Guest guest Posted November 5, 2001 Report Share Posted November 5, 2001 The historical figure, Padmasambava also called Guru Rimpoche was the tantric magician that brought the Dharma and Dzogchen teachings into Tibet. Dzogchen is also known as the Secret Great Perfection. Padmasambava was born in the area located on the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier where he ruled as king and was known as Shikhabandh Raja. His early life was as an Indian yogi then later he became a Buddhist monk and it is said that he spent 3 months on a cave in Nepal where he actualized the Immortal Vajra Body. With his consort, Sakya Devi they practiced the Vishuda deity and Mahamudra awareness.<br>At this point the historical Padmasambava is indistinguishable from the essence of Buddha Amitabha. Along with Khenpo Shantarakshita, the tantric master Guru Padmasambava from India traveled to India and together constructed a monastery at Samye. There they trained seven monks and supervised translation of the sutras and tantras from Sanskrit to Tibetan. Legend has it that Padmasambava preformed many mystical activiities in Tibet that are still manifesting themselves even today.<br><br>Padmasambava is the link between Indian yogic practices and Tibetan Buddhism. What I find it interesting is some of the similarities between Ashtanga yoga practice and some of the more esoteric Dzogchen practices. Translations from Tibetan texts by W. Y. Evans-Wentz in his book, _Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines_ detail methods of linking breath and movement to raise the heat in the body.<br>For a great visual reprsentation of these practices take a look at a book that came out a couple of years ago, _The Dali Lama’s Secret Temple, by Ian Baker_. A book of paintings from the top room in a small temple on an island behind the Potela in Tibet. These vistionary murals are detailed instructions in the practice of opening the flow of evergy thru the subtle channels of the body using Tummo. Tummo is the cultivation of mystic heat which burns thrugh conceptual thought and reveals the Clear Light of the awakened mind.<br>A flowing system of twenty-three movements linking breath, body and mind are used to open these pathways of subtle energy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2001 Report Share Posted November 5, 2001 Tiber, Thanks for all that wonderful information and historical background. <br><br>GL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2001 Report Share Posted November 5, 2001 Tiber, thanks for all the information and recommendations. The Baker book in particular looks magnificent. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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