Padmasambhava

Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava statue at Ghyoilisang peace park, Boudhanath
Born
Oddiyana[note 1]
OccupationVajra master
Known forCredited with founding the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism

Padmasambhava ("Born from a Lotus"),[note 2] also known as Guru Rinpoche (Precious Guru) and the Lotus Born from Oḍḍiyāna, was a semi-legendary[1] tantric Buddhist Vajra master from India who fully revealed the Vajrayana in Tibet, circa 8th – 9th centuries.[2][3][4][5] He is considered the reincarnation of Shakyamuni Buddha as foretold by the Buddha himself.[3] According to early Tibetan sources including the Testament of Ba, he came to Tibet in the 8th century and designed[3] Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet[4] during the reign of King Trisong Detsen. He, the king, and Khenpo Shantarakshita are also responsible for creating the Tibetan Canon through translating all of the Buddha's teachings and their commentaries into the Tibetan language.

According to Lewis Doney, while his historical authenticity was questioned by earlier Tibetologists, it is now "cautiously accepted". Padmasambhava himself was recorded as saying he was an historical person, and his footprints left in rocks are evidence.[3][5] Padmasambhava later came to be viewed as a central figure in the transmission of Buddhism to Tibet.[6][7] Starting from around the 12th century, hagiographies concerning Padmasambhava were written. These works expanded the profile and activities of Padmasambhava, now seen as taming all the Tibetan spirits and gods, and concealing various secret texts (terma) for future tertöns.[8] Nyangral Nyima Özer (1124–1192) was the author of the Zangling-ma (Jeweled Rosary), the earliest biography of Padmasambhava.[9][10] He has been called "one of the main architects of the Padmasambhava mythos – who first linked Padmasambhava to the Great Perfection in a high-profile manner."[11][12]

In modern Tibetan Buddhism, Padmasambhava is considered to be a Buddha that was foretold by Buddha Shakyamuni.[3] According to traditional hagiographies, his students include the great female masters Yeshe Tsogyal and Mandarava.[7] The contemporary Nyingma school considers Padmasambhava to be a founding figure.[13][5] The Nyingma school also traditionally holds that its Dzogchen lineage has its origins in Garab Dorje through a lineage of transmission to Padmasambhava.[14]

In Tibetan Buddhism, the teachings of Padmasambava are said to include an oral lineage (kama), and a lineage of the hidden treasure texts (termas).[15] Tibetan Buddhism holds that Padmasambhava's termas are discovered by fortunate beings and tertöns (treasure finders) when conditions are ripe for their reception.[16] Padmasambhava is said to appear to tertöns in visionary encounters, and his form is visualized during guru yoga practice, particularly in the Nyingma school. Padmasambhava is widely venerated by Buddhists in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, the Himalayan states of India, and in countries around the world.[6]


Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).

  1. ^ Gyaltsen Karmay, Samten (2007). The Great Perfection (rDzogs Chen): A Philosophical and Meditative Teaching of Tibetan Buddhism. BRILL. pp. 6–7. ISBN 9789004151420.
  2. ^ Kværne 2013, p. 168.
  3. ^ a b c d e Palden Sherab Rinpoche 1992
  4. ^ a b van Schaik 2011, pp. 34–5.
  5. ^ a b c Doney 2015.
  6. ^ a b Buswell & Lopez 2013, p. 600.
  7. ^ a b van Schaik 2011, pp. 34–5, 96–8.
  8. ^ van Schaik 2011, p. 96.
  9. ^ Doney 2014.
  10. ^ Dalton 2004.
  11. ^ Germano 2005.
  12. ^ Gyatso 2006.
  13. ^ Harvey 2008, p. 204.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference KPSR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Khenchen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Fremantle 2001, p. 19.