beneath a steel sky failed to feed orifice

'Yeshe Tsogyel is the perfect vessel to contain the essence of the precious tantric teaching,' Padma Sambhava declared. Among those countless Dakinis five were prominent: Monmo Tashi Khyeudren, Belwong Kalasiddhi, Belmo Sakya Devi and the two supreme consorts, Mandarava and Yeshe Tsogyel. Appearing like gathering clouds, they accomplished his wisdom action. Tibet's Great Guru, Padma Sambhava, possessed countless Dakinis. Also, she was born in Tibet as the daughter of the Prince of Kharchen, as her life story tells. Yeshe Tsogyel is the nirmanakaya's multitude of forms she appears as a Tara, Sarasvatl, princess, ordinary girl, business woman, prostitute and so on. As the feminine aspect in the sambhogakaya, Yeshe Tsogyel is the Five Wisdom-Consorts. Sambhogakaya is the glowing awareness of the dharmakaya, where the Five Buddhas and their Consorts appear as unobstructed luminous space-form. These names and qualities are no more than indications of the nature of the dharmakaya which can never be contained in, or identified by, concepts. In the dharmakaya's stain less space Yeshe Tsogyel is Kuntuzangmo, infinite and noble femininity itself. Dharmakaya is the stainless space constantly pervading the sublime awareness of the sambhogakaya and the ordinary, indivi dual perceptions of the nirmanakaya. It can only be attained through pure, sublime, non dual being. įoreword Sambhogakaya differs from nirmanakaya in that it is a pure, non-dual mandala that cannot be known by limited, individual perception. These forms can appear pure or impure according to the pattern of belief of the individual perceiving them. Arising from wisdom as its reflection, all these forms are nirmanakaya. In the tantra, countless objects of refuge appear spontane ously out of the one essential wisdom. Guru is the aspect that bestows blessing Deva is the aspect that transmits siddhi and Dakinl is the aspect that accomplishes the Buddha's karma. One in essence, these three aspects are the three objects of refuge. In the tantra system, the Three Jewels of the sutras are contained in the Three Roots - Guru, Deva, Dakinl. This wisdom is called 'the Sky Dancer', feminine wisdom, the Dakinl. In the precious tantric tradition, 'desireless, blissful wisdom is the essence of all desirable qualities, unobstructedly going and coming in endless space'. Thus it is written in the Great Paramitd Sutra. Indescribable, unimaginable Perfection of Wisdom, Unborn, unobstructed essence of sky, She is sustained by self-awareness alone: I bow down before the Great Mother of the Victorious Ones, past, present and future. In the profound sutra system, the Dakinl is called the Great Mother. Homage Protection Gyelwa Jangchub's Introduction Tsogyel's Conception Auspicious Omens and Birth Disillusionment and Meeting the Master Initiation and Instruction Meditation, Austerity and Spiritual Accomplishment Signs of Success and Proofs of Power Establishing, Spreading and Perpetuating the Teaching Fruition and Buddhahood Notes to the TextĬOMMENTARY 1 The Path of the Inner Tantra 2 Woman and the Dakinl 3 The Nyingma Lineages 4 The Historical Background Notes to the Commentary Indexes Index of Tibetan Words Ĭontents Index of Sanskrit Words Index of Texts Index to Place-Names Index of Men, Buddhas, Gods and Demons

THE SECRET LIFE AND SONGS OF THE LADY YESHE TSOGYEL

This book is dedicated to the enlightenment of all sentient beings.įoreword by Trinley Norbu Rimpoche Translator's Introduction Yoga (Tantric Bud dhism)-Early works to 1800. Sky dancer : the secret life and songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel / Keith Dowman illustrated by Eva van Dam. ISBN 1-55939-065-4 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Stag-sam Nus-ldan-rdo-rje, b. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission from the publisher. Box 6483 Ithaca, New York 14851 tel: 60 Copyright © Keith Dowman 1996 Illustrations copyright © Eva van Dam 1996 First published by Routledge & Kegan Paul 1984 Second edition published by Penguin Arkana 1989 This edition published by arrangement with Penguin Books Ltd. Snow Lion Publications Ithaca, New York USA SKY DANCER The Secret Life and Songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel

Beneath a steel sky failed to feed orifice