The Tibetan Treasure Literature: Revelation, Tradition, and Accomplishment in Visonary Buddhism

249 Pages·2005·3.58 MB·English

by  Andreas Doctor

ANDREAS
T T
T T IBETAN REASURE
IBETAN REASURE DOCTOR
ANDREAS DOCTOR holds a Ph.D. in Buddhist T
L
Studies from the University of Calgary. He L IBETAN ITERATURE
lives in Nepal where he is Director of Studies at ITERATURE
Kathmandu University - Centre for Buddhist
Studies. Tibetan Treasure Literature presents a study of
Andreas Doctor’s Tibetan Treasure Literature is a treasure T T a unique Tibetan Buddhist tradition that em-
R REASURE braces revelation as the primary path to spiritual
trove of fresh insights into the fascinating forces at work in
e
vI awakening. Over the course of Tibetan history
the continuing development of Tibetan Buddhism. By giving
eB
l numerous such revelations, known as Treasures
extensive new access to centuries of scholarship on Tibet’s a
tE (gter ma), would emerge in an uninterrupted flow
remarkable visionary literature, he uncovers a multitude of ionT L from the minds of spiritual visionaries creating a
Tibetan strategies to establish religious authenticity and ITERATURE
, A profound and lasting effect on Tibetan religious
unity amidst tremendous historico-cultural change and T
rN society and culture.
multiplicity. Fresh perspectives emerge on the crucial role of a
d
religious communities in the construction and authentication i
of revelation. This book is a must for those interested not only tioT In this book, central themes in the history and
n practice of Tibetan Treasure revelation are
in Buddhism’s past, but also in its present and future ways of
,
negotiating these fundamental issues. aR discussed and seminal texts of the tradition
n are presented in translation. Of particular sig-
dE
John Makransky—Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology, AA nificance is the renowned master Ju Mipham’s
Boston College c (1846-1912) discussion of the criteria for evalu-
comS ating the authenticity of those beings who claim
U
p to have revealed such Treasures of Buddhist
This innovative book is a valuable, well-argued and insightful liR teaching.
contribution to the growing literature on gter ma. It lays bare sh Revelation, Tradition, and
mE
the narrative and argumentative strategies behind the treasure
polemics and broadens our knowledge of this fascinating en Tibetan Treasure Literature also presents the
tL Accomplishment in Visionary Buddhism first thorough survey of the revelations of the
literature, not only by summarizing the results of the latest
in great visionary master Chokgyur Dechen
research, but also by providing us with new significant VIT Lingpa (1829-1870). Chokgyur Lingpa was
materials. is a prominent member of the famed ecumeni-
iE
o cal (ris med) tradition and his revelations are
Per K. Sørensen—Professor, Institute for Indology and Central Asian n
R
a widely practiced today in many schools and
Studies, University of Leipzig
r
yA traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Particular

BT emphasis is placed on his revelations pertaining
The continuing Tibetan tradition of terma, hidden treasures, u
dU to the wrathful deity Vajrakīlaya. Selections of
is an important case for study. This book informs us about d
these texts are presented in translation together
significant questions asked within the terma tradition, hisR ANDREAS DOCTOR with a detailed commentary on their practice
including the all-important one, how are we to know if a mE composed by Khenpo Rinchen Namgyal (nine-
revealed book contains authentic Buddha Word?
teenth century), one of Chokgyur Lingpa’s
foremost students.
Dan Martin—Author of Unearthing Bon Treasures
S L S L
NOW ION NOW ION
www.SnowLionPub.com S
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Cover Design: Rafael Ortet
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Printed in Canada
US $ I
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T T
IBETAN REASURE
L
ITERATURE

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T T
IBETAN REASURE
L
ITERATURE

Revelation, Tradition, and
Accomplishment in Visionary Buddhism
ANDREAS DOCTOR
SNOW LION PUBLICATIONS
Ithaca, New York
Boulder, Colorado
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Snow Lion Publications
P.O. Box 6483
Ithaca, New York 14851 USA
[phone]
www.snowlionpub.com
Copyright ©2005 Andreas Doctor
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced by
any means without prior written permission from the publisher.
Printed in USA on acid-free recycled paper.
ISBN 1-55939-236-3
Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available
from the Library of Congress.
Text designed and typeset
by Rafael Ortet
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Table of Contents
Foreword 7
Preface 9
PART ONE 3 TREASURE REVELATION 15
What is a Treasure? 17
Are the Treasures Authentic? 31
Traditional Polemics 31
The Occidental Adoption 38
Mipham’s View: A New Hermeneutics? 44
Gem that Clears the Waters: An Investigation of Treasure Revealers 53
PART TWO 3 THE NEW TREASURES OF CHOKGYUR LINGPA 73

