The Ground of the Great Perfection 43 The Extraordinary Path of Practice of the Great Perfection 51 The Ultimate Result, the Kayas and Wisdoms 61 Chapter 13 The Quintessence of the Three Paths by Longchen Yeshe Dorje, Kangyur Rinpoche The Extraordinary Path of Beings of Great Scope The Hidden Teachings of the Path Expounded in the Vajrayana, the Vehicle of Secret Mantra and the Short Path of the Natural Great Perfection chapter 10 The Teachings of the Vidya ̄dharas 83 1. The transmission lineages of the Vajrayana 83 1. The main subject of the text 85 2. The difference between the vehicles of sutra and of mantra (1–2) 85 2. The classification of the tantras 93 3. A general classification of the tantras into four classes (3) 93 3. An explanation of the three classes of the outer tantras 99 4. A general exposition (4) 99 4. An exposition dealing specifically with the three classes of the outer tantras 100 5. The difference between the Kriyatantra and the Charyatantra (5) 100 5. The Kriyatantra or action tantra (6) 100 5. The Charyatantra or conduct tantra (7) 103 5. The Yogatantra (8, 9) 104 3. An explanation of the inner tantras 106

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   4. A general explanation (10) 106

4. A specific explanation of the three inner tantras (11) 107 2. An exposition of the Anuttara or highest tantra 108 3. A short general description of the path (12) 108 3. A detailed explanation of the actual path of practice of the highest tantras 109 4. The practice related to the cause tantra or continuum of the universal ground: the view, meditation, conduct, and result (13) 109 4. The practice of the path tantra of skillful means: the maturing empowerment and the liberating stages of generation and perfection, together with the support provided by samaya 112 5. A brief exposition (14) 112 5. A detailed explanation 112 6. Empowerment that brings to maturity 112 7. The need for empowerment (15–16) 112 7. An exposition of the character of authentic teachers and authentic disciples (17–18) 114 7. An explanation of the actual empowerment 116 8. The preparatory stages of the empowerment (19) 116 8. The empowerment itself 117 9. A short outline concerning empowerments in general 117 10. Empowerments classified according to the four classes of tantra (20–21) 117 10. An explanation of the causes and conditions whereby empowerment is received (22–23) 123 10. An explanation of the reason why four empowerments are necessary (24) 125 9. A specific explanation of the four empowerments 126 10. The essence of the four empowerments 126 11. A brief explanation (25) 126 11. A detailed explanation of the four empowerments 127 12. The vase empowerment (26–28) 127 12. The secret empowerment (29–30) 128 12. The wisdom empowerment (31–32) 130 12. The fourth empowerment or word empowerment (33–34) 131 10. The meaning of the term ‘‘empowerment’’ (35) 132 10. Empowerments related to the cause, path, and result (36) 133 8. The benefits of receiving empowerments (37) 134 6. An explanation of the path of the liberating stages of generation and perfection 135 x contents

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   7. The generation stage 135

8. A short exposition (38) 135 8. A detailed exposition of the generation stage 135 9. Purification, perfection, and ripening (39) 135 9. A specific explanation of the purification of the propensities related to the four types of birth 136 10. The generation-stage practice that purifies birth from an egg 136 11. A detailed explanation (40–43) 136 11. A short explanation (44) 139 10. The generation-stage practice that purifies birth from a womb 139 11. The generation-stage practice performed through the four factors of awakening (45–46) 139 11. The generation-stage practice performed through the three vajra methods (47) 141 11. The generation-stage practice performed through the five factors of awakening 142 12. A general explanation of the correspondence between the ground and the result (48) 142 12. A specific explanation of the five factors of awakening of the path (49–54) 143 10. The generation-stage practice that purifies birth from warmth and moisture (55) 146 10. The generation-stage practice that purifies miraculous birth (56) 146 10. Conclusion 147 9. The three concentrations, the basis of the generation stage (57) 147 10. The four ‘‘life-fastening’’ nails (58) 148 9. Progress through the grounds and paths of realization (59–60) 152 7. The perfection stage 154 8. A brief explanation (61–62) 154 8. A detailed explanation 155 9. The perfection stage with visual forms 155 10. An explanation of the aggregate of the vajra body 155 11. An explanation of the aggregate of the vajra body according to the general tantra tradition 155 12. A short explanation (63) 155 12. A detailed explanation 155 contents xi

