The Tantric Path of Indestructible Wakefulness
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Vajrasattva (Skt.; Tib.: Dorje Sempa; rdo rje sems dpa’; “indestructible being”). A buddha of the vajra family, who embodies the principle of purity and purification. Meditating on the form of Vajrasattva and reciting his mantra is one of the four special preliminary practices of the vajrayana.
Vajravarahi (Skt.; Tib.: Dorje Phagmo; rdo rje phag mo). Indestructible Sow; another name for Vajrayogini.
vajrayana (Skt.; Tib.: dorje thekpa; rdo rje theg pa; “indestructible vehicle”). The highest of the three yanas in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The vajrayana, by virtue of its many upayas, or skillful means, is said to make it possible to attain supreme realization in one lifetime. In the three-yana system, vajrayana is said to rest on the solid foundation and training of the previous two yanas: the hinayana path of individual development and the mahayana path of wisdom and compassion.
Vajrayogini (Skt.; Tib.: Dorje Naljorma; rdo rje rnal ’byor ma). A semiwrathful female yidam of the mother tantra, who represents the transformation of ignorance and passion into emptiness and compassion.
vidya (Skt.; Tib.: rikpa; rig pa). Knowledge. See also rikpa.
vidyadhara (Skt.; Tib.: rigdzin; rig ’dzin; “knowledge holder”). Term applied to an accomplished tantric practitioner. An honorific title for Chögyam Trungpa, who in the latter years of his teaching was referred to as “the Vidyadhara.” In earlier years, he was referred to as “the Vajracharya,” or vajra master.
vidyadharayana (Skt.; Tib.: rigdzin thekpa; rig ’dzin theg pa). Vehicle of the knowledge holders; another term for vajrayana.
vidyamantra (Skt.; Tib.: rikpa ngag-luk; rig pa sngags lugs). Knowledge mantra. One of four characteristics of buddha-families, connected with a family’s magical power over others. See also appendix 5, under Four Ways of Seeing Each of the Twenty-Five Buddha-Families (chapter 47).
vimala (Skt.; Tib.: tri-me; dri med). Purity or spotlessness; the basic principle of kriyayoga practice.
Vimalamitra (Skt.; eighth century CE). Maha-ati master who was invited to Tibet by King Trisong Detsen. Together with Padmasambhava and Vairochana, he is a principal forefather of the maha ati teachings in Tibet.
vipashyana (Skt.; Tib.: lhakthong; lhag mthong; “superior seeing”). Awareness; insight arising either through direct meditative experience or through analytic contemplation. An open, expansive quality of meditation that complements the stability and groundedness of shamatha.
wang (Tib.: dbang). See abhisheka.
Yama (Skt.; Tib.: Shin-je; gshin rje). The Lord of Death.
Yamantaka (Skt.; Tib.: Shin-je she; gshin rje gshed). Conqueror of Yama, the Lord of Death. Second of the eight logos; the wrathful aspect of Manjushri, who transforms life into wisdom. See also appendix 5, The Eight Logos / Druppa Kagye (chapter 61).
yana (Skt.; Tib.: thekpa; theg pa). Vehicle, way; what carries the practitioner along the path to liberation.
yanas, nine (Tib.: thekpa gu; theg pa dgu). According to the Nyingma and Ri-me traditions, there are a total of nine yanas: shravaka (Tib.: nyenthö; nyan thos); pratyekabuddha (Tib.: rang-gyal; rang rgyal); bodhisattva (Tib.: changchup sempa; byang chub sems dpa’); kriyayoga (Tib.: chawa; bya ba); upayoga (or charya; Tib.: chöpa; dpyod pa); yoga (Tib.: naljor; rnal ’byor); mahayoga (Tib.: naljor chenpo; rnal ’byor chen po); anuyoga (Tib.: jesu naljor; rjes su rnal ’byor); and atiyoga or maha ati (Tib.: dzokpa chenpo; rdzogs pa chen po). The first two comprise the hinayana path, and the third is synonymous with the mahayana path. The next three are called the lower tantric yanas; the final three are called the higher tantric yanas.
yanas, three (Tib.: theksum; theg gsum). According to the general vajrayana tradition, there are three yanas, or vehicles: hinayana (including shravakayana and pratyekabuddhayana), mahayana (or bodhisattvayana), and vajrayana.
Yangdak (Tib.: yang dag; “completely pure”). First of the eight logos, representing complete accomplishment and command. See also appendix 5, under The Eight Logos / Druppa Kagye (chapter 61).
yang-dak-pe kündzop (Tib.: yang dag pa’i kun rdzob). Pure relative truth. This is a direct and simple experience of things by those who no longer cling to appearances as real. It is contrasted with perverted relative truth, the experience of those who still cling to appearances as solid.
yargyi sangthal (Tib.: yar gyi zang thal; “confidence above”). Enlightened style of confidence.
ye chi-shin-pe kyilkhor (Tib.: ye ji bzhin pa’i dkyil ’khor). The mandala of primordial is-ness; the first of three mandalas of anuyoga, in which one sees all dharmas as the expression of mind. See also appendix 5, under The Three Mandalas of Anuyoga (chapter 64).
