CHAPTER ONE

THE INITIATION RITUAL OF THE FIERCE GURU

From the Treasury of Consciousness[r_1:1] of the Heavenly Dharma, and among the profound Teachings of the Whisper Succession, this is the Initiation of the Fierce Guru, the most secret of the secret, the Four Inner Teachings condensed in one initiation ritual.

All the practice of the Initiation of the Fierce Guru (Padmasambhava) can be summarized into three performances.

(The preparations for the initiation by the guru:)

Instantaneously one's self becomes the Fierce Guru,

Red in color, with one face and two arms.

In his right hand, he holds a vajra,

And in his left, he holds a scorpion[r_1:2].

At the five parts of his body[r_1:3] stand the five deities in armor.

Upon the crown of his head there is a Garuda bird, the king of all creatures.

His right arm embraces the Great Red Mother,

And he sits on the cushion of the Sun-Lotus, which is covered with the corpse of a demon.

From the three places[r_1:4] of the Father and Mother Buddha Shine forth infinite rays of light,

After they have shone on all sentient beings and blessed them,

They invite the Wisdom Buddha to come down from above,

And all merge with him; thus the guru attains the Initiation.

Om Ah Tsiga Nitsi Namobigawadi [**] Hum Au Hum Pai!

The Front Arising Buddha [so named because arising through the power of the Ritual Vase in front of the candidate], the Fierce Guru, red in color,

Has one face and two arms.

In his right hand is the vajra, in his left the scorpion.

All the wrathful adornments are complete on him.

At the five places are fixed five Skull-Rosary Holders of the Fierce Buddha[r_1:5];

And in his heart-center stand the five gods with armor bright.

On the top of his head stands a Garuda bird, the king of all creatures.

In his arms, he holds the Red Mother.

He is the only director of the four inheritances[r_1:6], the wrathful one.

In all the corners and directions stand the ten wrathful ones.

In the four directions are manifest the Four Great Kings.

In his heart-center appears a thunderbolt-grasping Buddha,

Also holding the Heavenly-Iron-Made wheel of many spokes.

From the center of the wheel shines the red word Hum.

The main incantation encircles the Hum word.

The seeds of the retinue deities, together with the red Hum word,

Radiate the great beams of light which invite the initiation Buddhas to descend.

For this one should render offerings, obeisance, and praise.

Om Ah Tsi Ne Tsi Name Babawadi Hum Ah Pai, Ba-tsa Hum Yauga Hum!

(And then repeat the foregoing prayer once more.)

The Front Arising Buddha... [A gap in the manuscript here.]