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   xii contents

13. The stationary channels (64–66) 155 13. The chakras or channel-wheels (67–72) 157 13. The mobile winds on the outer, inner, and secret levels 160 14. The winds on the outer level (73–75) 160 14. The winds on the inner level (76) 162 14. The winds on the secret level 163 13. The positioned bodhichitta (77–78) 163 12. Conclusion (79–80) 164 11. An explanation of the aggregate of the vajra body according to the tradition of the Mayajala, as explained in the Secret Heart-Essence (81–86) 165 10. An explanation of the actual perfection stage 169 11. The skillful path of one’s own body (87) 169 11. The skillful path of the consort’s body (88) 178 9. The perfection stage that is without visual forms (89) 178 7. Conclusion: The benefits of the generation and perfection stages (90) 179 6. Samaya, the favorable condition for progress on the path 179 7. A brief explanation (91) 179 7. A detailed explanation 180 8. The categories of samaya 180 9. The general vows of the Anuttaratantras 180 10. The distinction between ‘‘samaya’’ and ‘‘vow’’ (92) 180 10. The individual considered as the basis of samaya (93) 181 10. Factors productive of a complete downfall (94–95) 181 10. How the samayas are to be observed (96–98) 182 10. The violation of the samayas 183 11. An explanation of the fourteen root downfalls (99–112) 183 11. An explanation of the category of infractions 190 12. The eight infractions (113–17) 190 12. Other categories of infraction (118) 191 11. The textual sources describing the downfalls (119) 192 10. How damaged samaya is repaired 192 11. Why it is necessary to restore samaya (120) 192 11. The repairing of damaged samaya (121–24) 193 9. An explanation of the samayas according to the General Scripture of Summarized Wisdom, the Mayajala-tantra, and the tradition of the Mind, the Great Perfection 195 10. The samayas according to the General Scripture of Summarized Wisdom (125) 195

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   10. The samayas according to the Mayajala (126–29) 197

10. The samayas according to the tradition of the Mind, the Great Perfection 205 11. The samayas of ‘‘nothing to keep’’ (130) 205 11. The samayas of ‘‘something to keep’’ 208 12. The root samayas (131–34) 208 12. The branch samayas (135–36) 213 9. An explanation of the twenty-five modes of conduct and of the vows of the five enlightened families 216 10. The twenty-five modes of conduct (137) 216 10. The vows connected with the five enlightened families 217 11. General vows (138) 217 11. The special vows of the five enlightened families (139–43) 218 8. The repairing of damaged samaya 222 9. The individual considered as the basis of the vow (144) 222 9. The causes of damaged samaya and the connected antidotes (145–46) 222 9. The repairing of damaged samaya 223 8. 8. 10. Why it is easy to repair damaged samaya (147–48) 223 10. The methods of repairing broken samayas 224 11. Repairing the broken samayas of body, speech, and mind (149) 224 11. Repairing deteriorated samayas that have exceeded the time period for confession (150–51) 225 11. Other ways of repairing deteriorated samayas (152–53) 225 The defects resulting from the degeneration of samaya (154) 228 The benefits resulting from a pure observance of the samayas 228 chapter 11 1. A brief explanation of the ground of the Great Perfection (1–2) 231 1. A detailed explanation of the ground of the Great Perfection 232 2. An explanation of the common ground of samsara and nirvana 232 3. An explanation of the ground itself 232 4. A general explanation of the fundamental nature of the ground (3–4) 232 4. An explanation of the various assertions made about the ground (5–6) 233 4. Adetailedexplanationofthegroundaccordingtoourownunmistaken tradition (7–11) 234 contents xiii The Ground of the Great Perfection 231

