Mahāyoga sadhana

This is one of a group of three manuscripts containing similar versions of asādhanafor the deityVajrasattva:IOL Tib J 552,IOL Tib J 553andIOL Tib J 554. On the connections between these three manuscripts, see entry toIOL Tib J 552.

In a similar fashion toIOL Tib J 552, this manuscript begins with the statement that there are fivesamādhis in the tradition of theno pyi ka mtha dagand threesamādhis in the tradition of thegsang ba mnyam 'dus(note the difference in the names of the traditions). The present version of thesādhanadiffers in many respects from the versions inIOL Tib J 552andIOL Tib J 553, the main divergence being the description of amaṇḍalacomprising the usual set of five buddhas withVajrasattvaat the centre. All buddhas are in union with their consorts, and themaṇḍalais surrounded by the eight offering goddesses, and the four gate guardians. Empowerment is granted by the buddhas of the ten directions. There are visualizations of cycling seed syllables (2r.3and2r.7), which should be compared to thesādhanas in626and634. Then there is a brief symbolic allusion to sexual yoga, followed by the dissolution of the visualization, along the same lines as inIOL Tib J 552andIOL Tib J 553. To conclude the practice, there is a self-visualization asVajrasattva, with five syllables protecting the body's five places. Then, as inIOL Tib J 552, the benefits of the practice are enumerated, as well as the risks of abandoning it.

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