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The Home of Tibetan Buddhist Texts in Translation
ISSN 2753-4812
ISSN 2753-4812

Padmasambhava

Indian Masters Padmasambhava

English (35) | Deutsch (1) | Español (9) | Français (2) | 中文 (5) | བོད་ཡིག (35)

Texts by and about Guru Padmasambhava or Padmākara (padma 'byung gnas), the "Lotus-Born", who is credited with establishing Buddhism in Tibet:

Biography

by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye
This epic of Guru Padmasambhava, as recorded by Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal, was revealed by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye as a “siddhi”. The text consists of ten short chapters, each related to a different aspect of the master’s life and activities.
Biography Rinchen Terdzö 17 Dec 2018
revealed by Dudjom Lingpa
This seven-chapter biography is a late example of the Kathang (bka' thang) genre, a versified chronicle of Padmasambhava's life as recounted to Emperor Tri Songdetsen and his subjects. The text is unusually detailed in its description of Padmasambhava's personal practice, listing dozens of places where he meditated, how long he stayed, which practices he performed, which results he gained, and so on. It concludes with a chapter that includes prophecies and practical advice for the people of Tibet.
Biography Termas Dudjom Tersar 22 Jul 2018
by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye
Extracted from the famous collection of the life stories of 108 treasure revealers called A Precious Garland of Lapis Lazuli, this account of Guru Padmasambhava's life and liberation synthesises and even comments upon earlier sources.
Biography Rinchen Terdzö 23 May 2018
by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa
This concise biography of the eighth-century master from Uḍḍīyana, Guru Padmasambhava, who established Buddhism in Tibet, was revealed in 1856 by the great treasure-revealer Chokgyur Lingpa as part of the Sevenfold Cycle of Profundity (zab pa skor bdun). The text consists of ten short chapters, each related to a different aspect of the master’s life and activities.
Biography Guru Rinpoche Prayers Termas Guru Padmasambhava Chokling Tersar 6 Feb 2017
by Tāranātha
Tāranātha composed this biography of Padmasambhava in 1610. It is unique insofar as it does not follow the version of the life-story recounted in numerous terma texts. Instead, it follows the historical perspective of the Testimony of Ba, as well as several Nyingma tantras and their commentaries.
Biography Rinchen Terdzö 16 Mar 2019

Dzogchen

revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
A short commentary on the first of the six tantras of 'liberation through wearing' within the Khandro Nyingtik.
Khandro Nyingtik Takdrol Dzogchen Restricted 28 Mar 2025
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
A brief explanation of the yoga of meditation under six headings, including a brief overview of the seven types of conduct as set out in The Union of the Sun and Moon Tantra.
Khandro Nyingtik Restricted 11 Feb 2025
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
The fruition or result is explained under six headings: (1) the essence of fruition, (2) its manner of ripening, (3) its definition, (4) its subdivisions, (5) its method of practice, and (6) its name.
Khandro Nyingtik Restricted 13 Feb 2025
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
A brief explanation of the yoga of meditation under six headings, which includes an explanation of how to divide the day and night into ten sessions.
Khandro Nyingtik Restricted 6 Feb 2025
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
The four yogas are view, meditation, conduct, and fruition. Here, the view is discussed under six headings: identity, modes of realization, literal definition, subdivisions, methods of practice, and alternative names.
Khandro Nyingtik Restricted 22 Jan 2025
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
This brief introduction to Trekchö includes the following topics: probing to the root of thought; searching for hidden flaws; investigating coming, staying and going; introducing thoughts as mind; introducing mind as empty; introducing emptiness as appearance; introducing appearance and emptiness as non-dual; introducing that non-duality as self-liberated; introducing the five poisons as self-liberated; and introducing the six sensory perceptions as self-liberated.
Khandro Nyingtik Dzogchen Restricted 12 Aug 2024

