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 17.1 (Commentary)
[Guhyagarbha-Tantra, Text section 17.1]
Then the Transcendent Lord, the Great Joyous One, uttered this following meaningful expression in order to reveal the maṇḍala of these (wrathful deities). [1]
[Tibetan]
de-nas bcom-ldan-'das dgyes-pa chen-pos / de-dag-gi dkyil-'khor bstan-pa'i phyir ched-du brjod-pa 'di brjod-do / [1]
Commentary:
[Commentary (543.2-550.6):]
The second section (of the extensive exegesis on the branches of means for attainment of the wrathful deities in accordance with the path—see p. 1147) is the maṇḍala of reflected images which are supports for visualisation.
There are three subdivisions, namely, a general teaching on the causal basis for the emergence of the maṇḍala, a detailed explanation of the nature of that maṇḍala, and the appearance of its wondrous signs.
[The first (comments on Ch. 17.1):]
Once the maṇḍala of Buddha-speech or secret mantras had been revealed, then the Transcendent Lord, the Great Joyous One (de-nas bcom-ldan-'das dgyes-pa chen-pos) uttered this following meaningful expression in order to reveal the maṇḍala (dkyil-'khor bstan-pa'i phyir ched-du-brjod-na 'di brjod-do) of reflected Images for the sake of those to be trained in posterity. This is because it is required as a visualisation support to clarify the form of these (de-dag-gi) cloud-masses of wrathful deities and their secret mantras.
The second subdivision comprises both the supporting celestial palace and the supported maṇḍala of deities. The former has three aspects:
[i. As for the actual celestial palace (which comments on Ch. 17.2):]
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