Essay name: Hevajra Tantra (analytical study)
Author:
Seung Ho Nam
Affiliation: University of Kerala / Faculty of Oriental Studies
This is an English study of the Hevajra Tantra: an ancient Sanskrit text that teaches the process of attaining Buddha-hood for removing the sufferings of all sentient beings. The Hevajratantra amplifies the views and methods found in the Guhyasamaja Tantra (one of the earliest extant Buddhist Tantras) dealing with Yoga and Mandalas.
Chapter 3 - Tantric Doctrine in Hevajra Tantra
126 (of 138)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
According to the Dalai Lama, only a
Lama, only a
person who views all the
phenomena of cyclic existence with complete impartiality is qualified to
engage in tantric sexual practices: "Truthfully, you can only do such
practice if there is no sexual desire whatsoever. The kind of realization
that is required is like this: If someone gives you a goblet of wine and a
glass of urine, or a plate of wonderful food and a piece of excrement,
you must be in such a state that you can eat and drink from all four and
it makes no difference to you what they are. Then maybe you can do
this practice." There are various types of seals, some real and some
imagined. In order to attain Buddhahood in one lifetime it is necessary to
鉁� use an 鈥渁ction seal" (an actual consort), because the great power of
practice with an actual consort allows one to generate an illusory body
that arises as a deity.430
i
[HT] Take a Vajra girl who has a beautiful face, wide eyes, endowed with grace
and youth, is of the colour of the blue lotus and is herself consecrated and
merciful. Instruct her regarding the method for performing this Application of the
Vow. If a virgin of the Vajra family is not available, then prepare to practise with a
virgin belonging to the family of one's own chosen deity. If not, practise with a
virgin born of another family. Take such a virgin who has been refined by the
dropping of the Seed of Enlightenment (bodhibija). (1.6.9)431
In Tantra special attention is given to the female forces without whose
association the tantric practices are difficult specially at the Completion
Stage. There is frequent reference to female deities such as Cand膩li,
Domb墨, Savar墨, Yogini and Nair膩tmy膩. While in the practice of Action
Seal (mudr膩), a Completion stage practice, a female consort's help is
considered necessary for making progress.
[HT] A divine consort who originates from [one of] the Five Families must be
introduced into this mandala. Or else, any available sixteen year-old girl must be
introduced. The consort is served until her sexual fluids flow. Then covering the face
of the consort as well as that of the 'Means', drop the fluid which has arisen from
the service into the mouth of the disciple. There, with that dropping the Flavor of
430 John Powers, Ibid, pp.252鈥�253.
431 (HT [F&M]., pp.63鈥�64)
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