Empowerment

revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
Notes on how to guide students by granting the empowerments gradually over time, waiting for signs of accomplishment before proceeding to the next empowerment and introducing the corresponding practice.
Khandro Nyingtik Empowerment Restricted 30 Jul 2024
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
One of two almost identical texts within the Khandro Nyingtik collection explaining how the four empowerments are granted over the course of three days.
Khandro Nyingtik Empowerment Restricted 25 Jul 2024
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
One of two virtually identical texts within the Khandro Nyingtik collection explaining how the four empowerments are granted over the course of three days.
Khandro Nyingtik Empowerment Restricted 25 Jul 2024

Guru Rinpoche Prayers

by Longchen Rabjam and Jigme Lingpa
This prayer to Guru Padmasambhava for the swift fulfilment of all wishes begins with a verse from ‘The Infinite Cloud Banks of Profound Meaning’ (zab don rgya mtsho'i sprin phung), which is part of Longchen Rabjam’s Khandro Yangtik (mkha' 'gro yang tig), and concludes with several verses written by Jigme Lingpa. It is said to be particularly beneficial for Tibet, as it has the power to pacify illness, prevent famine and border invasions, and contribute to the welfare of the teachings and beings.
Guru Rinpoche Prayers Guru Padmasambhava Khandro Yangtik Nyingma Mönlam 27 Apr 2013

History

revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
A brief account of the Khandro Nyingtik lineage from Samantabhadra and Samantabhadrī down to the treasure-revealer Pema Ledrel Tsal and beyond.
Khandro Nyingtik History 22 Nov 2023

Praise

by Śāntigarbha
This four-line praise may be the earliest prayer to Padmasambhava preserved in writing. It forms the colophon of the Noose of Methods (IOL Tib J 321, Thabs zhags, or Upāyapāśa), a Mahāyoga commentary attributed to Padmasambhava. A 10th century manuscript of the Noose of Methods including this praise was found at the Dunhuang caves. The prayer shows some similarity to the famous Seven-Line Prayer (tshig bdun gsol ‘debs).
Praise 30 Oct 2018
by Drikung Kyobpa Jikten Sumgön
This very short work in praise of Guru Padmasambhava—the Great Guru of Uḍḍiyāna—appears at the beginning of the first volume of the Drikung Yangre Gar (ʾbri gung yang re sgar) edition of Jikten Sumgön's collected works.
Praise 23 Feb 2016
by Mipham Rinpoche
This praise to the Master Padmasambhava is part of a set of three praises commemorating the lives of the so-called Abbot, Master and Dharma-King (Khen Lob Chö Sum), i.e., Śāntarakṣita, Guru Padmasambhava and Tri Songdetsen.
Praise 4 Aug 2018

Prayers

by Nyangral Nyima Özer
This prayer in 26 verses recounts the major events of the life of Guru Padmasambhava, from his miraculous birth upon a lotus to his final departure from Tibet for the land of the rakṣasas. Upon recollecting each stage or episode in the Guru's life, the reader requests empowerment and blessings.
Guru Rinpoche Prayers Guru Padmasambhava Biographical Prayers Termas Rinchen Terdzö 22 Aug 2017
by Alak Zenkar Pema Ngödrup Rolwe Dorje
An eight-line prayer to Guru Padmasambhava that incorporates the shortest possible summary of his life and an aspiration for rebirth on the Glorious Copper-Coloured Mountain.
Guru Rinpoche Prayers Guru Padmasambhava Zangdok Palri Aspirations 2 Feb 2019
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
A prayer to the lineage of Khandro Nyingtik: Samantabhadra and Samantabhadrī, the peaceful and wrathful deities, Vajradhara, Garab Dorje, Śrī Siṃha, Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal, Pema Ledrel Tsal, Gyalse Lekpa, Longchen Rabjam, Jamyang Khyabdal Lhundrup and Tulku Drakpa Özer.
Khandro Nyingtik Lineage Prayers 15 Nov 2023
attributed to Menlungpa Mikyö Dorje
One of the most famous four-line prayers to Guru Padmasambhava. It is attributed to Menlungpa Mikyö Dorje, who is also credited with a detailed commentary on the prayer. The final line is often adapted to turn the text into a tea-offering (ja mchod).
Guru Rinpoche Prayers Guru Padmasambhava 12 Apr 2019
by Nyangral Nyima Özer
This brief Prayer in Seven Chapters (gsol 'debs le'u bdun ma) is said to have been discovered by the great tertön Nyangral Nyima Özer at Samye Monastery.
Le'u Dünma Guru Rinpoche Prayers Guru Padmasambhava Termas 31 May 2013

