Great Image (eBook)

Introduction:A Summary of the Text

AlaZenkar Rinpoche

Recently,the great Dharma Senge found six different copies of TheGreatImage. Comparingthese different editions, he edited together a definitive version which he hadcarved on woodblocks and printed. This text describes the life of the supremeVairotsana, his place of birth, the names of his parents, and his name as achild. He himself had five names during his life. When he was eight years old,he met King Trisong Deutsen, studied languages, and acted as his outer andinner minister for seven years. At the age of fifteen, he went to India tosearch for the pith instructions. TheGreatImage describesthe actual journey and the sixteen hardships he went through.

Thefirst chapter describes the appearance of the effortless doctrine coming fromAkanishta. This doctrine was taught through four kayas: the svabhavikakayadoctrine was taught through clarifying self-pointing-out, the dharmakayadoctrine was taught by direct self-liberation, the sambhogakaya doctrine wastaught through self-essence, and the secret kaya was taught through the methodof great bliss.

Thesecond chapter describes the doctrine being taught in gradual stages to thosewithout the good fortune of understanding and realization. Particularly in therealms of the World of Endurance, the Buddha Shakyamuni and others tamed beingsin whatever way was effective. In the celestial realms the doctrine was firsttaught through the vehicle of characteristics and secondly through the SecretMantra Vehicle. The Secret Mantra consists of the outer tantric doctrine of theMuni and the inner magnetizing vehicle, comprised of the Maha Yoga tantras, theAnu Yoga transmissions, and the Ati Yoga teachings. The Maha Yoga tantras firstappeared when King Ja received transmission through seven dreams. When thebooks and an image of Vajrapani descended on the roof of his house, King Jastarted practicing the first chapter of the Vajrasattva tantra. Afterpracticing for six months, he had a vision of Vajrasattva, who gave him a staffand a Dharma wheel and empowered him. After that he fully understood the textsand then classified them into eighteen tantras.

Thesecond chapter deals with the Anu Yoga transmissions. The five noble beingswent to the top of Mount Malaya and fervently prayed to all the buddhas, whodiscussed their request and decided to send Vajrapani. So Vajrapani went toMount Malaya and taught the Scriptureof the Embodiment of the Realization of All Buddhas. Then,in Oddiyana he gave the glorious Yangdag tantras and instructions to thenirmanakaya Prahevajra.

Thethird chapter describes how the special Ati Yoga doctrine came to the celestialand human realms. The Secret Mantra teachings appeared because the sixnecessary conditions were present. In the Heaven of the Thirty-three, the god'sson Sem Lhagchen (Adhichitta in Sanskrit) had a very special dream. He prayedto the buddhas, who invoked Vajrasattva. Vajrasattva then emanated Vajrapanifrom his heart, gave Sem Lhagchen a precious wheel, and called him Sattvavajra.After receiving the mind essence of the five buddhas, Vajrapani gave theempowerment of direct anointment to Adhicitta, along with the empowerments andinstructions of TenMiraculous Scriptures, Threefold Spontaneous Accomplishment, Great Sphere,Unchanging Finnness, Immediacy of Awareness, Nondual Mingling, Vajra Statement, andmany other empowerments and tantras. All these were given in an instant, andAdhicitta was empowered as a regent. That concludes the third chapter, aboutthe doctrine coming to the three celestial realms.

Thefourth chapter...