Padmasambhava statue at Ghyoilisang peace park, Boudhanath
Born
Oddiyana[note 1]
Occupation
Vajra master
Known for
Credited with founding the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism
Padmasambhava ("Born from a Lotus"),[note 2] also known as Guru Rinpoche (Precious Guru) and the Lotus from Oḍḍiyāna, was a tantric Buddhist Vajra master from medieval India who taught Vajrayana in Tibet (circa 8th – 9th centuries).[1][2][3][4] According to some early Tibetan sources like the Testament of Ba, he came to Tibet in the 8th century and helped construct Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet.[3] He is thought to have been born in the Swat Valley in modern-day Pakistan,[5] and to have foreseen the arrival of Ngawang Namgyal, the founder of Bhutan. However, little more is known about the actual historical figure other than his ties to Vajrayana and Indian Buddhism.[6][1]
Padmasambhava later came to be viewed as a central figure in the transmission of Buddhism to Tibet.[7][6] Starting from around the 12th century, hagiographies concerning Padmasambhava were written. These works expanded the profile and activities of Padmasambhava, now seen as taming all the Tibetan spirits and gods, and concealing various secret texts (terma) for future tertöns.[8] Nyangral Nyima Özer (1124–1192) was the author of the Zangling-ma (Jeweled Rosary), the earliest biography of Padmasambhava.[9][10] He has been called "one of the main architects of the Padmasambhava mythos – who first linked Padmasambhava to the Great Perfection in a high-profile manner."[11][12]
In modern Tibetan Buddhism, Padmasambhava is considered to be a Buddha that was foretold by Buddha Shakyamuni.[2] According to traditional hagiographies, his students include the great female masters Yeshe Tsogyal and Mandarava.[6] The contemporary Nyingma school considers Padmasambhava to be a founding figure.[13][4] The Nyingma school also traditionally holds that its Dzogchen lineage has its origins in Garab Dorje through a lineage of transmission to Padmasambhava.[14]
In Tibetan Buddhism, the teachings of Padmasambava are said to include an oral lineage (kama), and a lineage of the hidden treasure texts (termas).[15] Tibetan Buddhism holds that Padmasambhava's termas are discovered by fortunate beings and tertöns (treasure finders) when conditions are ripe for their reception.[16] Padmasambhava is said to appear to tertöns in visionary encounters, and his form is visualized during guru yoga practice, particularly in the Nyingma school. Padmasambhava is widely venerated by Buddhists in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, the Himalayan states of India, and in countries around the world.[7]
Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).
^ abKværne 2013, p. 168.
^ abPalden Sherab Rinpoche 1992
^ abvan Schaik 2011, pp. 34–5.
^ abDoney 2015.
^Givel, M. S. (2015). Gross national happiness in Bhutan: Political institutions and implementation. Asian Affairs, 46(1), 102-117.
^ abcvan Schaik 2011, pp. 34–5, 96–8.
^ abBuswell & Lopez 2013, p. 600.
^van Schaik 2011, p. 96.
^Doney 2014.
^Dalton 2004.
^Germano 2005.
^Gyatso 2006.
^Harvey 2008, p. 204.
^Cite error: The named reference KPSR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Khenchen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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