Sādhanas

revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
A short inner sādhana focusing on Samantabhadra and consort, together with the buddhas of the five families and their consorts, as well as the four gatekeepers. Aside from the visualization, the text briefly outlines the mantra recitation, and offers a brief summary of the benefits that accrue from the practice.
Khandro Nyingtik Restricted 16 Jan 2025

Sang Offering

Divine Blue Water (lha chab sngon mo) is a smoke offering (bsang) ritual that functions as a remedy against ritual pollution (grib), specifically the form known as ‘contamination’ (mnol). The text is attributed to Padmasambhava, but was not hidden as a treasure (gter ma); it was painted on the wall at Samye Monastery and it is from there that the textual lineage derives. Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche (1904–1987) edited the version published here, which appears in modern editions of the Nyingma Kama.
Sang Offering 18 Feb 2018

Tantras

revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
The first of six tantras of 'liberation through wearing'—takdrol (btags grol) in Tibetan—included in the Khandro Nyingtik collection.
Khandro Nyingtik Takdrol Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 13 Feb 2025
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
The second of six tantras of 'liberation through wearing'—takdrol (btags grol) in Tibetan—included in the Khandro Nyingtik collection.
Khandro Nyingtik Takdrol Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 17 Mar 2025
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
The third of six tantras of 'liberation through wearing'—takdrol (btags grol) in Tibetan—included in the Khandro Nyingtik collection.
Khandro Nyingtik Takdrol Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 17 Mar 2025
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
The fourth of six tantras of 'liberation through wearing'—takdrol (btags grol) in Tibetan—included in the Khandro Nyingtik collection.
Khandro Nyingtik Takdrol Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 17 Mar 2025
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
The fifth of six tantras of 'liberation through wearing'—takdrol (btags grol) in Tibetan—included in the Khandro Nyingtik collection.
Khandro Nyingtik Takdrol Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 19 Mar 2025
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
The sixth of six tantras of 'liberation through wearing'—takdrol (btags grol) in Tibetan—included in the Khandro Nyingtik collection.
Khandro Nyingtik Takdrol Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 21 Mar 2025

Testament

revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
The first of three testaments of the buddhas contained in the Heart-Essence of the Ḍākinīs collection, this contains an extremely succinct summary of the preliminaries, Trekchö and Tögal, as received by Garab Dorje.
Khandro Nyingtik Testament Restricted 6 Sep 2024
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
The second of three testaments of the buddhas preserved in the Heart-Essence of the Ḍākinīs collection, this focuses on the preliminary practices of body, speech and mind. The same text, with minor differences, is also found in the Vima Nyingtik.
Khandro Nyingtik Testament Restricted 24 Oct 2024
revealed by Pema Ledrel Tsal
The third of three testaments of the buddhas contained in the Heart-Essence of the Ḍākinīs collection, this covers the crucial points of body, speech and mind in Tögal practice.
Khandro Nyingtik Testament Restricted 13 Nov 2024
Padmasambhava

Guru Padmasambhava

Courtesy of Himalayan Art Resources

Name variants:

Guru Rinpoche
Lobpön Rinpoche
Orgyen Rinpoche

Further information:

Treasury of Lives Author Bio
BDRC Author Profile (P4956)

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ISSN 2753-4812

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