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   3. An explanation of the appearances of the ground 237

4. A general explanation of the manner of their arising (12) 237 4. The eight ways in which the appearances of the ground arise (13–14) 238 2. The freedom of Samantabhadra 240 3. The way Samantabhadra is free in the dharmakaya (15) 240 3. How the sambhogakaya buddhafields manifest (16) 242 3. How the nirmanakaya accomplishes the benefit of beings (17–19) 242 2. How beings become deluded 244 3. The causes and conditions of their delusion (20–23) 244 3. The manner in which delusion occurs (24–25) 247 3. Distinguishing between mind and appearance (26–29) 248 chapter 12 The Extraordinary Path of Practice of the Great Perfection 251 1. A brief explanation (1–2) 251 1. A detailed explanation 252 2. The distinctive features of the path of the Great Perfection 252 3. The superiority of the Great Perfection as compared with other paths (3–5) 252 3. The particular features of the three inner classes of the Great Perfection (6) 254 2. An explanation of the actual path of the Great Perfection 255 3. The ways of subsiding or freedom 255 4. How one is to understand that there is nothing to be freed (7) 255 4. A specific explanation of the individual modes of subsiding or ‘‘states of openness and freedom’’ (8) 256 3. An explanation of the ten distinctions 257 4. Distinguishing awareness from the ordinary mind (9–11) 257 4. Distinguishing awareness from the ordinary mind in relation to stillness (12) 258 4. Distinguishing awareness from the ordinary mind with reference to unfolding creative power (13) 259 4. Distinguishing awareness from the ordinary mind with reference to the mode of subsiding or freedom (14–15) 260 4. Distinguishing the universal ground from the dharmakaya (16) 261 4. Distinguishing the state of delusion from the state of freedom (17) 262 4. Distinguishing the ground from the result with reference to spontaneous presence (18) 262 4. Distinguishing the path from the result with reference to primordial purity (19) 263 xiv contents

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   4. Distinguishing the deities appearing in the bardo (20) 263

4. Distinguishing the buddhafields that give release (21) 264 3. An explanation of the key points of the practice 265 4. The practice of those who perceive everything as the self-experience of awareness 265 5. Trekcho ̈, the path of primordial purity 265 6. The view that severs the continuum of the city (of samsara) (22) 265 6. Meditation is the self-subsiding (of thoughts) through the absence of all clinging (23) 266 6. Conduct that overpowers appearances (24) 266 6. The result is the actual nature (the dharmakaya) beyond all exertion (25) 267 5. The particularity of tho ̈gal, the practice of spontaneous presence (26–27) 268 4. The practice of those who perceive appearances in the manner of sense objects 269 5. Sustaining meditative equipoise with shamatha and vipashyana 269 6. A brief explanation (28–29) 269 6. A more detailed explanation (30–31) 270 6. A short account of the union of shamatha and vipashyana (32–33) 271 5. Bringing thoughts onto the path (34–35) 272 1. Conclusion of the chapter (36–37) 274 chapter 13 The Great Result That Is Spontaneously Present 277 1. The result is not produced by extraneous causes (1–2) 277 1. A detailed explanation of the five kayas 278 2. The three kayas of inner luminosity of the ultimate expanse 278 3. An explanation of the three kayas 278 4. The vajrakaya, the unchanging and indestructible body (3) 278 4. The abhisambodhikaya, the body of manifest enlightenment (4) 279 4. The dharmakaya, the body of peaceful ultimate reality (5) 280 3. From the standpoint of ultimate reality, the three kayas of inner luminosity cannot be differentiated 280 4. The three kayas of inner luminosity are not objects of the ordinary mind (6) 280 4. The manner in which the three kayas of inner luminosity dwell in the dharmadhatu (7) 281 2. An explanation of the two kayas of outwardly radiating luminosity 282 3. An explanation of the sambhogakaya 282 contents xv

