DHARMA READING Corner

Buddhist Tantra
by Geshe Tenzin Zopa

                                                                                             Picture courtesy of Belinda Chong

Editor’s Note

The word “Tantra” is like the smell of durians. You are either drawn to it or you run away from it. There is rarely a neutral view towards it.

I used to think that Buddhist Tantra was mystical rather than logical (I’ve since discovered I’m wrong); more suited for the advanced meditator who could leap high mountains in a single jump, rather than a cement-footed, struggle beginner like myself. There has also been the confusion and occasional criticism surrounding Tantra, the “Secret Vehicle” amongst even the faithful within the Buddhist community. I have received tantric initiations with faith and gratitude for the “seeds” and imprints of these sacred teachings but often wondered how much progress I could make in it.

All of these led to my respectful request to my Teacher, Geshe Tenzin Zopa, for clarification and guidance. Through his great generosity of Dharma, his patience and his experiential wisdom gained through personal retreats and his 25 years with the great Lama yogi Geshe Lama Konchog, Geshela graciously acceded to the request of this dull-witted one, who is quite to gobble up Dharma but slow to practice. Geshela explains in this book – in the simplest of terms – what Buddhist Tantra is, it’s authenticity as part of the Buddha’s teachings, why we need it, what it involves, what its purpose is, giving an overview of its methods.

Clarity, confidence, conviction and yes, joy about Tantra as taught by the Buddha, is what the readers will distill from Geshela’s explanations in this book. It will put the readers on a firm footing on this topic of Buddhist Tantra and inspire those who are already Buddhist Tantra practitioners to strive at this noble Path with vigor.

This book is dedicated to our Gurus, the lifeblood of whatever Dharma practice we have, HH Dalai Lama, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the Wish Fulfilling Jewel Geshe Tenzin Zopa. This book is also dedicated to the swift return of the unmistaken reincarnation of Khensur Rinpoche Lhundrup Rigsel.

Huei

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