by Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche
For Vajrayana practitioners, the Guhyagarbha Tantra is one of the most important tantras because it is the foundation of all tantras, particularly the Inner Tantras. Therefore it’s called the “King of All Tantras.” The Guhyagarbha Tantra is the source of every pith instruction. Guru Padmasambhava used these teachings to initiate, transmit, and guide practitioners. This is why the twenty-five disciples and the eighty mahasiddhas of the Yerpa region all reached enlightenment within a single lifetime.
Because the Guhyagarbha Tantra was so special and dear, just before his departure from Tibet, Guru Padmasambhava wrote a summary of these teachings and gave them to his students. The title of that summary was Garland of Views of the Pith Instructions. After giving them to Dharma King Trisong Deutsen as his final teaching, Guru Rinpoche said, “Never forget these.”
Why did Guru Padmasambhava feel it was important to provide this teaching at that time? Practitioners’ misunderstandings can cause them to swing back and forth between extremes. Sometimes their conceptions, ideas, or ideologies carry them to one far side of the view or the other. Sometimes they are simply caught up in detailed activities, guidelines, or systems. Either way, they swing back and forth between two extremes, neither of which is good on the practice level. We must be balanced.
Guru Padmasambhava gave Garland of Views as one of his final teachings so that everyone at that time and in the future could keep the view in a stable and strong way. He wanted everyone in the present and future to read this book.
Paperback | Full Color
Dharma Samudra, 12/28/24
Pages: 305, Size: 6 x 9
ISBN: 978-1-7335411-9-0
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