Ornament of Stainless Light

Ornament of Stainless Light
Author: Khedrup Norsang Gyatso
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 733
Release: 2016-03-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0861717422

The premiere volume of Thupten Jinpa's thirty-two-volume Library of Tibetan Classics series, inaugurated to coincide with the Dalai Lama's conferral of the initiation rite of Kalacakra in Toronto in April 2004. The Kalacakra, or "wheel of time," tantra likely entered Indian Mahayana Buddhism around the tenth century. In expounding the root tantra, the Indian master Pundarika, one of the legendary Kalki kings of the land of Shambhala, wrote his influential Stainless Light.Ornament of Stainless Light is an authoritative Tibetan exposition of this important text, composed in the fifteenth century by Khedrup Norsang Gyatso, tutor to the Second Dalai Lama. One of the central projects of Kalacakra literature is a detailed correlation between the human body and the external universe. In working out this complex correspondence, the Kalacakra texts present an amazingly detailed theory of cosmology and astronomy, especially about the movements of the various celestial bodies. The Kalacakra tantra is also a highly complex system of Buddhist theory and practice that employs vital bodily energies, deep meditative mental states, and a penetrative focus on subtle points within the body's key energy conduits known as channels. Ornament of Stainless Light addresses all these topics, elaborating on the external universe, the inner world of the individual, the Kalacakra initiation rites, and the tantric stages of generation and completion, all in a highly readable English translation.

Light on Tantra in Kashmir Shaivism:

Light on Tantra in Kashmir Shaivism:
Author: Swami Lakshmanjoo
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Total Pages: 478
Release: 2017-09-23
Genre:
ISBN: 9781976547218

This profound text is concerned with the philosophy and practice known as Kashmir Shaivism. On account of its size and scope it is a veritable encyclopedia of non-dual Shaivism.Why was the Tantraloka written? In answer to this question Abhinavagupta tells us that, although in the schools of Kashmir Shaivism there are many wonderful and important ways and methods for attaining the supreme reality, yet in his time not even one was still existing. All of those ways and methods were lost. It is for this reason that he was requested by his colleagues and disciples to create a text that would illuminate and clarify all of these ways and methods of Kashmir Shaivism. To accomplish this, Abhinavagupta composed the Tantraloka, a text, which he tells us is filled with the complete explanation of the ways and methods associated with Kashmir Shaivism. That is to say that the philosophical understanding on the level of the intellect might have been existing, but the actual practical means or methods to be used to attain the supreme reality - oneness with Universal Being - to which they all pointed was lost. Abhinavagupta was intent, therefore, to revive the true understanding of these very important teachings, to make the practices that they embodied live again. For what is the use of a map if you have no way to reach the destination? Thus, Abhinavagupta gave us the Tantraloka to remedy this situation.The Tantraloka is composed of thirty seven chapters (ahnikas). Each chapter has it's own distinct topic. In this present volume - chapter one - Abhinavagupta lays the groundwork for the rest of his Tantraloka. Here are some of the topics Abhinavagupta examines in the first chapter: - The important Masters of the schools of Kashmir Shaivism. - The differentiated perception of all the means and methods (upayas). - The difference between knowledge, ignorance and liberation. - The essence of what is to be recognized, i.e., the real object to be known. - The oneness of Shiva and His energy (Shakti). - Introduction to the means and methods (upaya) for attaining full and pure knowledge where you perceive your nature as one with the universe. - True liberation in Kashmir Shaivism. - A discussion of the four states of means (upayas).- Three variations of absorption or trance (samavesha) as mentioned in the Malinivijaya Tantra. - The contents of each of the thirty seven chapters of Tantraloka.

Buddhist Tantras

Buddhist Tantras
Author: Alex Wayman
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 249
Release: 2020-03-26
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1317722779

First published in 1995. The volume is divided into four sections: The introduction places the position of the Buddhist Tantras within Mahayana Buddhism and recalls their early literary history, especially the Guhyasamahatantra; the section also covers Buddhist Genesis and the Tantric tradition. Next is the he foundations of the Buddhist Tantras are discussed and the Tantric presentation of divinity; the preparation of disciples and the meaning of initiation; symbolism of the mandala-palace Tantric ritual and the twilight language. The third section explores the Tantric teachings of the inner Zodiac and the fivefold ritual symbolism of passion. The bibliographical research contains an analysis of the Tantric section of the Kanjur exegesis and a selected Western Bibliography of the Buddhist Tantras with comments.

Tantric Grounds and Paths

Tantric Grounds and Paths
Author: Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Publisher: Tharpa Publications US
Total Pages: 389
Release: 2016-01-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1910368474

A definitive manual for completing the spiritual path through the practice of Highest Yoga Tantra. Actual Tantra, also known as "Secret Mantra" or "Vajrayana," is a special method taught by Buddha to purify our world, our self, our enjoyments and our activities. Although there is great interest in Tantra, very few people understand its real meaning. This book represents a significant milestone in revealing the profound mysteries of Tantra to the modern world. Drawing from his own experience and the works of Je Tsongkhapa and other great Yogis, Geshe Kelsang presents an authoritative and comprehensive guide to the four classes of Tantra in general, and to the generation and completion stages of Highest Yoga Tantra in particular. "The Vajrayana path is like a vehicle that takes us directly to our final destination and the common paths are like the road on which the vehicle travels. Therefore, to extract the greatest essence from this precious human life by attaining full enlightenment, we need first to train in the common paths of Lamrim, and then in the uncommon Vajrayana paths." Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

A Lamp to Illuminate the Five Stages

A Lamp to Illuminate the Five Stages
Author: Je Tsongkhapa
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 414
Release: 2012-11-19
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1614290350

Tsongkhapa's A Lamp to Illuminate the Five Stages (1419) is a comprehensive presentation of the highest yoga class of Buddhist tantra, especially the key practices - the so-called five stages (pancakrama) - of the advanced phase of Guhyasamaja tantra. Beginning with a thorough examination of the Indian sources, Tsongkhapa draws particularly from the writings of Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Candrakirti, and Naropa to develop a definitive understanding of the Vajrayana completion stage. Whereas in the generation stage, meditators visualize the Buddha in the form of the deity residing in a mandala palace, in the completion stage discussed in the present volume, meditators transcend ordinary consciousness and actualize the state of a buddha themselves. Among other things, Tsongkhapa's work covers the subtle human physiology of channels and winds along with the process of dying, the bardo, and rebirth. This definitive statement on Guhyasamaja tantra profoundly affected the course of Buddhist practice in Tibet.

