Part 35 (1/2)

Part One

1 Tib. Srid-pa bar-do'i ngo-sprod dge-sdig rang-gzugs ston-pa'i gdams-pa srid-pa bar-do rang-grol. On the variant forms of the t.i.tle, see Appendix One.

2 Tib. Zab-chos zhi-khro dgongs-pa rang-grol.

3 Tib. Padma zhi-khro'i bar-do thos-grol. On the cycles of gter-ma discovered by Karma Lingpa, and the various texts concerning empowerment (dbang-bskur ) and introduction (ngo-sprod) contained within them, see above, 'A Brief Literary History', pp. x.x.xvi- xlviii, and Appendix One.

4 Here, the intermediate state of reality (chos-nyid bar-do) is described as such because the luminosities and the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities are directly seen, offering the potential for immediate liberation.

5 Although the introduction to the intermediate state of rebirth (srid-pa'i bar-do) has already been given (see Ch. 11, pp. 273-303), the drama presented here functions as a light-hearted didactic supplement to the previous introduction, and is directed specifically at the living rather than the deceased.

6 The acolytes of Yama include the Ox-headed Raka Demon (Raka glang-mgo).

7 Tib. 'Byung-po spre'u mgo.

8 The bre is the standard Tibetan unit of dry measure, twenty of which equal one khal. The srang is the standard unit of weight measurement.

9 Tib. Dur phag-mgo.

10 Tib. sDug-pa sbrul-mgo.

11 Tib. gTum-po dom-mgo.

12 Tib. srNgam-pa seng-mgo.

13 Tib. 'Dab-chags khyung-mgo.

14 Tib. lhan-cig skyes-pa'i lha. See also Ch. 11, p. 279.

15 Tib. lhan-gcig skyes-pa'i 'dre. See also Ch. 11, p. 279.

16 Tib. dPal-skyes.

17 Tib. dMyal-ba 'b.u.m.

18 On the outcaste (cala; Tib. rigs-ngan gdol-pa) community, traditionally excluded from Indian society for occupational reasons, see A. L. Basham, The Wonder That Was India, pp. 145-7.

19 The four cla.s.ses of ancient Indian society comprise: the priestly cla.s.s (brhmaavara ); the princely cla.s.s (katriyavara); the mercantile cla.s.s (vaiyavara ); and the labouring cla.s.s (dravara). See A. L. Basham, The Wonder That Was India, pp. 138-4 5.

20 On the currency of such materialistic and nihilistic philosophical views in ancient India, see Dudjom Rinpoche, NSTB, pp. 66-7; and see A. L. Basham, The Wonder That Was India, pp. 298-300.

21 Tmralipti (zangs-gling) is identified with modern Tamluk on the Bengal coast. See NSTB, p. 455.

22 Tib. shan-pa khri-dpon; also translatable as 'myriarch of butchers'.

23 Tib. shan-mo dpal-skyid.

24 The year of the water pig is the last in the cycle of sixty years, according to the calendrical system of elemental divination ('byung-rtsis), for which reason it will create a 'fin de siecle' notion in the minds of the audience.

25 Kmarpa in a.s.sam is revered as one of the twenty-four sacred abodes of tantric Buddhist India. See NSTB, pp. 472 and 501.

26 Tib. rje-rigs; Skt. vaiya. See above, note 19.

27 Tib. rDo-rje gcod-pa (Vajracchedik, T 16). This stra is one of the best known of the shorter Prajnpramit texts. Its Chinese version is said to be the world's oldest extant printed book.

28 See Ch. 12, pp. 308-9.

29 See Ch. 11, pp. 285-300.

30 See Ch. 10.

31 See glossary under Six-syllable Mantra.

32 Tib. dGe-sdig rang-gzugs ston-pa'i gdams-pa ['am me-long] srid-pa [bar-do] rang-grol.

33 Skt. ubha bhavantu.

Part Two

1 Tib. Srid-pa'i bar-do'i ngo-sprod dge-sdig rang-gzugs ston-pa'i lhan-thabs dbyangs-snyan lha'i ga.

2 Tib. Zab-chos zhi-khro dgongs-pa rang-grol.

3 See pp. 326-8.

4 The maala of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities would be constructed in two or three dimensions for the performance of this drama and the concomitant empowerment ceremonies.

5 See p. 333.

6 On the significance of the 'maala of spiralling rainbow lights' (Tib. 'ja'-'od 'khyil-ba'i dkyil-'khor) for pract.i.tioners of the All-surpa.s.sing Realisation (thod-rgal) meditations of Atiyoga, see Dudjom Rinpoche, NSTB, pp. 337- 43.