Eight Classes of Spirits

Eight Classes of Spirits (sde brgyad)

• Diverse enumerations of these categories of spirits have been made by gNubs-chen sangs-rgyas ye-shes. Accordingly, there is an outer eightfold group (phyi yi sde brgyad), an inner eightfold group (nang gi sde brgyad), a secret eightfold group (gsang ba'i sde brgyad), a supreme eightfold group (mchog gi sde brgyad), an emanational eightfold group (sprul pa'i sde brgyad), and a phenomenal eightfold group (snang srid sde brgyad). The full lists are presented in bDud-'joms Rin-po-che, NSTB, Vol. 2, pp. 158-9. GD (from the Glossary to Tibetan Elemental Divination Paintings)