An Auspiciously Curling Tune 75
Seven Descents 84
I. The Transmitted Precepts 85
II. Earth Treasure 86
III. Rediscovered Treasure 95
IV. Actual Mind Treasure 96
V. Recollected Treasure 96
VI. Actual Pure Vision 96
VII. Hearing Lineage 97
Other Authors in the New Treasures 98
PART THREE 3 PRACTICE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT OF VAJRAKĪLAYA 103
Introduction to the Translations 105
The Practice Manual of Combined Activity 111
Instructions of the Knowledge-holders 127
The Physical Yoga of Creation 129
The Verbal Yoga of Mantra Recitation 163
The Mental Yoga of Samādhi 167
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Appendix A: Topical Outline for Instructions of the Knowledge-holders 176
Appendix B: Texts for Vajrakīlaya of the Seven Profound Cycles in the
New Treasures 177
Titles, Personal Names, and Place Names 184
Endnotes 197
Bibliography 225
Index 238
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Foreword
Our Teacher, the Buddha and Transcendent Conqueror, possesses infinite wis-
dom and love and is like a great unknown friend to all limitless sentient beings.
In this world he turned innumerable dharma wheels of both sūtra and mantra.
In Tibet, through the kindness of the Abbot, the Master, and the Dharma King,
as well as the translators and the paò˜itas, the complete teachings of sūtra and
mantra came to spread and flourish throughout the country. As for the pro-
found teachings of mantra, the Ancient School of the Early Translations has
maintained its limitless teachings on the Great Secret within the long lineage
of Transmitted Precepts, the short lineage of Treasures, and the profound Pure
Vision teachings. Among these, in the short lineage of Treasures, we find the
profound Treasures of the emanated great Treasure revealer Urgyen Chokgyur
Dechen Shigpo Lingpa compiled into a collection of 39 volumes.
Within Chokgyur Lingpa’s Treasure of the Seven Profound Cycles, the
text known as the Practice Manual of Combined Activity for the Single Kīla of
Innermost Mind belongs to the profound activity of the kīla tantric system.
To elucidate this practice, Tsawa Bhande Karma Rinchen Namgyal composed
a commentary entitled Instructions of the Knowledge-holders: Clearly Arranged
Deity Guidance for the Single Form of the Most Secret Kīla of Mind. These two
texts, together with the Gem that Clears the Waters: An Investigation of Treasure
Revealers composed by the Lion of Speech, Mipham Rinpoche, have now
been translated into English by my direct disciple Andreas Doctor who has
extensively studied and contemplated the profound key points of Buddhism
and possesses an open and altruistic intellect. On this fine accomplishment,
achieved through much hard work, I hereby scatter flowers of praise.
May this book be an excellent circumstance for its readers to expand the
wisdom of study and reflection, and may they give rise to the extraordinary
experience and realization of the meaning of the tantras.
This was written in Nepal by Chökyi Nyima, who bears the name of Tulku,
on March 3, 2005.
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Preface
In contemporary society, Buddhism is often portrayed as a ‘science of the
mind’ rather than a religious tradition based on faith. Considering the im-
portance that Buddhist scholarship traditionally has placed on analyzing the
workings of the mind and the transformative influence that such philosophical
endeavors have exercised on the minds of many Buddhists, this description
does indeed seem to have a relevance and value. It does not, however, do ad-
equate justice to the comprehensive ritual practices and profound devotional
approaches that equally abound in Buddhism.
Historically, wherever Buddhism has flourished it has done so by adapt-
ing its teachings to the needs of the people it encountered. Accordingly, as a
response to those seeking spiritual fulfillment only outside the realm of the
reasoned and scientific, a wealth of Buddhist traditions centering on faith,
meditation, and the workings of the transcendent arose across Asia. Among
these we find the Tibetan Treasure tradition (gter lugs). Rich in legend, revela-
tion, esoteric practice, and enlightened vision, this form of Buddhism is a
living expression of the confidently devoted spirituality that—rooted in the
practice and experience of individual awakening—has been a life pillar of the
Buddhist tradition since its very early days.
It is this system of practice that we are concerned with here. As this book
can present only a few of the many visionaries, writers, and texts that have
influenced and contributed to the Treasure tradition over the last millennium,
I have sought to focus on elements within this system that would have a bear-
ing on the tradition as a whole. First, this book seeks to answer the seemingly
simple question of what a Treasure is. As it turns out, the positions on this
issue vary considerably among writers, traditions, and time periods and so
no easy answer is found. Nevertheless, from the perspective of the tradition
itself, certain broad identifications and typologies may still be identified and
extracted, which is the concern of chapter 1.
The emergence of the Treasures coincided with the second spread of
Buddhism in Tibet, a renaissance of the Tibetan efforts to import Buddhist
thought and practice from India. As these events unfolded, the question of
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