Also by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Meaningful to Behold Clear Light of Bliss Buddhism in the Tibetan Tradition Heart of Wisdom Universal Compassion A Meditation Handbook Joyful Path of Good Fortune GUIDE TO DAKIN! LAN[> A COMMENTARY TO THE HIGHEST YOGA TANTRA PRACTICE OF V AJRA YOGIN! Geshe Kelsang Gyatso •~• Tharpa Publications London First published in 1991 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means except for the quotation of brief passages for the purpose of private study, research, criticism, or review. Tharpa Publications 15 Bendemeer Road London SW15 1JX © Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and Manjushri Institute 1991 Cover painting of Buddha Vajradharma by the Tibetan artist Chating Jamyang Lama. Cover photo of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso by Robin Bath. Line illustrations by Andy Weber and Ani Kelsang Wangmo. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Kelsang Gyatso, Geshe 1932- Guide to Dakini Land: A Commentary to the Highest Yoga Tantra practice of Vajrayogini. 1. Yoga I. Title 181.45 ISBN 0 948006 09 9 Designed by Monica Chia Phototypeset in Palatino by Intype, London. Printed on acid-free 250-year longlife paper and bound in Great Britain by Biddies Limited, Guildford. Contents Illustrations vii Acknowledgements ix Editorial Note x Introduction xi Preliminary explanation 1 The yogas of sleeping, rising, and experiencing ~c~r ~ The yoga of immeasurables 39 The yoga of the Guru 78 The yoga of self-generation and the yoga of purifying migrators 106 The yoga of being blessed by Heroes and Heroines 125 The actual meditation of generation stage 150 The yoga of verbal and mental recitation 159 The yoga of inconceivability and the yoga of daily actions 179 How to attain outer Pure Dakini Land through the practice of generation stage 200 Completion stage 207 Dedication 223 Appendix I- Condensed meaning of the Text 225 Appendix II - Sadhanas 237 Dakini Yoga: Vajrayogini Six-session Guru Yoga 239 Quick Path to Great Bliss: Vajrayogini Self-generation Sadhana 267 Feast of Great Bliss: Vajrayogini Self-initiation Sadhana 329 Vajrayogini Retreat Preliminaries 399 v GUIDE TO DAKIN! LAND Preliminary Jewel: Condensed Vajrayogini Retreat Preliminaries 427 Vajrayogini Burning Offering Sadhana 437 Va jradaka Burning Offering Sadhana 495 Samayavajra Sadhana 503 Appendix III- Diagrams and Illustrations 509 Hand Gestures 511 Ritual Objects 517 Glossary 525 Bibliography 541 Study Programmes 545 Index 551 vi Illustrations Vajrayogini xii Mandala of Vajrayogini xiv Commentary Buddha Vajradharma 30 Vajrayogini 54 Naropa 92 Pamtingpa 124 Paldan Lama Tanpa Sonam Gyaltsan 158 Dechen Nyingpo Phabongkha Dorjechang 180 Losang Yeshe Trijang Dorjechang 208 Dakini Yoga Guru Vajradharma 240 Losang Yeshe Trijang Dorjechang 242 Vajrayogini 254 Quick Path to Great Bliss Guru Va jradharma 268 Hero Va jradharma 282 Va jrayogini 288 Dorje Shugdan 292 Kinkara 306 Feast of Great Bliss Guru Vajradharma 330 Hero Vajradharma 346 Vajrayogini 370 Kinkara 384 Dorje Shugdan 388 vii GUIDE TO DAKINI LAND Vajrayogini Retreat Preliminaries Vajrayogini 400 Khandarohi 416 Preliminary Jewel Va jrayogini 428 Vajrayogini Burning Offering Sadhana Fire Deity 446 Vajrayogini 458 Vajradaka Burning Offering Sadhana Vajradaka 496 Samayavajra Sadhana Samayavajra 504 Diagrams and Illustrations Hand gestures 511 Ritual objects 517 viii Acknowledgements The instruction of Vajrayogini is the most profound Highest Yoga Tantra teaching. Originally given by Buddha Vajradhara within the Heruka Tantra, it is the supreme method to purify the environment, body, and mind. At Manjushri Institute in 1981, out of his inexhaustible great compassion, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso gave a complete oral commentary of the instruction of Vajrayogini, having first granted the empowerments of Heruka and Vajrayogini to the students present. Now, so that the blessings of Buddha Vajra- yogini may be received by many beings throughout the world, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso has composed this book, Guide to Dakini Land, based on his original oral commentary. For his immeasurable kindness in revealing this precious instruction to us and composing this supreme text, we thank the author from the depths of our hearts. We pray that we may gain perfect realization of this instruction by putting his teachings into practice purely and energetically. We also thank all those who helped with the different stages of preparing the manuscript, including James Belither, Jackie Devis, Daniel Smith, Ruth Lister, Mariana Libano, Michael Gar- side, Hugh Clift, Lucy James, Helene Oester, Rita Christie, and Alison Ramsay, and our special thanks go to Gelong Thubten Gyatso for reviewing and completing the final editing. Through the merits created by this work, may all sentient beings achieve the state of Buddha Vajrayogini. Roy Tyson, Director Manjushri Institute May 1990 ix