Tantric Techniques (60 page)

a
phun sum tshogs pa.

b
theg pa gsum rnam par bzhag pa
,
triy
ā
navyavasth
ā
na;
P4535, vol. 81.

c
ra li bsam gyis mi khyab pa’i rgyud.

d
sems bzung
.

e
The text (262.1) reads
dgos pa,
but I have emended it to
dgongs pa
to accord with the commentary below.

Long-chen-rap-jam’s Dramatic Evocation
249

Forsaking extremes of fatigue, little difficulty, And way of amassing the collections.

The
view
of the Definition Vehicle is only an emptiness, free from [dualistic] proliferations; the two truths are not realized as undifferentiable, primordially abiding with a nature of gods and mantras. However, the Mantra Vehicle realizes [such a view]; conventionalities are nonexistent, and appearances are taken to be divinely pure as mere emanations. The ultimate expanse and wisdom are primordially nondual; the two [that is, the ultimate and the conventional] are realized as undifferentiable within an original naturelessness. [Buddhaguhya’s]
Stages of the Path of Magical Emanation
says:
a

In the great ma
ṇḍ
ala of equality

Where the ultimate and the conventional are undifferentiable…

Also, with respect to the divine purity of the five aggregates, the

Tantra of Pristine Wisdom [Already] Established
says:
b

Forms are just Vairochana, Feelings are Ratnasambhava, Discriminations are Amit
ā
bha,

Compositional factors are Amoghasiddhi, Consciousnesses are Ak
ṣ
hobhya.

Also, with respect to the purity of the five elements as the five mothers, the same tantra says:

The five elements are actualities of the five mothers; The aggregates, sense-spheres, and constituents

Are all pure Buddha lands.

Also, the
Miraculous Secret Essence
says,
c
“Only a One-Gone-Thus knows that all phenomena are primordially buddhafied.”
d

Also, with respect to
practice
,
the Definition Vehicle has no more than the two, adoption and discarding. In Mantra, within the state of gods and marvelous mansions of pure equality and illusory

a
sgyu ’phrul lam rim/ lam rnam par bkod pa, m
ā
rgavy
ū
ha;
P4736, vol. 83; rnying ma bka’ ma rgyas pa, vol. 23.

b
ye shes grub pa’i rgyud.

c
gsang ba’i snying po de kho na nyid rnam par nges pa, guhyagarbhatattvavini
ś
caya;

P455, vol. 9; THDL, Ng3.1.1.1.

d
ye nas sangs rgyas pa.

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Tantric Techniques

nature there are offerings to deities, accordance with the noumenon, purification of afflictions, and so forth, as in the explanations of feast offerings,
a
protector-like conduct,
b
and so forth on the occasion of the individual ma
ṇḍ
alas, and hence it is superior.

Also, with respect to
mental stabilization
,
in the Definition Vehicle striving is just required over a long time with the great hardship of holding the mind in order to achieve calm abiding and special insight. In Mantra, having pacified the proliferations of conceptuality through the generation stage having signs, pristine wisdom dawns in the signless completion stage through merely focusing on the central points of the channels and winds. Therefore, it is superior.

Also, with respect to
causation
, in the Definition Vehicle it is asserted that the ultimate is realized from prior [engagement in the] conventionalities of producer and produced. In Mantra the self-abiding pristine wisdom which is to be purified or separated [from stain] is dramatically identified and thereupon cultivated in meditation, whereby realization of the ultimate is entered right now. Therefore, it is superior.

Also, with respect to
paths
,
since in the Definition Vehicle meditative equipoise and subsequent realization are alternated for the two collections [of wisdom and merit], the five paths are just not traveled even in an eon. Since in Mantra one enters on the path of pristine wisdom of undifferentiable [meditative equipoise and subsequent realization], progress is swift. Therefore, it is superior.

Also, in the Definition Vehicle the
fruit
is asserted to arise later after a long time. In Mantra [the fruit] is asserted to abide in itself now spontaneously. Therefore, it is superior.

Also, in the Definition Vehicle the
grounds
are asserted to be eleven in number due to the divisions of graduated objects of abandonment and their antidotes. In Mantra there are three: (1) the ground of undifferentiated nature, the spontaneously established thusness, (2) the ground of the wisdom of equal purity, the excellent clear light of the two stages, and (3) the ground of pure supreme spontaneous attributes, the great pure fruit. Or in another way, the Mantra Vehicle has, in addition to the causal grounds [of the Definition Vehicle], a twelfth ground of endowment with the

a
tshogs.

b
mgon po kun tu spyod pa.

Long-chen-rap-jam’s Dramatic Evocation
251

lotus of nonattachment, a thirteenth ground of a vajra bearer, and so forth. Therefore, it is superior. The
Secret Essence
says, “The specifics of grounds are the ten and the three.”

Also with respect to
time
, in the Definition Vehicle [the fruit] is not achieved [except] over three periods of countless eons and so forth. In Mantra, one who makes effort and keeps pure pledges achieves it in this lifetime. The
Revelation of the Thought
says:
a

The perfect enlightenment realized

By Buddhas over very many countless eons Is attained by practitioners of Mantra

In one lifetime simultaneously.

Also, with respect to
enjoyments
, the Definition Vehicle achieves [its goals] through abandoning attributes of the Desire Realm. In Mantra, the attributes of the Desire Realm are just used as aids. The
Vajra Array
says:
b

The five forms of enjoyable attributes of the Desire Realm,

Abandoned and despised [in the Definition Vehicle], Are the best of aids in the Mantra of skillful means, To be thoroughly enjoyed by the fortunate.

Also, with respect to
yoga
,
in the Definition Vehicle an object-less emptiness like space is cultivated during meditative equipoise, and then during subsequent attainment a yoga of illusion is taken as the path. In Mantra an undifferentiated, inconceivable yoga is taken as the path. Therefore, it is superior.

Also, with respect to achieving
one’s own and others’ welfare
, not much more than a little temporary help is achieved through the Definition Vehicle. Through Mantra others’ welfare is achieved in the form of good fortune even for a region—starvation is extinguished through causing rain to shower; a rain of food, drink, je-wels and so forth is made to fall by an adept in yoga; sickness and disturbance are pacified, and so forth. Also, one’s own welfare is achieved through moment by moment increase, higher and higher,

a
dgongs pa lung ston / dgongs pa lung bstan pa’i rgyud, sa
ṃ
dhivy
ā
kara
ṇ
atantra;
P83, vol. 3; THDL, Ng3.2.2.2.9.

b
rdo rje bkod pa / de bzhin gshegs pa thams cad kyi thugs gsang ba’i ye shes don gyi sny-ing po rdo rje bkod pa’i rgyud, sarvatath
ā
gatacittajñ
ā
naguhy
ā
rthagarbhavy
ū
havajratantra;
P452, vol. 9; THDL, Ng2.1.2.

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Tantric Techniques