[n_nar:61]. "Light" is the term used to symbolize the transparent nature of the pure consciousness. This consciousness has, however, many degrees, hence many terms are used to describe these gradations and manifestations of consciousness, such as the Original or Mother Light, the Light-of-Sleep, Light-of-Death, and Light-of-Bardo.

[n_nar:62]. Roma and Rg'yng-ma: the Right and Left Channels.

[*62a][n_nar:62a]. gTum-ma: Tibetan name for the Heat-Yoga. Ed.

[n_nar:63]. Tantrism provides two types of teachings. The Skill Teachings instruct in those methods used to carry the yogi beyond the habitual patterns of human thought so that he may grasp that real beyond thought, the Pure Consciousness. The Wisdom Teachings begin with the mind to penetrate beyond it to the Realm of Pure Consciousness. [Such skill is technically called thabs. Ed.]

[n_nar:64]. Here, Tsong Khapa wishes to emphasize the differences between the blisses produced by the experiences of ordinary meditation and those produced by Tantric meditation.

[n_nar:65]. Brave Ones (Dpao Wo in Tibetan): The male heavenly beings who practice Tantricism.

[n_nar:66]. In tantric meditation, the yogi visualizes himself as becoming the Patron Buddha or yidam; he is no longer of human form.

[n_nar:67]. The special belt wrapped around the body to keep it in the right posture for meditation.

[n_nar:68]. This is Tsong own view which is refuted by Gamaba VIII of the White School.

[n_nar:69]. Two pranas: the up-going air and the down-going air; one negative and the other positive.

[n_nar:70]. There are a great number of pranas in the body of many different natures and functions. In the past, thousands of different pranas were named and classified. Today there still exists well-defined knowledge of fifty or sixty pranas, but most of the traditional prana-knowledge has been lost.

[n_nar:71]. Two lower gates: the anus and urethra.

[*71a][n_nar:71a]. Tur Sel Prana: The down-going Prana.

[n_nar:72]. Great Symbol Thig-le: A commentary on a Tantric book.

[n_nar:73] There are various degrees of the Melting Bliss. Here, "disqualified" refers to a lower, more mundane, bliss, rather than the highest actual Melting Bliss.

[n_nar:74] Peaceful-Mind: This refers to a special system of Tantric given by the Gsan Adus Tantra. "Peaceful-Mind" is an expedient translation of a Tibetan term (Sems Dben) which can be translated variously.