Tantric Grounds and Paths

Tantric Grounds and Paths
Author: Kelsang Gyatso
Publisher: Tharpa Publications US
Total Pages: 305
Release: 1994
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0948006331

The mysteries of Tantra have engrossed countless meditators for centuries. Since the time of Buddha, these secrets have been passed down from accomplished master to disciple largely by word of mouth. Now drawing from his own experience and the works of Je Tsongkhapa and other great Tibetan Yogis, Geshe Kelsang clearly sets out all the stages of the four classes of Tantra, giving a full explanation of generation and completion stages. Tantra is revealed as the gateway to a blissful new world. The book represents a significant milestone in revealing these profound mysteries to the contemporary world.

New Light on Tantra

New Light on Tantra
Author: Sures Chandra Banerji
Publisher:
Total Pages: 752
Release: 1992
Genre: Medical
ISBN:

The Book like its predecessor seeks to set forth a history of Tantra in India. Our attention has been paid chiefly to Tantric Therapy, a Mother neglected field. In it not only Hindu Tantras but also Buddhist Tantras have been dealt with and the influence of Tantra on life literature, music art and aechitecture have been described. Some important works both Hindu and Buddhist have been carefully analysed. A novel feature of this book is a list of Unpublished Tantras in India and abroad. This work has no pretention to completeness. This is to some extent a pioneering work on certain aspects of Tantra. It is expected to be useful to readers.

Tantric Poetry

Tantric Poetry
Author: Karin Heinitz
Publisher: CreateSpace
Total Pages: 120
Release: 2010-06-02
Genre:
ISBN: 9781452807843

This collection of tantric poetry stands in the tradition of mystical poetesses and seers such as Lalla and Akka. Its source is not the sort of New Age 'neo-tantrism' that uses the language of tantra only to offer pseudo-spiritual 'mood music' for the sensual intensification of bodily sex and intimacy. Instead the language of these poems expresses direct, lived experiences of tantra understood in the traditional sense - as a deeply sensual intimacy and intercourse with the Divine. The primary medium of this intercourse is not the sexuality of the physical body but that of the soul and its body. This is our body of sensual, feeling awareness - born from the Great Mother's womb of rich and fertile Darkness into the spacious Living Light of the Lord.

The Esoteric Community Tantra with The Illuminating Lamp

The Esoteric Community Tantra with The Illuminating Lamp
Author: Great Vajradhara
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 450
Release: 2021-01-05
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1949163172

A new presentation of Tantra with its most renowned commentary by one of the foremost translator/scholar teams of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism. This volume is a translation of the first twelve chapters of The Glorious Esoteric Community Great King of Tantras (Sri Guhyasamaja Maha-tantra-raja), along with the commentary called The Illuminating Lamp (Pradipoddyotana-nama-tika), a commentary in Sanskrit on this tantra by the seventh-century Buddhist intellectual and tantric scholar-adept Chandrakirti. Regarded by Indo-Tibetan tradition as the esoteric scripture wherein the Buddha revealed in greatest detail the actual psycho-physical process of his enlightenment, The Esoteric Community Tantra is a preeminent text of the class of scriptures known to Indian Buddhist scholar-adepts as great yoga tantra, and later to their Tibetan successors as unexcelled yoga tantra. The Illuminating Lamp presents a system of interpretive guidelines according to which the cryptic meanings of all tantras might be extracted in order to engage the ritual and yogic practices taught therein. Applying its interpretive strategies to the text of The Esoteric Community Tantra, The Illuminating Lamp articulates a synthetic, “vajra vehicle” (vajrayana) discourse that locates tantric practices and ideals squarely within the cosmological and institutional frameworks of exoteric Mahayana Buddhism.

Healing with Form, Energy, and Light

Healing with Form, Energy, and Light
Author: Tenzin Wangyal
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Total Pages: 346
Release: 2002-04-24
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1559398280

A Buddhist manual for replacing an anxious, narrow, uncomfortable identity with one that is expansive, peaceful, and capable. In the shamanic worldview of Tibet, the five elements of earth, water, fire, air, and space are accessed through the raw powers of nature and through non-physical beings associated with the natural world. The Tibetan tantric view recognizes the elements as five kinds of energy in the body and balances them with a program of yogic movements, breathing exercises, and visualizations. In Dzogchen teachings, the elements are understood to be the radiance of being, and are accessed through pure awareness. Healing with Form, Energy, and Light offers the reader healing meditations and yogic practices on each of these levels. Tenzin Rinpoche's purpose is to strengthen our connection to the sacred aspect of the natural world and to present a guide that explains why certain practices are necessary and in what situations practices are effective or a hindrance. And the world too is transformed from dead matter and blind processes into a sacred landscape filled with an infinite variety of living forces and beings. "The secrets freely given in this volume can help us lay sound foundations for whatever yogic practice we may adopt. Tenzin Rinpoche has rendered all a great service." —Yoga Studies