not only Brahmin, Ksatriya, Vai艣ya, and Sudra, but also the
fifth caste, the untouchables can achive spiritual heights by the non
discriminative Hevajra Tantra, practise.
[HT] Even those untouchable Ca峁囜笉膩las and other outcastes and those whose
minds are intent on living for slaughter will attain accomplishment if they follow the
Hevajra method, of this there is no doubt. (II.4.77)184
[HT] The one who performs the Heruka yoga interacts with all the five castes. He
conceives of the five castes unified as one caste because he does not distinguish
between one or many castes. (1.6.4)185
[commentary] 'Interacts' refers to the interacting with people, receiving alms and...
so on. 'Five castes' refers particularly to those of the lower castes. Or else 'five
182 dehin膩m svakulam vak峁e praj帽膩p膩ramite 艣rnu//2/ an膩mik膩m奴le yasya striyo v膩
puru峁sya v膩/ nava艣奴kam bhaved vajra ak峁bhyakulam uttamam//3/ vairocanasya
bhavec cakram amit膩bhasya pankajam/ ratnasambhavo mah膩ratnam khadgam
karmakulasya ca/4// (HT[F&M]., p.289)
183 jantavo n膩bhimantavy膩 na vihethy膩 yogap膩ragai岣�/ tath膩gat膩n膩m kul膩s te sy奴
r眉pam 盲艣ritya s膩mv峁泃am//8// (HT[F&M]., p.290)
184 can岣嵞乴ace峁囜笉ak膩r膩dy膩 m膩ra峁嚹乺thacittak膩岣�/ te 'pi hevajram 膩gamya sidhyante
n膩tra samsaya岣�// (HT[F&M]., p.231)
185 herukayogasya pumso vih膩ra岣� pa帽cavar峁噀峁/ pa帽cavar峁嘺sam膩yuktam ekavar峁嘺m
tu kalpitam/anekenaikavarnena yasm膩d bhedo na lak峁ate// (HT[F&M]., p.62)
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