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   4. The sambhogakaya in which the ground and the result are not separate 282

5. A brief explanation (8) 282 5. A detailed explanation of the five perfections of the sambhogakaya 282 6. The perfection of the place (9–10) 282 6. The perfection of the time 284 6. The perfection of the Teacher 284 6. The perfection of the retinue (11) 285 6. The perfection of the teaching 285 4. The sambhogakaya of the spontaneously present result 286 5. The peaceful mandala of the upper palace (12) 286 5. The wrathful mandala of the lower palace (13–17) 287 4. A summary of the sambhogakaya in which the ground and result are not separate, together with the sambhogakaya of the spontaneously present result (18–19) 292 3. An explanation of the nirmanakaya 293 4. A brief explanation (20) 293 4. A detailed explanation 294 5. The nirmanakaya of luminous character 294 6. The nirmanakaya of luminous character that is counted as the sambhogakaya (in the vehicle of the paramitas) 294 7. A brief explanation 294 7. A detailed explanation in six points 294 8. The place (21) 294 8. The Teachers 295 8. The primordial wisdoms (22) 295 8. The retinue (23) 296 8. The time (24) 298 8. The defilements to be purified (25) 298 7. Conclusion (26) 299 6. The nirmanakaya of indwelling luminous character 300 7. The actual nirmanakaya of indwelling luminous character 300 8. A brief explanation of the nirmanakaya fields of the ten directions (27) 300 8. The five buddhafields that grant release and freedom (28–33) 301 7. The highest celestial pure lands (34) 304 5. The nirmanakaya guides of beings 305 6. The explanation of the guides themselves (35–40) 305 xvi contents

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   6. The secondary emanations of the nirmanakaya guides of beings (41–43) 309

6. The illusion-like appearance of the nirmanakaya guides of beings (44) 311 5. The diversified nirmanakaya 313 6. The diversified nirmanakaya itself 313 7. The nirmanakaya that appears as inanimate objects (45) 313 7. The animate nirmanakaya (46) 314 6. Conclusion: the dissolution of the rupakaya’s appearance 314 7. The dissolution of the nirmanakaya into the sambhogakaya (47) 314 7. The dissolution of the sambhogakaya into the dharmakaya (48) 315 7. The abiding of the dharmakaya in the dharmadhatu (49) 316 1. The virtuous conclusion 318 2. The circumstances that make possible the composition of shastras 318 2. The dedication of the merit of composition 319 2. Colophon 321 appendix 1 The Three Transmissions of Kahma, the Orally Transmitted Teachings 323 1. The mind transmission of the Buddhas 323 1. The knowledge transmission of the Vidya ̄dharas 324 2. The transmission lineage of Mahayoga, the system of tantra 327 2. The transmission lineage of Anuyoga, the system of explanatory teaching 327 2. The transmission lineage of Atiyoga, the system of pith instructions 328 1. The hearing transmission of spiritual masters 330 appendix 2 The Manner in Which the Tantras Are Expounded 333 1. How the teacher is to teach 333 2. The six exegetical perspectives 333 2. The four ways of exposition 335 1. How disciples are to receive the teaching 336 2. Mental attitude 336 2. Conduct 338 1. The method of explanation and study 338 appendix 3 The View Expounded in the Guhyagarbha, the Root Tantra of the Mayajala Cycle 341 1. The view of phenomena 342 contents xvii

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   1. The view of the ultimate nature of phenomena 346 1. The view of self-cognizing awareness 347

appendix 4 appendix 5 appendix 6 appendix 7 appendix 8 The Ten Elements of the Tantric Path 351 The Mandala 353 The Winds 359 A Brief Summary of the Stages of Generation and Perfection 363 Transmission Lineages of the Treasury of Precious Qualities 367 Notes 369 Bibliography 483 Index 493

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