Padmasambhava

The Wisdom Essence, a most precious, concise, and profound teaching by Guru Rinpoche which condenses the entire path. Praised by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo as being more valuable than thirty yak loads of scriptures, it comprises together with a commentary by Jamgon Kongtrul, the last volume in both the Rinchen Terdzo and the Chokling Tersar.

The Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, the title of which translates to Gradual Path of the Wisdom Essence, is a sacred scripture that records oral teachings of the ‘Second Buddha,’ Padmasambhava, given while he blessed Tibet with a 55 year visit during the 9th century. This most precious, concise, profound teaching of Padmasambhava is a condensation of the entire path to enlightenment and, in its full version, it contains the pith instructions of the Three Inner Tantras: Maha, Anu, and Ati Yoga. Padmasambhava himself describes Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo in the following words:

This essence of the causal and resultant vehicles, Especially the core of the realization of the three sections of the inner tantras, Linking together the ground with the path, Makes you abandon the temporary defilements along with their tendencies, Realize fruition and quickly accomplish the welfare of self and others, In this way it is in conformity with each yet exalted above them all. This path of the wisdom essence, the epitome of all, Is a magical means for realizing fruition.

Merely seeing it showers down the great splendor of blessings. By hearing it one understands the meaning, and experience and realization burst forth spontaneously. By practicing it for six months, giving up distractions, The wisdom of the three vajras will naturally manifest.

Since Samantabhadra, Vajrasattva and Padmakara Are ultimately indivisible and spontaneously complete as one, I am the emanation-basis for all the infinite tantras, The essential meaning and the oral instructions.

Yet, in appearance I manifest in all kinds of ways as magical displays of deeds in different modes of appearing, Such as emerging miraculously in Dhanakosha Or being born from a womb and so forth, For the sake of guiding the disciples on the Jambu Continent.

Lord Amitayus at Maratika And Maha Shri Heruka at Yanglesho Bestowed upon me with the natural sound of dharmata This sole quintessence of all the oral instructions.

If Garab Dorje, Shri Singha, the Eight Vidyadharas, And all the supreme siddhas from whom I received the stages of the path Were to hold a great Dharma discussion with one another, There would be no other summary-manual than this compiling their realization.

Throughout the countries of Uddiyana, India, Tibet and elsewhere, This is the unmistaken condensed meaning Of all the infinite profound and extensive wheels of the Dharma Such as guru sadhana, the Great Perfection, Avalokiteshvara and the Eight Sadhana Teachings.

In short, there does not exist an ultimate instruction other than this. Expressed in few words yet including all that should be expressed. Easy to comprehend and convenient to practice, Without depending on anything else, it perfects the paths for those of lower, medium and higher faculties.

This is the self-resounding tantra of dharmata, the indestructible essence, From the space of luminosity in the five-colored sphere within the heart of me, Padmasambhava. It is the path traversed by all the buddhas of the three times.

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