Padmasambhava
Semi-legendary Indian master who established Vajrayana in Tibet.
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He is considered an emanation of Shakyamuni Buddha and designed Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet, under King Trisong Detsen.[1] According to Lewis Doney, his historical authenticity is now "cautiously accepted" by scholars.[2] According to hagiographical sources, the semi-legendary tantric Buddhist Vajra master from medieval India known as Padmasambhava (also called Guru Rinpoche) is said to have fully revealed Vajrayana in Tibet around the 8th–9th centuries.[1]
Life and work
Hagiographies depict Padmasambhava being born as an eight-year-old child in a lotus blossom on Lake Dhanakosha in Oddiyana.[3] Another birth story states he was born from Queen Jalendra and named Dorje Duddul due to auspicious marks.[4] Padmasambhava later traveled to Nepal with Mandarava to practice long life rituals at Maratika Cave, where they achieved immortality from lord Amitāyus.[5] In Tibet, his main consort was princess Yeshe Tsogyal, who became a great master and is revered as the "Mother of Buddhism".[6]
Padmasambhava identified and subdued the local gods and spirits, after which construction of Samye went ahead.[7]
What the cited sources add
The Nekhor account states that at Asura Cave near Pharping, Padmasambhava attained the ultimate fruition of Mahamudra by combining practices of Yangdak Heruka and Vajrakilaya.[8] This site is described as the single most sacred place connected with Guru Padmasambhava outside Tibet.[8] A naturally arisen “A” syllable is found in the rock on the left side of the cave.[8] Followers make pilgrimage to the caves of Asura and Yangleshö.[8]
References
- Wikipedia, "Padmasambhava" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Gyaltsen Karmay, "The Great Perfection (rDzogs Chen): A Philosophical and Meditative Teaching of Tibetan Buddhism", BRILL, 2007, p. 6–7; .; ; van Schaik 2011, p. 34–5; .; ; ; van Schaik 2011, p. 34–5 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Padmasambhava" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; .; Buswell Lopez 2013, p. 600; van Schaik 2011, p. 34–5 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Padmasambhava" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: .; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Padmasambhava" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: . (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Padmasambhava" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Buffetrille 2012 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Padmasambhava" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: .; Changchub Nyingpo 2002, p. xxxvii (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Padmasambhava" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: van Schaik 2011, p. 34–5; van Schaik 2011, p. 34–5 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "Asura & Yangleshö Caves (Pharping)", Nekhor. facts only, no text reused. nekhor.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Padmasambhava (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Padmasambhava (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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