The Mirror of the Mind of Samantabhadra
Encyclopedia
The Mirror of the Mind of Samantabhadra is one of the Seventeen tantras
of Dzogchen
Upadesha.
(1308 – 1364 or possibly 1369) to his Chöying Dzö (Wylie: chos dbyings mdzod) -- which are numbered amongst the Seven Treasuries
(Wylie: mdzod chen bdun) -- the following embedded quotation from this Tantra has been rendered into English by Barron
, et. al. (2001: p.8) and the Wylie has been secured from Wikisource and interspersed and embedded in the English gloss for probity:
'Phenomena' in the abovementioned quotation should be understood as a rendering of dharmas
(Sanskrit) which may also be glossed 'constituent factors'. 'Nature' (rang bzhin) is an analogue of 'Svabhava
' (Sanskrit). 'Awareness' is a gloss of 'Rigpa
' (Tibetan). Though Buddhism is for the most part non-theistic, Dzogchen and other Buddhadharma traditions often personify attributes or qualities with a deity in textual discourse as Samantabhadra
herein is the Adi-Buddha
(to be clearly discerned from the namesake Bodhisattva
) and is iconographically 'attributeless' and 'unadorned', the 'primordial Buddha', and Samantabhadra is often so for many textual traditions of Dzogchen in both lineagues of Bonpo and Nyingmapa. Following Longchenpa, wherever Samantabhadra is Samantabhadri
is evident indivisibly in Yab-yum
(Tibetan).
Seventeen tantras
In Tibetan Buddhism, specifically in the literature and practice of Dzogchen, the seventeen tantras of the esoteric instruction cycle are a suite of tantras belonging to the textual division known as the "esoteric instruction cycle" .-History and tradition:The seventeen tantras, though not...
of Dzogchen
Dzogchen
According to Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, Dzogchen is the natural, primordial state or natural condition of the mind, and a body of teachings and meditation practices aimed at realizing that condition. Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection", is a central teaching of the Nyingma school also practiced by...
Upadesha.
English discourse
In the Lungi Terdzö (Wylie: lung gi gter mdzod) the prose autocommentary by LongchenpaLongchenpa
Longchen Rabjampa, Drimé Özer "Longchenpa" was a major teacher in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Along with Sakya Pandita and Je Tsongkhapa, he is commonly recognized as one of the three main manifestations of Manjushri to have taught in Central Tibet...
(1308 – 1364 or possibly 1369) to his Chöying Dzö (Wylie: chos dbyings mdzod) -- which are numbered amongst the Seven Treasuries
Seven Treasuries
The Seven Treasuries are a collection of seven works, some with auto-commentaries, by the Tibetan Buddhist teacher Longchenpa.-Texts of the Seven Treasures:...
(Wylie: mdzod chen bdun) -- the following embedded quotation from this Tantra has been rendered into English by Barron
Richard Barron
Richard Barron is a Canadian-born translator who specializes in the writings of Longchenpa. He has served as an interpreter for many lamas from all from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, including his first teacher, Kalu Rinpoche...
, et. al. (2001: p.8) and the Wylie has been secured from Wikisource and interspersed and embedded in the English gloss for probity:
"You should understand that the nature of all phenomena is that of the five aspects of Samantabhadra [chos thams cad kun tu bzang po lnga'i rang bzhin du shes par bya'o]. What are these? you ask [de yang gang zhe na 'di lta ste]. They are Samantabhadra as nature [rang bzhin kun tu bzang po dang], Samantabhadra as adornment [rgyan kun tu bzang po dang], Samantabhadra as teacher [ston pa kun tu bzang po dang], Samantabhadra as awareness [rig pa kun tu bzang po dang], and Samantabhadra as realization [rtogs pa kun tu bzang po'o]."
'Phenomena' in the abovementioned quotation should be understood as a rendering of dharmas
Dharma (Buddhism)
Dhamma or Dharma in Buddhism can have the following meanings:* The state of Nature as it is * The Laws of Nature considered collectively....
(Sanskrit) which may also be glossed 'constituent factors'. 'Nature' (rang bzhin) is an analogue of 'Svabhava
Svabhava
Svabhava Pāli: sabhāva; Chinese: 自性 zìxìng; ) is intrinsic nature, essential nature or essence.The concept and term svabhāva are frequently encountered in Dharmic traditions such as Advaita Vedānta , Mahāyāna Buddhism Svabhava (Sanskrit: स्वभाव; IAST: svabhāva) Pāli: sabhāva; Chinese: 自性 zìxìng; )...
' (Sanskrit). 'Awareness' is a gloss of 'Rigpa
Rigpa
Rigpa is the knowledge that ensues from recognizing one's nature i.e. one knows that there is a primordial freedom from grasping his or her mind . The opposite of rigpa is marigpa ....
' (Tibetan). Though Buddhism is for the most part non-theistic, Dzogchen and other Buddhadharma traditions often personify attributes or qualities with a deity in textual discourse as Samantabhadra
Samantabhadra
Samantabhadra , is a bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism associated with Buddhist practice and meditation. Together with Shakyamuni Buddha and fellow bodhisattva Manjusri he forms the Shakyamuni trinity in Buddhism...
herein is the Adi-Buddha
Adi-Buddha
In Vajrayana Buddhism, the Adi-Buddha, or Adibuddha , is the "Primordial Buddha." The term refers to a self-emanating, self-originating Buddha, present before anything else existed. Samantabhadra, Samantabhadri and Vajradhara are the best known names for Adi-Buddha, though there are others...
(to be clearly discerned from the namesake Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened existence or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment ." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and...
) and is iconographically 'attributeless' and 'unadorned', the 'primordial Buddha', and Samantabhadra is often so for many textual traditions of Dzogchen in both lineagues of Bonpo and Nyingmapa. Following Longchenpa, wherever Samantabhadra is Samantabhadri
Samantabhadri
Samantabhadri is a dakini and female Buddha from the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition. She is the consort and female counterpart of Samantabhadra, known amongst some Tibetan Buddhists as the 'Primordial Buddha'. Samantabhadri herself is known as the 'primordial Mother Buddha'...
is evident indivisibly in Yab-yum
Yab-Yum
Yab-yum is a common symbol in the Buddhist art of India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet representing the male deity in sexual union with his female consort...
(Tibetan).