2022/09/16

Padmasambhava - Wikipedia

Padmasambhava - Wikipedia

Padmasambhava

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Padmasambhāva
Guru - Boudha.jpg
Padmasambhava statue at Ghyoilisang peace park, Boudhanath
Born
OccupationVajra master
Known forCredited with founding the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism

Padmasambhava ("Born from a Lotus"),[note 1] also known as Guru Rinpoche (Precious Guru) and the Lotus from Oḍḍiyāna, was a tantric Buddhist Vajra master from India who may have taught Vajrayana in Tibet (circa 8th - 9th centuries).[1][2][3][4] According to some early Tibetan sources like the Testament of Ba, he came to Tibet in the 8th century and helped construct Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet.[3] However, little is known about the actual historical figure other than his ties to Vajrayana and Indian Buddhism.[5][6]

Padmasambhava later came to be viewed as a central figure in the transmission of Buddhism to Tibet.[7][5] Starting from around the 12th century, hagiographies concerning Padmasambhava were written. These works expanded the profile and activities of Padmasambhava, now seen as taming all the Tibetan spirits and gods, and concealing various secret texts (terma) for future tertöns.[8] Nyangral Nyima Özer (1124–1192) was the author of the Zangling-ma (Jeweled Rosary), the earliest biography of Padmasambhava.[9][10] He has been called "one of the main architects of the Padmasambhava mythos – who first linked Padmasambhava to the Great Perfection in a high-profile manner."[11][12]

In modern Tibetan Buddhism, Padmasambhava is considered to be a Buddha that was foretold by Buddha Shakyamuni.[2] According to traditional hagiographies, his students include the great female masters Yeshe Tsogyal and Mandarava.[5] The contemporary Nyingma school considers Padmasambhava to be a founding figure.[13][4] The Nyingma school also traditionally holds that its Dzogchen lineage has its origins in Garab Dorje through a direct transmission to Padmasambhava.[14]

In Tibetan Buddhism, the teachings of Padmasambava are said to include an oral lineage (kama), and a lineage of the hidden treasure texts (termas).[15] Tibetan Buddhism holds that Padmasambhava's termas are discovered by fortunate beings and tertöns (treasure finders) when conditions are ripe for their reception.[16] Padmasambhava is said to appear to tertöns in visionary encounters, and his form is visualized during guru yoga practice, particularly in the Nyingma school. Padmasambhava is widely venerated by Buddhists in TibetNepalBhutan, the Himalayan states of India, and in countries around the world.[17][18]

History[edit]

According to Lewis Doney, while his historical authenticity was questioned by earlier Tibetologists, it is now "cautiously accepted".[4]

Early sources[edit]

Colossus of Padmasambhava, 123 ft. (37.5 m) high in mist overlooking Rewalsar LakeHimachal PradeshIndia.
Fragment of the Testament of Ba at the British Library, with six incomplete lines of Tibetan writing (Or.8210/S.9498A).

One of the earliest chronicle sources for Padmasambhava as a historical figure is the Testament of Ba (Dba' bzhed, c. 9th–12th centuries), which records the founding of Samye Monastery under the reign of King Trisong Detsen (r. 755–797/804).[19][4] Other early manuscripts from Dunhuang also mention a tantric master associated with kilaya rituals named Padmasambhava who tames demons, though they do not associate this figure with Trisong Detsen.[20][4]

According to the Testament of BaTrisong Detsen had invited the Buddhist abbot and philosopher Śāntarakṣita (725–788) to Tibet to propagate Buddhism and help found the first Buddhist monastery at Samye ('The Inconceivable'). However, certain events like the flooding of a Buddhist temple and lightning striking the royal palace had caused some at the Tibetan court to believe that the local gods were angry.[3]

Śāntarakṣita was sent back to Nepal, but was then asked to return after the anti-Buddhist sentiments had subsided. On his return, Śāntarakṣita brought Padmasambhava who was an Indian tantric adept from Oddiyana, in present-day Swat Valley, Pakistan.[21][22][23] Padmasambhava's task was to tame the local spirits and impress the Tibetans with his magical and ritual powers. The Tibetan sources then explain how Padmasambhava identified the local gods and spirits, called them out and threatened them with his powers. After they had been tamed, the construction of Samye went ahead.[3] Padmasambhava was also said to have taught various forms of tantric Buddhist yoga.[24]

