Wizard. Tantric Master. Guru.

Learn about the legendary figure of Padmasambhava Learn about the legendary figure of Padmasambhava

According to the terma, or treasure tradition, Padmasambhava was born on a lotus in Dhanakosha Lake as an emanation of the Buddha Amitabha.
A tantric wizard and master of ritual magic, he is thought to have perceived time as it really exists, seeing the past, present, and future.
He is believed to have helped the king of Tibet convert his people to Buddhism in the late eighth century
In addition to converting the Tibetan population, Padmasambhava helped subdue local gods and prevented spirits of the land, mountains, and lakes from interfering with the spread of Buddhist culture
Tibetans call him the Second Buddha, as they consider him second only to Buddha Shakyamuni, the founding teacher of Buddhism, who lived many centuries earlier in ancient India.
Padmasambhava is credited with leaving countless footprints and handprints throughout the Himalayas, whether seared into stone or fixed on the surface of water.
Padmasambhava is thought to have played a key role in the construction of Samye, the first Tibetan monastery.

In some legends Padmasambhava melted ice by shooting fire from his hand.
In others, Padmasambhava emerged unscathed on a lotus after being burned at the stake.
Able to foresee periods of strife, he projected his teachings (terma) into the future by hiding them for treasure revealers (terton) to discover, ensuring the continued flourishing of his ideas and practices.
Having a karmic connection to Padmasambhava allows the terton to discover the concealed teachings. It is not random. You know if you are a person destined to discover the terma.
Terma have been concealed in mountains, caves, lakes, temples, and the sky. Others have been secreted in the minds of terma revealers.
Once a terma is revealed, the terton is tasked with sharing it with others before reconcealing it. It is hidden again for future discovery. It is infinite.
Padmasambhava is said to reside on an island once populated with demons. There, southwest of Tibet on the Copper-Colored Mountain, the Second Buddha holds court within a three-storied palace.
To this day, terton seek the knowledge that Padmasambhava concealed over a thousand years ago in the jagged, rough landscape of Tibet, the sky above, and in the minds and dreams of disciples.

Published March 21, 2018

February 2, 2018–January 7, 2019The Second Buddha: Master of Time

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