[n_nar:22]. Buddha's Sons: The Bodhisattvas.

[n_nar:23]. The Fundamental Precepts: Contain Fourteen Rules; the Secondary Precepts are the so-called Eight Transgressions.

[n_nar:24]. According to the philosophy of reincarnation, in endless cycles of rebirths every sentient being is related as parent to child.

[n_nar:25]. The incantation of Vajrasattva, which comprises one hundred words.

[n_nar:26]. The Two Acts: Offering self to Buddha, and offering self for the liberation of sentient beings.

[n_nar:27]. Four Mighty Ways: (1) Public confession of one's past wrongdoings; (2) Taking an oath never to repeat these wrong acts; (3) Performance of meritorious deeds; (4) Meditation on S'unyata.

[n_nar:28]. The sin, sinner, and act of sin are likened to wheels turning about and keeping the world of Samsara in manifestation.

[n_nar:29]. Offerings are more than acts of reverence. According to the law of Cause and Effect, one reaps merits through sowing offerings. The more enlightened the recipient, the greater the blessing; hence, the Buddhas and Gurus are the best Fields of Merits for the disciples.

[n_nar:30]. Six Buddhas: In most Tantric mandalas these are deities of the four directions and of the center, together with the primordial Buddha Rdo-rje-chang, making six in all.

[n_nar:31]. The translator does not agree with Tsong reasoning here, since it implies that a Buddha may refuse to accept a sincere offering. This would mean that the Buddha could be less than all-compassionate, an impossibility. [The sense of the text, however, rather appears to be not that the Buddha would refuse to accept any offering, but that there is no necessity that the Buddha will or should make a special miraculous appearance in a personal nirmanakaya (body of transformation) to do so, when the yogi's guru, who is already personally accessible, can act as just such a vehicle or channel.--Ed.]

[n_nar:32]. Mandal: a bowl-like utensil, symbol of the universe, which is offered to Buddha. The treasure in it are symbols of the most perfect wealth and gifts of heaven and earth.

[n_nar:33]. The Inner Offerings and Secret Offerings: The Inner Offerings are the bliss and enlightenment produced in the Tantric meditation--the meditation with breathing and physical exercises. The Secret Offerings are the highest bliss and ecstasy produced by the Third Initiation.

[n_nar:34]. The Three Vajras: The perfecting of body, speech, and mind. Vajra may be translated as Diamond, meaning the strongest most precious; here, it means the highest perfection.

[n_nar:35]. All the Gates: all the pores of the body, in addition to the nine chief gates--two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, the mouth, the anus, and the sex organ.