Tantra : The Foundation of Buddhist Thought Volume 6

by Tashi Tsering, Geshe; Rinpoche, Lama Zopa

• ISBN13: 9781614290117
• ISBN10: 1614290113
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-07-03
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications

Summary

In This Sixth and final volume in the Foundation of Buddhist Thought series, Geshe Tashi Tsering brings his friendly, helpful approach to the esoteric practices of Buddhist tantra. Anticipating the many questions Westerners have upon first encountering tantra's colorful imagery and veiled language, Tantra uses straight talk to explain deities, initiations, mandalas, and the body's subtle physiology of channels and chakras.

Author Biography

Geshe Tashi Tsering was born in Tibet in 1958 and received his Geshe Lharampa degree (similar to a doctorate in divinity) from Sera Monastery in India in 1987. Since 1994, he has been the guiding teacher of the Jamyang Buddhist Centre in London, while also teaching at other Buddhist centers worldwide.

Table of Contents

List of Tables	p. xi
Foreword	p. xiii
Preface	p. xv
The Uniqueness of Tantra	p. 1
Sutra and Tantra	p. 1
Tantra and the Mahayana	p. 2
The Prerequisites	p. 2
The Vajrayana Was Taught by the Buddha	p. 4
Vajrayana and Its Many Names	p. 5
The Unique Features of Vajrayana	p. 9
The Four Complete Purities	p. 10
Vajrayana Combines Method and Wisdom	p. 12
Deity Yoga	p. 14
Practicing Deity Yoga	p. 14
The Three Aspects of Deity Yoga	p. 17
Utilizing Afflictive Emotions on the Path	p. 20
Entering the Vajrayana	p. 23
The Door to the Vajrayana	p. 23
The Vajra Master and the Vajra Disciple	p. 24
Guru Yoga	p. 29
The Initiation	p. 30
The Purpose of an Initiation	p. 32
The Preliminary Stages of an Initiation	p. 34
The Main Initiation	p. 35
The Mandala	p. 39
Vows and Commitments	p. 41
The Lower Tantras	p. 43
The Differences among the Four Classes of Tantra	p. 44
Internal and External Activities	p. 44
Subduing the Vital Wind	p. 46
Yoga with Sign	p. 48
The Concentration of the Four Branches of Recitation	p. 49
The Concentrations of Abiding in Fire and Abiding in Sound	p. 54
Yoga without Sign	p. 58
Practicing Kriya Tantra	p. 61
A Kriya Tantra Sadhana	p. 61
Offerings	p. 62
The Sadhana	p. 64
Refuge and Purification	p. 65
The Purification of the Place	p. 66
Visualizing the Merit Field	p. 66
The Seven-Limb Prayer and Mandala Offering	p. 68
The Main Deity Practice	p. 69
Pranayama	p. 71
A Passport to a New Universe	p. 74
Preparation for Highest Yoga Tantra	p. 77
The Many Deities within Vajrayana	p. 77
An Overview of the Generation Stage	p. 78
Preparation for Practicing the Generation Stage	p. 80
Death, Intermediate State, and Rebirth	p. 82
The Eight Dissolutions of Ordinary Death	p. 82
The Ordinary Intermediate State	p. 86
The Ordinary Rebirth	p. 88
The Four Levels of Achievement	p. 89
Practicing the Generation Stage	p. 93
Before the Actual Practice	p. 93
The Three Components of the Guhyasamaja Sadhana	p. 95
The Yoga of Taking Death as the Dharmakaya into the Path	p. 98
The Eight Dissolutions	p. 98
The Base, Path, and Result in the Death Practice	p. 99
The Yoga of Taking the Intermediate State as the Sambhogakaya into the Path	p. 103
The Base, Path, and Result in the Bardo Practice	p. 103
The Yoga of Taking Rebirth as Nirmanakaya into the Path	p. 106
The Nature of the Body and Mind	p. 111
Coarse, Subtle, and Very Subtle Body and Mind	p. 111
Channels, Chakras, Winds, and Drops	p. 113
Channels	p. 113
Chakras	p. 117
Loosening the Knots	p. 119
Winds	p. 122
Drops	p. 125
The Enlightenment Process	p. 127
Emptiness and Bliss	p. 128
Emptiness, Bliss, and the Meaning of Evam	p. 128
The Union of Emptiness and Great Bliss	p. 129
The Six Levels of the Completion Stage	p. 133
Physical Isolation	p. 135
The Actual Meditation of Physical Isolation	p. 139
The Post-Meditation Session	p. 144
Tumo Practice	p. 145
Verbal Isolation	p. 148
The Mantra-Drop Meditation	p. 149
The Light-Drop Meditation	p. 150
The Substance-Drop Meditation	p. 151
Mental Isolation	p. 153
The Two Levels of Mental Isolation	p. 153
The Action Seal	p. 154
The Illusory Body	p. 156
Clear Light	p. 160
Union	p. 162
Learner's Union	p. 162
Non-Learner's Union	p. 163
No-More Learning	p. 165
The Inseparability of the Guru and Avalokiteshvara: A Source of All Powerful Attainments	p. 169
The Six Deities within the Nyungné Practice	p. 185
Notes	p. 191
Glossary	p. 197
Bibliography	p. 203
Index	p. 205
About the Authors	p. 213
The Foundation of Buddhist Thought	p. 215
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