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 18.4 (Commentary)
[Guhyagarbha-Tantra, Text section 18.4]
The supreme sacraments for attaining sameness
Are offered to the assembly
Which is the same as oneself. [4][Tibetan]
mnyam-pa'i sgrub-rdzas chen-po-dag /
bdag-dang mnyam-pa'i tshogs-la 'bul / [4]
Commentary:
[ii. Secondly, the particular exegesis of the offerings of the desired attributes which are sacramental substances has two aspects, of which the former concerns the offering of nectar as a sacrament. (It comments on Ch. 18.4):]
The supreme sacraments (rdzas chen-po-dag) including the five nectars for attaining (sgrub) the accomplishment of sameness (mnyam-pa'i) with respect to self and others, or saṃsāra and nirvāṇa, are one's own components, sensory bases and activity fields which abide within the primordial maṇḍala. Visualising them through profound contemplation, they are offered to the assembly (tshogs-la 'bul) of deities of pristine cognition, which is the same as oneself (bdag-dang mnyam-pa'i).
These five nectars, namely excrement, urine, human flesh, blood, and semen, essentially are the primordially pure expanse of reality, and, naturally expressed, they are the five enlightened families beginning with the enlightened family of the Tathāgata. They abide and are consecrated as the essence of the deities of pristine cognition. When utilised, they are a supreme medication because they dispel the five poisons and elemental diseases.
It says in the Penetrating Magical Net (NGB. Vol. 15):
The medications compounded from
The eight thousand roots
Which are naturally present and originally pure
In the union of all the Buddhas
Are sacraments for attaining the five perfect pristine cognitions.
They are the supreme nectar which liberates
All sentient beings of the five classes,
And dispels the five poisons.
These medications compounded from eight thousand roots are analysed according to the five pristine cognitions.[1]
[The latter concerns the offering of the desired attributes. It has two sections, of which the first concerns the sacraments which are offered. (It comments on Ch. 18.5):]
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Footnotes and references:
[1]:
According to mKhan-po Thub-bstan of rDzogs-chen, they comprise eight roots, each of which has one thousand branches.