Geshe Tashi Tsering - Tantra: The Foundation of Buddhist Thought

T HE F OUNDATION OF B UDDHIST T HOUGHT S ERIES

1. The Four Noble Truths

2. Relative Truth, Ultimate Truth

3. Buddhist Psychology

4. The Awakening Mind

5. Emptiness

6. Tantra

Wisdom Publications, Inc.

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2012 Geshe Tashi Tsering and Jamyang Buddhist Centre

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Tashi Tsering, Geshe, 1958

Tantra / Geshe Tashi Tsering ; foreword by Lama Zopa Rinpoche ; edited by Gordon McDougall.

pages cm. (The foundation of Buddhist thought ; volume 6)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 1-61429-011-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)

1. Tantric Buddhism. I. McDougall, Gordon, 1948 editor. II. Title.

BQ8915.4.T38 2012

294.3925dc23

2011048875

ISBN 978-1-61429-011-7

eBook ISBN 978-1-61429-012-4

16 15 14 13 12

5 4 3 2 1

Cover and interior design by Gopa&Ted2. Set in Goudy Oldstyle 10.5/16.

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C ONTENTS

P UBLISHER S A CKNOWLEDGMENT

T HE PUBLISHER gratefully acknowledges the generous help of the Hershey Family Foundation in sponsoring the publication of this book.

T HE B UDDHA S MESSAGE is universal. We all search for happiness but somehow fail to find it because we are looking for it in the wrong direction. Only when we start cherishing others will true happiness grow within us. And so the Buddhas essential teaching is one of compassion and ethics, combined with the wisdom that understands the nature of reality. The teachings of the Buddha contain everything needed to eliminate suffering and make life truly meaningful, and as such the teachings are not only relevant to todays world, but vital.

This is the message my precious teacher, Lama Thubten Yeshe, gave to his Western students. His vision to present the Dharma in a way that was accessible and relevant to everyone continues and grows as his legacy. His organization, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), now has centers all over the world, and Lamas work is carried on by many of his students.

The Foundation of Buddhist Thought, developed by Geshe Tashi Tsering, is one of the core courses of the FPMTs integrated education program. The essence of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy can be found within its curriculum, consisting of six different subjects in Buddhist thought and practice. The Foundation of Buddhist Thought serves as a wonderful basis for further study in Buddhism, as well as a tool to transform our everyday lives into something meaningful.

Geshe Tashi has been the resident teacher at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, since 1994. He has been incredibly beneficial in skillfully guiding the students both in London and in many other centers where he teaches. Besides his profound knowledgehe is a Lharampa Geshe, the highest educational qualification within our traditionhis excellent English and deep understanding of Western students means that he can present the Dharma in a way that is both accessible and relevant. His wisdom, compassion, and humor are combined with a genuine gift as a teacher. You will see within the six books of The Foundation of Buddhist Thought series the same combination of profound understanding and heart advice that can guide both beginner and experienced Dharma practitioner alike on the spiritual path.

Whether you read this book out of curiosity or as part of your spiritual journey, I sincerely hope that you find it beneficial and that it shows you a way to open your heart and develop your wisdom.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Spiritual Director

The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition

I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY and more than a little amazed that this sixth and last book in the Foundation of Buddhist Thought (FBT) series has been finally completed. When Wisdom Publications first approached me to modify the existing course books into the stand-alone ones that now comprise the six volumes of the series, I was, to be quite frank, very reluctant, knowing that there were already many books published on the various subjects, written by great teachers and scholars with far more experience and understanding than I have.

However, I could see that to produce such books might be useful to many people. My aim was to produce a set of books that was neither very basic nor overly academic, books that would not be too long but still combine to give a comprehensive view of Buddhism, and particularly Tibetan Buddhism. I could also see how improving the existing course books would make the study experience of the students of the Foundation of Buddhist Thought richer. Over the years, a gratifying number of people had completed the course and seemed to have benefited from it. For those reasons, I overcame my initial reluctance. I was still, however, acutely aware of my lack of deep understanding and of my inability to clearly explain the subjects in a language that is my second language.

That is particularly true of this last book, on Buddhist tantra. To tackle such a profound and esoteric subject, and such a vast one, and to create an accessible, comprehensible book that didnt just gloss over the logic and mechanics of a Vajrayana practice, was in fact so daunting that I kept delaying and delaying rewriting this book. Some of you who have bought the other five books in this series may have wondered at the long delay between the previous books and this one. I was so nervous about getting the level of explanation and the details right that I almost told Wisdom Publications I could not do it. For almost three years I procrastinated, researching a little, rereading a section of what I had previously written and wondering how to alter it, and then putting it down again. Slowly, however, over that long period, with research in books and the advice of my teachers, I was able to overcome that reluctance. I must still apologize for any points that are unclear or inaccurateand I am sure there are somebut I hope that this book will be of benefit to you nonetheless.