yeshe (Tib.: ye shes). See jnana.
yeshe changwa (Tib.: ye shes ’chang wa). One who holds wisdom.
yeshe chöku (Tib.: ye shes chos sku). See jnana-dharmakaya.
yeshe chölwa (Tib.: ye shes ’chol ba). Crazy wisdom; the realization of a vidyadhara, expressed at times in unconventional and provocative ways.
yi (Tib.: yid). Mind. The sixth, or mental, consciousness, which coordinates and interprets the other five sense consciousnesses; its objects are thoughts.
yi-de (Tib.: yid bzlas). Silent or mental repetition of a mantra.
yidam (Tib.: yi dam; Skt.: ishtadevata). In vajrayana, one’s personal meditation deity, which represents one’s awakened nature. In practice, one visualizes the deity, repeats its mantra, and identifies completely with its wisdom. The term yidam is said to derive from yikyi tamtsik (Tib.: yid kyi dam tshig), meaning the “samaya of mind.”
yikyi tamtsik (Tib.: yid kyi dam tshig). See yidam.
ying (Tib.: dbyings; Skt.: dhatu). Space; realm.
yogachara (Skt.; Tib.: naljor chöpa; rnal ’byor spyod pa; “practice of yoga”). The “mind-only” school of mahayana Buddhism, founded by Asanga. According to the yogachara view, the appearance of a subject and an object as two separate things is the relative truth. In the ultimate truth, there is only consciousness, free from the duality of subject and object.
yogayana (Skt.; Tib.: naljor gyi thekpa; rnal ’byor gyi theg pa). The yoga of union. In the nine-yana system, the third of the three lower tantric yanas. See also appendix 5, under The Nine Yanas (chapter 40).
Zen (Jpn.). See Ch’an.
SOURCES
THE MATERIAL in this volume is primarily taken from the Vajradhatu Seminaries, a series of programs taught by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. (For further information, see “Editor’s Introduction” in volume 1 of the Profound Treasury.) Thirteen Seminaries were held between 1973 and 1986, at the following locations:
1973: Jackson Hole, Wyoming. September–November.
1974: Snowmass Village, Colorado. September–November.
1975: Snowmass Village, Colorado. September–November.
1976: Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin. September–November.
1978: Dixville Notch, New Hampshire. March–May.
1979: Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. March–May.
1980: Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. January–March.
1981: Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. January–March.
1982: Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania. January–April.
1983: Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania. January–March.
1984: Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania. January–March.
1985: Shambhala Mountain Center, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. June–August.
1986: Shambhala Mountain Center, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. June–August.
In addition, some of the material in this book has been taken from the following published works by Chögyam Trungpa:
The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa. Edited by Carolyn Gimian. 8 vols. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2004.
Crazy Wisdom. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2001.
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2008.
The Heart of the Buddha. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1991.
Journey without Goal: The Tantric Wisdom of the Buddha. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2000.<
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The Lion’s Roar: An Introduction to Tantra. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2001.
The Mishap Lineage: Transforming Confusion into Wisdom. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2009.
Orderly Chaos: The Mandala Principle. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1991.
True Perception: The Path of Dharma Art. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2008.
More details on the primary sources for each chapter are given below. When the source is a Vajradhatu Seminary, the talk name is given, followed by the year and the talk number.
PART ONE. APPROACHING THE VAJRAYANA
Introduction
Samaya Principles 1973: 20
Kriyayoga Tantra 1973: 21
Approaches to Tantra 1974: 19
Samaya 1974: 20
The Guru 1974: 21
Space 1974: 22
Kriyayoga 1974: 23
Getting into Vajrayana 1975: 24
Beginning at the Beginning 1980: 19
Shunyata, Compassion, and Tantra 1978: 21
Vajra Vision and Vajra Nature 1979: 18
Devotion 1979: 19
Entering the Diamond Path 1981: 18
The Three-Yana Journey 1983: 12
Protecting the Mind 1985: 12
The Three Kayas 1985: 13
Chapter 1. The Dawning of the Great Eastern Sun
The Great Eastern Sun 1976: 20
Enlightened Society 1978: 28
Chapter 2. The Transition to Vajrayana
Samaya Principles 1973: 20
Kriyayoga Tantra 1973: 21
Approaches to Tantra 1974: 19
Samaya 1974: 20
The Guru 1974: 21
Space 1974: 22
Kriyayoga 1974: 23
Getting into Vajrayana 1975: 24
Shunyata, Compassion, and Tantra 1978: 21
Beginning at the Beginning 1980: 19
Entering the Diamond Path 1981: 18
The Three-Yana Journey 1983: 12
The Three Kayas 1985: 13
Chapter 3. Entering the Diamond Path on a Solid Foundation
Kriyayoga Tantra 1973: 21
Heightened Neurosis 1978: 20
Entering the Diamond Path 1981: 18
Vajrayana: The Diamond Ship 1982: 16
Chapter 4. Uncovering Indestructible Goodness and Wakefulness
The Three-Yana Journey 1983: 12
Buddha Nature and the Five Types of Samantabhadra 1983: 13
Relating with the Vajra Master 1983: 14
Sacred Outlook and the Threefold Samayashila 1983: 15
Chapter 5. The Multifaceted Diamond Path
Approaches to Tantra 1974: 19
Getting into Vajrayana 1975: 24
Shunyata, Compassion, and Tantra 1978: 21
Vajrayana: The Diamond Ship 1982: 16
Chapter 6. Seven Aspects of Vajrayana: The Space before First Thought
The Seven Aspects of Vajrayana 1978: 24
PART TWO: THE TEACHER-STUDENT RELATIONSHIP
Chapter 7. The Role of the Guru or Vajra Master
The Guru 1974: 21
Chapter 8. The Root Guru as the Epitome of Freedom
Samaya 1974: 20
Ati 1975: 30
Samaya 1978: 25
Sacred Outlook 1979: 20
Abhisheka and Samaya 1979: 21
Relating with the Vajra Master 1983: 14
Chapter 9. A Total Surrendering of Samsaric Logic
The Vajra Master 1976: 22
Chapter 10. The Power of Devotion
Devotion 1978: 23
Transmission 1984: 14
Devotion 1984: 15
PART THREE: THE TÜLKU PRINCIPLE AND THE TRUNGPA TÜLKUS
Chapter 11. The Tülku Principle
Samaya 1974: 20
The Trungpa Tülkus 1974: 30
Mind Protection 1984: 17
Books:
The Heart of the Buddha. (Also in Collected Works, vol. 3, 426–427.)
