Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Advayavajra
(978-1053 AD)
studying all the inner secret studies, a novice monk saw him and a woman
drinking bear together and disputes arose within the monastic community
over it. The Acarya spewed up milk, and as the novice drew near, he
vomited up beer with no explanation for his action. Furthermore, once
when the proctors and the rest had heard of this and come for him, the
beer turned into milk and the woman become invisible or, as it is said,
changed it a ritual bell. Later on while the monks were lying in ambush for
him the Siddha was unable to disguise himself with mantras, and so they
expelled. He spread out a hide by the river Gantges and sat down. At that
time the proctor was said to have been Atisha.(5)
Historian Lama Taranatha continues: There at Vikramashila his capabilities
had become measureless yet he had but little comprehension of reality,
Following the prediction of an obligational deity, he proceeded to Sriparvat
to seek Savari.(6)
5. Quest
On his way to South India he met Sagardutta at Radha region and both
proceeded forward. He could not find these two mountains up to Orissa,
He then went to Dhanyakataka and stayed there for one year Now
Maitrigupta was more that thirty years old. He then went to Vaktpodu
where he recited Tara sadhana. After one month Savarpa reappeared in his
dream and said:
"To North-west from here there are mountains namely Mahabhanga and
Cittavishrama". Then he, accompanied by a group of travellers marched
forward for fifteen days and he came to know from his fellow traveller that
he would possibly find these two mountains next day. A Next day he
reached the spot as he desired and was himself very glad. He practiced
fasting and offered Ten Mandalas everyday and meditated deligently. In
the seventh day Savarpa appeared in his dream. All the same he was not
completely satisfied. At the tenth day when Maitigupta determined to
commit suicide by cutting his throat, just at this critical moment he got the
vision of Siddha Savarpa in person.
6. Guru's instruction
Guru Savarpa himself gave him initiation in tantra lore and was named
Advayavajra. Savarpa instructed him on Pancakrama(7) and
Caturmudra(8) for twelve days. He also heard sermons for five more days
on it. At that time two female Buddhist tantrics named Padmavali and
Jnanavali were playing the musical instruments Vina.
At one time Advayavajra was asked to perform kayavyuha Perfection
which he failed to demonstrate but Sagardutta accomplished it without
difficulty. On questioning the reasons for inability in performing this tantric
feat, Advayavajra come to know his inherent confusion and
misunderstanding regarding perfection in Tantras. He was also informed
that he would not get the perfection in his life time. Then he was advised
to meditate over Vajrayogini, a female Buddhist deity. Instructing him thus
he disappeared.
Closed to these events the historian dPa'-bo-gtsug lag (9) narrates thus,
"He ate the fruit of trees and searched. Falling ill then, he could not find
that for which he searched. Thinking of advice give for the intermediate
state, he prepared to commit suicide. Just then Sakara saw Savari, as in
the dream, and called out. Prostrating himself Maitripa cried," I have been
this way forever worn ort in being blocked from you by obstruction. I an in
bondage whether I see you or not, I will be liberated whether I see you or
not and so forth, whereby there arose a special concentration.
He composed many texts, including four mudra instructions, the Doha and
the Twenty verses on the Mahayana. Sakara was liberated and
disappeared. One day she shot an arrow and slew a wild ping that was
going through the forest. When he recoiled at that she declared:
with this physical body born of karma. I lack the fortune of the teaching.
Let an emanation body go to a low class village known as Dhuti, for in it
are found two old female novices flanking one male novice. And there he
eliminated all false imputation in regard to the meditation instruction.
Once, when he had awaked from sleep, he found that he had forgotten all
the doctrines he had learned." I must kill myself" he thought, and Savari
came in person through sky Savari declared.
"Where does one find the knowing
of doctrines that have not arisen?
Where does one find the forgetting
of doctrines that have not ceased?
and so forth. And he told him,"
Go to the middle country....
Marpa thought, "I am not looking for wealth in this life. Whether I die or
not, I must seek the dharma. "He continued without hesitation, and in half
a day arrived at the place where Maitripa was residing. He met Maitripa
sitting in the shade of a Nyagrodha tree, He felt great joy just like that of
the Bodhisattva Sadaprarudita when he met the Bodhisattva
Dahrmodgata. He offered full prostrations seven times, a gift of gold and
other things, and song this song praising the body, speech and mind of the
guru......The Master accepted him and gave complete abhisekas and the
secret name Vajracitta. At that time, Marpa made offerings to please the
Guru and arranged feast tormas to please the dakinis. Thus, many
wondrous signs arose. The guru gave him the oral instructions and
transmission of mahamudra, the Aryamanjusri name sangiti along with its
commentary, and the dohas along with their explanation. Marpa's doubts
were completely cleared away. When he practice d these teachings,
excellent experiences and realizations arose in his mind, and so he was
very pleased. At a gangcakra which he offered as thanks giving to the
guru, Marpa offered in song his realization and experience..... (12)
Master Maitripa then sang this vajra song of twelve instructions to Marpa:
"O son, if the root of faith is no firm,
The root of non-duality will not be firm.
If you do not develop unbiased compassion,
The two rupakayas will not be attained.
If the three prajnas are not practiced
Realization will not arise.
If you do not attend the Jetsun Guru,
The two siddhis will not be attained.
If you cannot strike phenomena with mudra
Do not carelessly abandon awareness.
If you cannot strike phenomena with mudra
You should not retreat into great bliss.
If thoughts of desire arise,
You should act like a joyful elephant.
If occasionally the Klesas arise,
Look at the mind and meditate without distraction,
If the mind is harmed by unfavourable conditions,
Practice the four abhisekas continually.
If Klesas arise in your being,
Remember the Guru's instructions.
If you do not meditate in the union of utpattikrama and Sampannakrama
How can you realize the inseparability of Samsara and Nirvana?
This is a vajra song of twelve instructions
Remembering these makes thirteen.
If these yogas are practiced,
You will remain on the thirteenth bhumi.
Thus Maitripa sang.(13)
Last days
Abodha Bodhaka
Gurumaitrigitika
Caturmudropadesa
Cittamatradrsti
Dohatatva nidhi tatvopadesa
Caturvajragitika
Kudrstinirghatanam
Mulapattaya sthulapattaya
Tatva Ratnavali
Panca Tathagata mudra vivaranam
Sekanirnaya
Caturmudra
Sekatanvaya Samgraha
Pancakarah
Mayaniruktih
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Svapnanirukti
Tatvaprakasa
`Apratisthanaprakasa
Yuganaddha prkasa
Mahasukhaprakasa
Tatvavcimsaka
Mahayanavimsaka
Nirvedh pancaka
Madhyasataka
Premapancaka
Tatvadsaka
Amanasikaradharah.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Ibid.p.704-706
See Tsang Nyon Heruka's The Life of Marpa, the
Translator", prajna Press, Boulder, 1982
Ibid.p.28
13.
Ibid.p,32
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
http://buddhism.lib.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-BH/bh117517.htm