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Vajrakilaya is a wrathful figure that represents the enlightened activity within the Eight Pronouncement Tantra.


Another name for Padmasambhava is “The Lion’s Roar.” He got this name by reaffirming the validity of Buddhist tantric practices in his time and is represented in the artwork as a wrathful dark blue figure shooting fire toward his obstacles.


Representations of Padmasambhava’s life with inscriptions show the effort of the people behind the paintings and the importance of their message.


The Second Buddha was one of the great masters who achieved special abilities through the practice of tantra. He is represented as a scholar, surrounded by other masters who practiced tantric teachings.


Jigme Lingpa, a Treasure Revealer whose teachings, The Heart Essence of the Great Expanse, are practiced to this day.


This tradition goes back to Padmasambhava and his disciples. The teachings were to be discovered by the disciples when they were reborn in the future; they then made the teaching available to their contemporaries.


Tangtong Gyelpo, a Treasure Revealer whose legacy in Tibet is as important as Padmasambhava’s.


The Copper-Colored Mountain is the land where Padmasambhava is believed to reside, and the land where many Tibetan practitioners would like to be reborn.


The painting shows several images of Padmasambhava during his life. Two of them reference the name given to him as “Lotus-Born.”


Image Credits
Track 2: Vajrakilaya; Tibet; late 13th century; pigments on cloth; Collection of Michael and Beata McCormick; HAR 68875
Track 3: Padmasambhava as Senge Dradok; Kham Province, eastern Tibet;; 18th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art; Gift of the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation; F1997.30.8 (HAR 633)
Track 4: Padmasambhava, His Eight Manifestations, and Life Story; Bhutan; 19th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art; Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin SC2012.4.13 (HAR 1093)
Track 5: Padmasambhava and the Eight Great Mahasiddhas; Tibet; 19th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art; C2007.13.1 (HAR 65780)
Track 6: Teacher and Treasure Revealer, Jigme Lingpa (1729-1798); Tibet; 18th-19 century; metal alloy; Rubin Museum of Art; C2002.29.2 (HAR 65159)
Track 7: Padmasambhava; Bhutan or Central Tibet; 17th-18th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art; Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin; C2006.66.4 (HAR 12)
Track 8: Teacher and Treasure Revealer, Tangtong Gyelpo (1361? ““ 1485); Tibet; 19th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art; Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin; C2006.66.478 (HAR 940)
Track 9: Padmasambhava in his Pure Realm, the Copper-Colored Mountain; Kham Province, eastern Tibet; 19th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art; Gift of Shelley & Donald Rubin FoundationӬ; F1997.8.2 (HAR 111)
Track 10: Scenes from the Life of Padmasambhava; Tibet; 19th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art; C2007.16.1 (HAR 81832)
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