Chapter 2 - Introduction: The Lineage of the Sādhana

[Full title: the Lineage of the Sādhana (propitiation) of Ārya Amoghapaśa].

(‘Phags pa don yod zhags pa): a paṇḍita named E ra pa ti^[1] who was a native of Southern India, came to a vihara called Bhaktibala (dad pa'i stobs) in {(6b)} Southern India, and was ordained. He became a great paṇḍita who mastered all the branches of science.

On his return to his native country, he preached the Doctrine to his mother. Once when he was walking on the roof of a house, he caused a piece of brick to fall down on his mother’s head, which caused her death. Such an action did not represent a true murder, for as the ācārya Āryadeva had said in his Cittāvarannaviśodha^[2] : A monk who had asked his aged father to go quickly, and pushing him on, caused the father’s death, was not found guilty of a parajika sin.^[3] Since he did it amidst evil circumstances, he propitiated Amoghapaśa during six months in order to purify the sin, but no signs manifested themselves. He performed the propitiation rite for a second time, and again no signs were observed. Again he performed the rite for a third time, and again no signs were observed.

While he was holding in his hand a sandal rosary and was repeating the mantra “Hrī Trailokya...” he fell asleep and the rosary fell from his hand. When he awoke, he saw that all the place was filled with shades and lights, and that a shower of flowers and scented water was falling. He gazed in all directions but failed to see anything. He then looked up the tree, at the foot of which he was sitting, and saw the five deities of the parivāra of Amoghapaśa appearing clearly on the trunk. He said: O Ārya! Wh_y did you not manifest yourself? Are you small in commiseration, or am I great in defilement? The Ārya replied: I have never parted from you! and he imparted to him many doctrines. Since then he was able to listen to the Doctrine at will.

He then thought of going to another country and to spread there the Doctrine of Ārya (Avalokiteśvara). People, however, continued to call him the Sinner who had killed his own mother (ma bsad pa'i sdig chan), and did not listen to his preaching. Many siddhas such as Śrii Virūpa and others gathered and listened to his preaching of the Doctrine. The king of that country said to the siddhas: Though you are siddhas, how can you listen to the preaching by such a sinner? The siddhas replied: He is the chief of all the siddhas! All his previous actions have been miracles performed by Ārya {(7a)} (Avalokiteśvara). After that the king repented and all were filled with faith.

He had a servant upāsaka. At the latter’s request he composed the sādhana of Amoghapaśa. Elapatra (E ra pa ti) bestowed it on a yogin of low caste in the South. This yogin attained spiritual realization^[4] and when a boatman refused to ferry him across the Ganges, he struck the river with his mendicant staff, and the Ganges stopped flowing.

From him the Doctrine was obtained by the paṇḍita don yod rdo rje^[5] known as rdo rje gdan pa. Further, the pa__ita Dharmakapāla obtained it from Mahakarunnika^[6] . He expounded it to the great bsod snyoms pa^[7] the siddha of Sa_vara. The latter taught it to don yod rdo rje.

Don yod rdo rje was the name of rdo rje gdan pa, the Senior. He preached it to the teacher ba ri.

Further, in the vihara of Khasarpanna, bo dge bnyen was worshipping Ārya Avalokiteśvara in order to invite the Ārya. After his death, there was another upāsaka of the Ārya to whom it was prophesied You should take up ordination! He then appointed another upāsaka to attend on the Ārya (Avalokiteśvara) and proceeded to VikramaŚiila; took up ordination, and then the final monastic ordination. His name was Śiilākara.

He preached the sādhana to the Vairocana. The latter taught it to bari. Then again a named chos ston worshipped Ārya Avalokiteśvara at Khasarpaṇa, and Avalokiteśvara used to preach him the Doctrine in his dreams. Later he instructed him personally. The latter preached it to the pa__ita donyod rdo rje^[8] . The latter taught it to bari.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Elāpatra {R}

[2]:

(Tg. r Gyud, No. 1804, Semskyi sgrib sbyon) {R}

[3]:

this passage refers to a well known story, contained in the Vinaya vastu: Once a monk and his father after having received ordination, proceeded to Jetavana. When they had reached the place, they heard the sound of the bell. The monk thought that this was the call for the ceremony of distributing presents, and urged his aged father to go quickly. The aged man fell on the ground, and died.. The monk told the Buddha about his committing a sin which involved expulsion (pārājiko), but the Buddha told him that it was not such a sin {R}

[4]:

siddhi {R}

[5]:

Amoghavajra {R}

[6]:

The Great Merciful One {R}

[7]:

Painnddapātika {R}

[8]:

Amoghavajra {R}