Awareness-Holder

Awareness-Holder (rig 'dzin)

• In general, awareness-holders (Skt. vidyādhara) are said to include the mundane sort who have mastered the eight common accomplishments, or the world-systems of desire and form, and the supramundane sort who abide on the higher bodhisattva paths. Among the latter, there are those such as Padmasambhava and Vimalamitra who have attained the rainbow body through the practices of the Great Perfection, and, according to Mahāyoga, the highest awareness-holders include those of maturation, those abiding on the levels, those with power over the lifespan, those of the great seal, and those of spontaneous presence. For a fuller discussion in rNying-ma literature, see bDud-’joms Rin-po-che, NSTB, pp. 259-260, and on the four or five types of resultant awareness-holder, see also NSTB, pp. 281-283; and Klong-chen rab-’byams-pa, GGFTC, pp. 810-811, 852-854, 959-964. GD (from the Glossary to Tibetan Elemental Divination Paintings)