Emergence from Sampuṭa
Chapter 5
Toh 381
Degé Kangyur, vol. 79 (rgyud ’bum, ga), folios 73.b–158.b
- Gayādhara
- Drokmi Śākya Yeshé
Imprint
Translated by the Dharmachakra Translation Committee
under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha.
First published 2020
Current version v 1.12.11 (2024)
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Table of Contents
Summary
The tantra Emergence from Sampuṭa is an all-inclusive compendium of Buddhist theory and practice as taught in the two higher divisions of the Yoga class of tantras, the “higher” (uttara) and the “highest” (niruttara), or, following the popular Tibetan classification, the Father and the Mother tantras. Dating probably to the end of the tenth century, the bulk of the tantra consists of a variety of earlier material, stretching back in time and in the doxographical hierarchy to the Guhyasamāja, a text traditionally regarded as the first tantra in the Father group. Drawing from about sixteen well-known and important works, including the most seminal of the Father and Mother tantras, it serves as a digest of this entire group, treating virtually every aspect of advanced tantric theory and practice. It has thus always occupied a prominent position among canonical works of its class, remaining to this day a rich source of quotations for Tibetan exegetes.
Acknowledgements
This translation was produced by the Dharmachakra Translation Committee under the supervision of Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche. Wiesiek Mical prepared the Sanskrit edition, translated the text into English, and wrote the introduction. James Gentry then compared the translation against the Tibetan root text, the Sampuṭodbhava Tantra commentaries found in the Tengyur, and Wiesiek’s Sanskrit edition, and edited the translation. Dharmachakra is indebted to Dr. Péter Szántó for his help in obtaining facsimiles of some manuscripts and other helpful materials.
The translation was completed under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha.
Work on this translation was made possible by the generosity of a sponsor who wishes to remain anonymous, and who adds the following dedication: May all the sufferings and fears of mother sentient beings be pacified swiftly by the power of the truth of the Triple Gem.
Text Body
Emergence from Sampuṭa
Chapter 5
Part 1
Vajragarbha asked, “Blessed One, what places are places of gatherings?” {5.1.2}
The Blessed One said:
Vajragarbha asked, “O Blessed One, which places are the pīthas, and so forth? What are the twelve types of places? Please be so kind as to explain, you who are born of greatness.” {5.1.5}
The Blessed One said:
This concludes the first part of the fifth chapter on meeting places.
Part 2
Vajragarbha said:
The Blessed One said:
Vajragarbha said:
The Blessed One said:
Vajragarbha asked, “O Blessed One, what are the things that are impure?” {5.2.49}
The Blessed One said, “They are form, and so forth. Why are they impure? Because they involve apprehended object and apprehending subject.”
Vajragarbha then asked, “Well, what then are apprehended object and apprehending subject?”260 {5.2.50}
The Blessed One said,
This concludes the second part of the fifth chapter on the purity of the aggregates, and so forth.
Part 3
“He should drink vajra water. When meat cannot be found anywhere, in order to partake of it he should imagine something else in the form of meat and eat that. {5.3.34}
“Foodstuffs inedible to others275 are edible for the master of the true state. Places improper to visit are fine for him to visit. Things improper to do are proper for him. The follower of the mantra path must not think in terms of ‘fit to visit’ and ‘unfit to visit’; ‘edible’ and ‘inedible’; ‘desirable’ and ‘undesirable’; or ‘drinkable’ and ‘undrinkable.’ {5.3.35}
“He should be content in body, speech, and mind. In order to be free of mental agitation, the practitioner should always drink wine. Like the victorious ones, he should regard all things, whether repulsive or greatly enjoyable, colorful or plain, delightful or depressing, as identical.276 {5.3.36}
“He should not recite texts, assemble maṇḍalas, or gather flowers. He should not recite mantras, nor should he pay homage to the deity, consecrated things, and so forth. He should speak false words and approach the charming wives of others. He should have no loving kindness for rogues, [F.108.a] and should kill buddhas and other living beings. {5.3.37}
“The wise practitioner, however, should always worship his teacher, venerated by the victorious ones, who is the wisdom and the pledge being—the best of all beings, and who is the samaya that bestows various accomplishments. Since whatever merit is possessed by the fully awakened ones and the bodhisattvas dwelling throughout the ten directions can be seen in the openings of the master’s pores, the buddhas rejoice at seeing the bodhisattvas worship the master.277 {5.3.38}
“Since the buddhas with whom he has the bond of samaya will grant the desired awakening, he should never criticize the teacher and never disrespect his siblings on the vajra path. Accepting whatever is offered, he should not pay homage to caityas.278 Regarding his blood brothers, sons, and father, as well as the kingdom with its pleasures, treasuries, riches, and granaries to all be like grass, he should gain dominion over the three realms.” {5.3.39}
Part 4
“In the vein of a madman, he should eat whatever he finds, whether it is regarded as fit for eating or not, roaming throughout other countries, renowned mountain caves, groves, great ancient charnel grounds, and the shores of great oceans. {5.4.12}
This concludes the chapter on the practice, the fifth in the “Emergence from Sampuṭa.”
Colophon
Tibetan Colophon
This king of tantras was translated by the paṇḍita Gayādhara and the great personage Drokmi Śākya Yeshé. Based on this, the venerable omniscient Butön subsequently [re-]wrote it by filling in the gaps and expertly revising it in consultation with Indian manuscripts of the basic text and commentaries.