Gathering the Elements: The Cult of the Wrathful Deity Vajrakila according to the Texts of the Northern Treasures Tradition of Tibet Rig-dzin rdo-rje (Martin J Boord)

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Gathering the Elements: The Cult of the Wrathful Deity Vajrakila according to the Texts of the Northern Treasures Tradition of Tibet
By:Rig-dzin rdo-rje (Martin J Boord)

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Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9783942380102
Publication Date: Aug. 2013

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Contents

The first volume in this series presents a comprehensive overview of the origin, growth and establishment of the Northern Treasures (Byang-gter) school of Tibetan Buddhism, together with a detailed study of the esoteric wrathful deity Vajrakila (rDo-rje phur-pa) and his cult as represented by the literature and living tradition of this school.

From the roots of kila mythology, deeply embedded within the pre-Buddhist religion of ancient India, the text follows the path of a humble wooden stake towards its magnificent apotheosis as a terrifying god of awesome power by whom all demons are vanquished. Devotees of the Kila deity, merging body, speech and mind within the sacred mandala of this glorious vision, experience a spiritual ecstasy equated with the higher siddhi, a profound knowledge utterly free of propositional content, and become imbued with a confident sense of well-being as an indication of having banished the evil hordes of Mara beyond the confines of the world.

The currently available collections of Byang-gter phur-pa texts at the heart of the present study together comprise a total of over 250 separate titles, including root tantra, rites of initiation and empowerment, profound meditations on the nature of enlightenment, rules for the invocation of the system protectors, wrathful ritual activities against enemies and longevity rites for the benefit of the yogin and his sponsors. All of these topics, and more, are put into context within the pages of this book so that the reader is presented with a comprehensive gathering of the essential elements of the cult of the deity Vajrakila in the illustrious tradition of the Northern Treasures.

Gathering the Elements: The Cult of the Wrathful Deity Vajrakila according to the Texts of the Northern Treasures Tradition of Tibet, Rig-dzin rdo-rje (Martin J Boord), Edition Khordong, Hardcover, 410 Pages, $65.00

Contents: GATHERING THE ELEMENTS: Vajrakila Texts of the Northern Treasures Traditions - Volume One by Rig-'dzin rdo-rje (Martin J. Boord)

Abbreviations viii

Introduction 1

rNying-ma-pa Literature
16

The Byang-gter Kila texts
19

PART ONE

Chapter 1. The Byang-gter Tradition
31

Concealment of the treasures
32

Rediscovery of the hidden treasures
38

Maintaining the continuity of the tradition
45

Establishing the tradition in the hidden land of Yol-mo
64

Northern Treasures Studies in Tibet
77

Second state oracle
81

The Byang-gter tradition in the modern world
83

PART TWO

Chapter 2. Buddhist assimilation of the kila 89

Vedic antecedents
89

Architecture
90

Vetala: ghouls at the limit of life and death
92

The sutras
97

Dawn of the kilamantra (dharani)
99

Simabandha in the lower Buddhist tantra
101

Simabandha in the yoganiruttaratantra

108

Other kila rituals
109

Chronological summary
112

Coda
129

Chapter 3. Iconography of Vajrakila 134

High aspiration and low activities

134

Mara and Rudra: embodiments of evil
140

Conquest of evil and the birth of Vajrakila
141

The nature of the conqueror
143

Manifestation in the form of symbols
145

The consort Trptacakra; 'Circle of Satisfaction'
154

Embodiments of paradox
156

The divine retinue
157

Variations on a theme
159

A handful of nails
161

TABLE 1: The 18 arms of Mahottarakila
164

Chapter 4. The religious chronicles 165

The texts
165

The revelation of mahayoga
165

Apportionment of the sadhana
170

Acarya Padmasambhava
174

The Kila Vidyottama-tantra
179

The mahottarakila cycle
187

Iconic scorpions and kila
192

The transmission to Tibet
196

Later lineages of practice
198

PART THREE

Chapter 5. The Byang-gter Vajrakila tantras 209

Chapter 6. Rites of empowerment 227

Chapter 7. Rituals of the creation stage (utpattikrama) 252

TABLE 2: Iconography of the dasakrodha kings
268

Chapter 8. Attainment of the higher siddhi (sampannakrama) 269

Chapter 9. Gaining control of the mischievous spirits 274

Chapter 10. Wrathful activities for the benefit of others 297

Scattering
297

Burning
299

Pressing Down
306

Chapter 11. Activities for the benefit of the yogin 310

Chapter 12. The Ritual supplements 321

Conclusion 330

APPENDIX I

Five collections of Byang-gter Vajrakila literature
334

APPENDIX II

Notes from the Sanskrit
348

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

Sanskrit
368

Tibetan
370

Western languages
372

Index 395

ILLUSTRATIONS

The gter ston Rig-'dzin rgod-ldem by Gega Lama
30

The deity Vajrakila by Jamyang
88

Kilamudra by A. Snodgrass
102

Black hat sorcerer
208

Pit for the destruction of enemies
281

Altar for the wrathful fire rite
300