The Mishap Lineage.
Chapter 12. The Early Trungpas
Samaya 1974: 20
The Trungpa Tülkus 1974: 30
Mind Protection 1984: 17
Books:
The Heart of the Buddha. (Also in Collected Works, vol. 3, 426–427.)
The Mishap Lineage.
Chapter 13. The Later Trungpas
Samaya 1974: 20
The Trungpa Tülkus 1974: 30
Mind Protection 1984: 17
Books:
The Heart of the Buddha. (Also in Collected Works, vol. 3, 426–427.)
The Mishap Lineage.
PART FOUR: ESSENTIAL TEACHINGS
Chapter 14. Unconditional Ground
Mantrayana and Renunciation 1981: 19
Discovering Yeshe 1981: 20
Chapter 15. Transcending Mental Concepts
Transcending Mental Concepts: Prostrations and Vajrasattva Mantra 1981: 21
Chapter 16. Fundamental Magic
Shunyata, Compassion, and Tantra 1978: 21
Magic 1978: 22
Chapter 17. The Play of Space and Form
Space 1974: 22
Chapter 18. The Eight States of Consciousness and the Trikaya Principle
Transmission and the Eight States of Consciousness 1980: 22
Transcending Mental Concepts: Prostrations and Vajrasattva Mantra 1981: 21
The Three Kayas 1985: 13
PART FIVE: COMPLETE COMMITMENT
Chapter 19. Samaya: Making a Commitment
Samaya 1976: 24
Theism, Nontheism, and the Samaya Principle 1980: 21
Samaya 1982: 20
Chapter 20. Positive Entrapment
Samaya Principles 1973: 20
Samaya 1974: 20
Ati 1975: 30
Samaya 1978: 25
Abhisheka and Samaya 1979: 21
Chapter 21. The Different Types of Samaya
Samaya 1974: 20
Ati 1975: 30
Samaya 1978: 25
Abhisheka and Samaya 1979: 21
Chapter 22. Maintaining the Samaya Vow
Samaya 1974: 20
Vajrayana and Samaya 1975: 25
Ati 1975: 30
Samaya 1978: 25
Abhisheka and Samaya 1979: 21
Sacred Outlook and the Threefold Samayashila 1983: 15
Chapter 23. Enlightenment and Its Opposite
Samaya Principles 1973: 20
Kriyayoga Tantra 1973: 21
Vajrayana and Samaya 1975: 25
Books:
“The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Commentary” in Collected Works, vol. 6, 293–294.
Chapter 24. Perfecting the Samaya Vow
Samaya 1974: 20
Ati 1975: 30
Samaya 1976: 24
Samaya 1978: 25
Abhisheka and Samaya 1979: 21
PART SIX: THE MANDALA PRINCIPLE
Chapter 25. The Sphere of Self-Born Wisdom
The Mandala Principle 1979: 22
Mandala: The Sphere of Self-Born Wisdom 1981: 24
Outer Mandala 1982: 17
Basic Goodness and the Threefold Mandala Principle 1983: 17
Chapter 26. The Mandala of the Five Buddha-Families
Books:
Crazy Wisdom
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
The Heart of the Buddha
Journey without Goal
The Lion’s Roar
Orderly Chaos
True Perception
Chapter 27. The Outer Mandala
The Mandala Principle 1979: 22
Mandala: The Sphere of Self-Born Wisdom 1981: 24
Outer Mandala 1982: 17
Chapter 28. The Inner Mandala
The Mandala Principle 1979: 22
Inner Mandala 1982: 18
Chapter 29. The Secret Mandala
The Mandala Principle 1979: 22
Secret Mandala 1982: 19