When the royal court began to suspect that Padmasambhava wanted to seize power, he was asked to leave by the king.[24] The Testament of Ba also mentions other miracles by Padmasambhava, mostly associated with the taming of demons and spirits as well as longevity rituals and water magic.[4]

Evidence shows that Padmasambhava's tantric teachings were being taught in Tibet during the 10th century. Recent evidence suggests that Padmasambhava already figured in spiritual hagiography and ritual, and was already seen as the enlightened source of tantric scriptures up to 200 years before Nyangrel Nyima Özer (1136–1204),[25] the primary source of the traditional hagiography of Padmasambhava.

Lewis Doney notes that while numerous texts are associated with Padmasambhava, the most likely of these attributions are the Man ngag lta ba'i phreng ba (The Garland of Views), a commentary on the 13th chapter of the Guhyagarbha tantra and the Thabs zhags padma 'phreng (A Noble Noose of Methods, The Lotus Garland), an exposition of Mahayoga. The former work is mentioned in the work of Nubchen Sangye Yeshe (c. 9-10th centuries) and attributed to Padmasambhava.[4]

Development of the mythos[edit]

Nyangrel Nyima Özer, one of "The Five Tertön Kings".

While in the eleventh and twelfth centuries there were several parallel narratives of important founding figures like Padmasambhava, Vimalamitra, Songtsän Gampo, and Vairotsana, by the end of the 12th century, the Padmasambhava narrative grew to dominate the others, becoming the most influential legend of the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet.[26][27][28]

The first full biography of Padmasambhava is a terma (treasure text) said to have been revealed by Nyangrel Nyima Özer, abbot of Mawochok Monastery. This biography, "The Copper Palace" (bka' thang zangs gling ma), was very influential on the Padmasambhava hagiographical tradition. The narrative was also incorporated into Nyima Özer's history of Buddhism, the "Flower Nectar: The Essence of Honey" (chos 'byung me tog snying po sbrang rtsi'i bcud).[29][4][12][11]

The tertön Guru Chöwang (1212–1270) was the next major contributor to the Padmasambhava tradition, and may have been the first full life-story biographer of Yeshe Tsogyal.[12]

The basic narrative of The Copper Palace continued to be expanded and edited by Tibetans. In the 14th century, the Padmasambhava hagiography was further expanded and re-envisioned through the efforts of the Orgyen Lingpa (1323 – c. 1360). It is in the works of Orgyen Lingpa, particularly his Padma bka' thang (Lotus Testament, 1352), that the "11 deeds" of Padmasambhava first appear in full.[4] The Lotus Testament is a very extensive biography of Padmasambhava, which begins with his ordination under Ananda and contains numerous references to Padmasambhava as a "second Buddha."[4]

Hagiography[edit]

Thangka of Padmasambhava
Statue of Guru Rinpoche, Central Tibet, Tsang Valley, 15th-16th century.

According to Khenchen Palden Sherab, there are traditionally said to be nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine biographies of Padmasambhava.[2] They are categorized in three ways: Those relating to Padmasambhava's Dharmakaya buddhahood, those accounts of his Sambhogakaya nature, and those chronicles of his Nirmanakaya activities.[2]

Birth and early life[edit]

Hagiographies of Padmasambhava such as The Copper Palace, depict Padmasambhava being born as an eight-year-old child appearing in a lotus blossom floating in Lake Dhanakosha surrounded by a host of dakinis, in the kingdom of Oddiyana.[4][30]

However there are other birth stories as well, another common one states that he was born from the womb of Queen Jalendra, the wife of king Sakra of Oddiyana and received the name Dorje Duddul (Vajra Demon Subjugator) because of the auspicious marks on his body were identified as those of a demon tamer.[4]

As Nyingma scholar Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche explains:

There are many stories explaining how Guru Padmasambhava was born. Some say that he instantly appeared on the peak of Meteorite Mountain, in Sri Lanka. Others teach that he came through his mother's womb, but most accounts refer to a miraculous birth, explaining that he spontaneously appeared in the center of a lotus. These stories are not contradictory because highly realized beings abide in the expanse of great equanimity with perfect understanding and can do anything. Everything is flexible, anything is possible. Enlightened beings can appear in any way they want or need to.[2]

