Ten Early Tantras of the Great Perfection: A Basket of Diamonds

I am very grateful to Chris Wilkinson because he is bringing all these marvelous texts in English for the first time. For all whi have received empowerment for these practices, it is a great blessing to be able to read such upadeshas. However, I am worried of disclosing these texts in the open, so vases not ready for this instructions might get diverted. I offer my merits for the samaya of all beings involved in this publication.

The Great Translator of Atiyoga texts, Christopher Wikinson has once again shattered all expectations and detractors with his release of The Early Tantras of the Great Perfection. Though many scholars have worked on the 100,000 Tantras of the Ancient Ones, until Chris started producing workable translations at a prolific rate, these texts have remained difficult to access, aside from the recent works of a few others, notably Namkhai Norbu, Eric Pema Kunsang, and Keith Dowman. These translations are intentionally literal and published without commentary or elaboration, along with the Tibetan texts, so that the aspirant who is attracted to the Great Perfection teachings can access an ever greater number of original sources without any filtering or philosophical bias. These are the texts that Longchenpa studied. And yet, due to modern technology, we may have access to more texts of the Great Perfection than did Longchenpa. The huge Nyingma Tantra collections published since the conquest of Tibet in 1959 have brought out many rare and possibly unknown texts that would have been difficult to find, even in Tibet, in spite of these texts having been translated into Tibetan over 1200 years ago. Though each of the texts translated in Ten Early Tantras could be reviewed, here only the last one, The Single Grain of the Black Yangti will be mentioned. As with many Great Perfection texts, the dialogue takes place between Vajrasattva and Samantabhadra. Vajrasattva asks about standard Mahayana and Vajrayana practices from the perspective of the Great Perfection. Each in a separate chapter, Samantabhadra elucidates: empowerment, studying and traveling the path, accumulations (of merit and insight), clearing obstructions, commitments (samaya), the mandala, diety meditation, mantra recitation, samadhis attained, generosity, and prayers or supplications. In other Great Perfection texts, such as the Universal Ruler (kun ‘byed rgyal po), the atiyoga perspective is contrasted with the ten essential aspects of Tantra, listing them as: outlook, meditation, behavior, initiation, mandala, charismatic activity, commitments, capacities, worship, and mantras. Though the lists differ, the teachings in both texts (Black Yangti and Universal Ruler) explain how these elements of vajrayana practice are not only unnecessary, but are hindrances to realization of that reality toward which the great perfection points. Yet unlike the paths of renunciation (the teachings of basic Buddhism) who reject lower practices, these elements of the bodhisattva and developing and completion stages of vajrayana are not necessary because they are included and subsumed within the vision and direct experiential realization of the great perfection. For instance, the five paths do not need to be traversed one after another because, as the text says, they are already all included: We take pleasure in the five elements, Comprising the path of accumulation. Non-dual wisdom is clear to us, Comprising the path of application. The clarity of insight dawns on us, Comprising the path of seeing. The very fact of awareness Comprises the path of meditation. All these abiding non-dually Comprises the path that reaches the end. [p. 143, verses paraphrased]In another chapter, regarding mantra recitation, the text concludes: Those who abide by what it means to be unspeakable Are the supreme masters over all the secret mantras. [p. 157]Anyone who feels connected to the Great Perfection will benefit from reading the basic texts of that peak vehicle. These sacred texts and the unbroken lineages that have transmitted them are the basis on which the syncretic works of luminaries such as Longchenpa and Jigmed Lingpa depend. Though challenging to read, the heart truths pointed out in these ancient great perfection texts shine brightly within us all, right now. Follow the pointers.

Great collection of early masterpieces, wonderful translation

Great!

The presentation of the book by the author says it all - this is a rare treasure.I know the other books of the translator in the same category, they are all unique.This present one is doubtlessly a peerless gem.Maybe in less then a decade these works of Chris Wilkinson shall be treasured as among the most significant and superb for practitioners of the Great Perfection / Universal Dharma.The maximum of what can be contained in words - a timeless reminder and instruction.