The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra, Volume 1 by The Dalai Lama

Author:The Dalai Lama
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala

IDENTIFYING THE FOUR TANTRAS

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE FORMS OF ENTRY TO THE VAJRA VEHICLE

This has three parts: number of doors of entry to Mantra, identifying the features positing the different doors of entry, and modes of advancing on the paths possessing these features.

NUMBER OF DOORS OF ENTRY TO MANTRA

The thirteenth chapter of the Vajrapañjara91 says:

Action tantras are for the lower.

Yoga without actions is for those above them.

The supreme Yoga is for supreme beings.

The Highest Yoga is for those above them.

Accordingly, for the trainees of the Vajra Vehicle, four sets of tantras are set forth for the lower, the middling who are above them, the supreme, and the very supreme who are above them. Hence, there are four doors of entry from the approach of four sets of tantras.

Shraddhākaravarma’s Introduction to the Meaning of the Highest Yoga Tantras92 also explains:

The approaches for engaging in the Secret Mantra, Effect, Vajra Vehicle are fourfold—generally renowned as Action Tantras, Performance Tantras, Yoga Tantras, and Highest Yoga Tantras.

IDENTIFYING THE FEATURES POSITING THE DIFFERENT DOORS OF ENTRY TO THE VAJRA VEHICLE

This has two parts: a question and an answer.

QUESTION ABOUT THE FEATURES POSITING THE DIFFERENT DOORS OF ENTRY TO THE VAJRA VEHICLE

These doors of entry to Mantra, which are different levels in the tantra sets from the viewpoint of lower and higher trainees, are not by way of lower and higher objects of intent or objects of attainment because even all those who enter the Vajra Vehicle do not differ as to their having generated the Great Vehicle aspiration, seeking highest enlightenment [as their attainment] for the sake of all sentient beings [their objects of intent]. Also, [the differences between the doors of entry to Mantra] are not by way of having differences in their general paths that serve as the main causes of the Two Bodies, the objects of attainment, because [the four tantra sets] are similar in that a Truth Body is achieved through the wisdom realizing the absence of inherent existence, and they are also similar with regard to the generality that a Form Body is achieved through cultivating deity yoga.

Hence, even all are only the one vehicle called the “Vajra Vehicle”; if individual vehicles or doors of entry that are different levels in the tantra sets were posited merely through the presence of many different path attributes such as various deity yogas, then there would have to be many different vehicles even in each Highest Yoga Tantra, and there would be many doors of entry that would be different tantra sets even in one Highest Yoga Tantra such as Guhyasamāja because the Compendium of Wisdom Vajras (jñānavajrasamuccaya, an explanation of the Guhyasamāja Tantra) says that there are five types of persons, lower and higher—lotus, sandalwood, [white lotus, utpala, and jewel]. Therefore, you should explain the reason why four doors of entry to Mantra are presented as different tantra sets from the viewpoint of higher and lower trainees.

ANSWER ABOUT THE FEATURES POSITING THE DIFFERENT DOORS OF ENTRY TO THE VAJRA VEHICLE

This has two parts: indicating the incorrectness of others’ answers and giving our own answer.

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