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...
Text 5.5 (Commentary)
[Guhyagarbha-Tantra, Text section 5.5]
Space will emerge solid as indestructible reality.
That will burn, and then the fire too will be incinerated.
Turning into water, it will cascade in the appropriate way.
This world-system will be dispersed—
All will be emptied, and will collapse. [5] ...[Tibetan]
nam-mkha' rdo-rje sra-'byung-zhing /
'bar-nas me-yang 'tshig-pa-dang /
chur-'gyur 'bab-pa'ang de-bzhin-te /
'jig-rten khams-'di 'thor-ba-dang /
thams-cad stongs-shing ltung-bar 'gyur / [5]
Commentary:
When the contemplation of the consummation of the earth element has been obtained through the Inherent purity of the component of form, space (nam-mkha') will be consecrated and accordingly will emerge ('byung-zhing) in a solid (sre) state, as the terrain of indestructible reality (rdo-rje).
By obtaining power over the contemplation of the consummation of the fire element when the component of feeling is inherently pure, that fire will burn ('bar) in the body and then (nas) turn all appearances into a mass of fire, so that the hottest fire (me) of the sentient denizens of hell too will be incinerated (yang 'tshig-pa-dang), releasing them from that suffering.
When power has been obtained over the contemplation of the consummation of the water element through the purity of perception, all appearances, turning into water (chur-'gyur), will pour down to earth, and everything will also be seen to cascade ('bab-pa'ang) in a single stream of water, removing the sufferings of others in the same way appropriate (de-bzhin-te) to the action of the fire element. This is because these are emanations of contemplation in which there are no conflicting emotions.
When the contemplation of the consummation of the air element is mastered through purity of habitual tendencies, this world-system ('jig-rten khams-ni) of coarse and subtle appearances will be dispersed ('thor-ba-dang) into atomic particles, diffusing miracles and benefitting sentient beings. Then, when consciousness is pure and the contemplation of the space element has been obtained, all (thams-cad) world-systems will be emptied (stongs) and (shing) the sun and moon too will collapse (lhung-bar 'gyur) to earth. Such miraculous abilities will be manifestly acquired.
In this context, there are some who meditate that the five elements emerge in this manner from the heart-centres of the deities of the five enlightened families, but that is unconnected with the exegesis of the actual meaning of this text. The former is a particular means of attainment, whereas the present a description is a general one.[1]
[The third aspect (comments on Ch. 5.6):]
[Read next page]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
The particular means for attainment is described below, pp. 619-620.