The Life and Teaching of Naropa
Translated from the original Tibetan
with a Philosophical Commentary Based on the Oral
Transmission
by Herbert V. Guenther
© 1963, Oxford University Press
THE WONDROUS LIFE OF THE
GREAT SCHOLAR NAROPA
CROWN-JEWEL OF ALL
PHILOSOPHER-SAINTS
(excerpt)
PRAISE to the Guru, the Deva, and the Dakinis!
In the vast expanse of space, (2) the
boundless path divine,
The Dharmakaya embodied as the lordly ruler rDo-rje-‘chan
(Vajradhara) (3)
Appears as (the sun, that) bright jewel in the sky, which
represents
The five Sambhogakayas, each an integral unity of the
noetic and communicative,
Whose myriad rays, the Nirmanakayas of Ses-rab bzan-po
(Prajnabhadra),
Have opened the lotus of Naropa’s mind to these Kayas
Three.
Praise then to him who throughout the world has spread
The honeyed spirituality transmitted by word of mouth,
The Essence of all Sutras and all Tantras.
Praise to Naropa on his seat of lotus, sun, and moon,
On the lion throne of fearlessness, the embodiment of
Buddhahood,
Who interprets the fundamental doctrine, the flawless
gem Nam- mkha’i snin-po (Gaganagarbha),
Who has realized the transcending awareness of those who
are exalted in renown supreme (the Buddhas),
Who is Kun-tu bzan-po (Samantabhadra), Chos-kyi rgyal-mtshan
(Dharmadhvaja), and bsTan-pa ‘dzin-pa (Sasanadhara). (4)
Devoutly worshipped by (the sun,) the friend of lotus
flowers, brilliant in his ornaments of rays and lord over the three worlds,
By Asuras, Gandharvas, Nagas,
By Siva, Isvara, Visnu, by men and those that are not
men;
Obedient to his Guru’s word; refuge sublime for all that
lives, the Lord himself,
Belonging to the family of the Awakened
May he shine as the gods’ crown-jewel . . .
Notes:
2.This is a rather free translation of
the original term klon-yans. klon corresponds to Sanskrit urmi and signifies
undulating movement. It is used exclusively with reference to Reality which
is not a frozen absolute, but vibrating in all our experiences of it.
3. rDo-rje-‘chan (Vajradhara) is for the
bKa’-brgyud-pa and dGe-lugs-pa followers the symbol representation of the
Dharmakaya which is pure noeticness (ye-ses chos-sku, jnanadharmakaya).
4 These are names which Naropa had at
different stages of his spiritual development.
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