Sacred Words of Lord Akshobya – Guhyasamaja Tantra Commentary
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
Dear friends around the world,
This post is just for those who have been initiated by a teacher into the Guhyasamaja tantra. Otherwise please do not read or continue.
I have placed here as it is available in all Tibetan libraries, temples and universities. Many of the texts have also been translated into English. But it is a tantric code, so those not initiated are not to read or study it. So why have it here? Easier for those who do have the initiations to find information here and practice.
Tsem Rinpoche
Guhyasamaja (Secret Assembly) is another very profound set of teachings by Lord Buddha within the highest class of tantras. According to one tradition, the Guhyasamāja Tantra was taught for the first time by the Buddha in the form of Vajradhara to Indrabhuti the King of Oddiyana, also called King Dza.
As with most tantras, there are different traditions and transmissions. Perhaps the oldest surviving lineage is the Jñānapada Tradition (ye shes zhabs lugs), which goes back to Buddhaśrijñāna (late 8th century). The most important historically is the Ārya tradition (gsang ‘dus ‘phags lugs) which is based on commentaries attributed to Nāgārjuna, Āryadeva, and Candrakīrti. ‘Gos Lotsawa Khug pa lhas btsas originated a transmission in Tibet, as did Marpa Lotsawa. The Sakya tradition received both transmissions. Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug tradition, considered the Guhyasamaja (Secret Assembly) to be the most important of the tantras and used the Ārya tradition as a template for interpreting all the other tantric traditions.
SACRED WORDS OF LORD AKSHOBYA
A Memorandum on the Visualisations Guide to the First Stage of the Path of 32 Deities of Guhyasamaja According to the Arya Tradition
By AKHU SHERAP GYATSO
Translated by Geshe Thupten Jinpa
Translation project sponsored by the Gere Foundation, New York, 1999
(Click HERE to download the PDF)