In The Copper Palace, King Indrabhuti of Oddiyana is searching for a wish fulfilling jewel and finds Padmasambhava, who is said to be an incarnation of Buddha Amitabha. The king adopts him as his own son and Padmasambhava is enthroned as the Lotus King (Pema Gyalpo).[4][30] However, Padmasambhava kills one of his ministers with his khaṭvāṅga staff and is exiled from the kingdom, which allows him to live as a mahasiddha and practice tantra in charnel grounds throughout India.[4][30][31]

In Himachal Pradesh, India at Rewalsar Lake, known as Tso Pema in Tibetan, Padmasambhava secretly gave tantric teachings to princess Mandarava, the local king's daughter. The king found out and tried to burn both him and his daughter, but it is said that when the smoke cleared they were still alive and in meditation, centered in a lotus arising from a lake. Greatly astonished by this miracle, the king offered Padmasambhava both his kingdom and Mandarava.[32]

Padmasambhava is then said to have returned home with Mandarava and together they converted the kingdom to Vajrayana Buddhism.[4]

They are also said to have travelled together to the Maratika Cave in Nepal to practice long life rituals of Amitāyus.[33]

Activities in Tibet[edit]

The famous "looks like me" statue of Padmasambhava at Samye which is traditionally said to have been blessed by him personally
Entrance to Dawa Puk, Guru Rinpoche's cave, Yerpa, 1993

Padmasambhava hagiographies also discuss the activities of Padmasambhāva in Tibet, beginning with the invitation by King Trisong Detsen to help in the founding of Samye. Padmasambhava is depicted as a great tantric adept who tames the spirits and demons of Tibet and turns them into guardians for the Buddha's Dharma (specifically, the deity Pe har is made the protector of Samye). He is also said to have spread Vajrayana Buddhism to the people of Tibet, and specifically introduced its practice of Tantra.[34][35][4]

The subjection of subduing deities and demons is a recurrent theme in Buddhist literature, as noted also in Vajrapani and Mahesvara and Steven Heine's "Opening a Mountain".[36]

Because of his role in the founding of Samye monastery, the first monastery in Tibet, Padmasambhava is regarded as the founder of the Nyingma school ("Ancients") of Tibetan Buddhism.[37][38][39] Padmasambhava's activities in the Tibet include the practice of tantric rituals to increase the life of the king as well as initiating king Trisong Detsen into tantric rites.[4]

The various biographies also discuss stories of Padmasambhava's main Tibetan consort, princess Yeshe Tsogyal ("Knowledge Lake Empress"), who became his student while living in the court of Trisong Deutsen.[40] She was among Padmasambhava's three special students (along with the King, and Namkhai Nyingpo) and is widely revered in Tibet as the "Mother of Buddhism".[12] Yeshe Tsogyal became a great master with many disciples and is widely considered to be a female Buddha.[41]

Padmasambhava hid numerous termas in Tibet for later discovery with her aid, while she compiled and elicited Padmasambhava's teachings through the posing of questions, and then reached Buddhahood in her lifetime. Many thangkas and paintings depict Padmasambhava with consorts at each side, Mandarava on his right and Yeshe Tsogyal on his left.[42]

Many of the Nyingma school's terma texts are said to have originated from the activities of Padmasambhava and his students. These hidden treasure texts are believed to be discovered and disseminated when conditions are ripe for their reception.[14] The Nyingma school traces its lineage of Dzogchen teachings to Garab Dorje through Padmasambhava's termas.[15]

In The Copper Palace, after the death of Trisong Detsen, Padmasambhava is said to have treveled to Lanka in order to convert its blood thirsty raksasa demons to the Dharma. His parting words of advice advocates for the worship of Avalokiteshvara.[4]

Bhutan[edit]

Paro Taktsang ("Tiger's Nest") monastery

Bhutan has many important pilgrimage places associated with Padmasambhava. The most famous is Paro Taktsang or "Tiger's Nest" monastery which is built on a sheer cliff wall about 900m above the floor of Paro valley. It was built around the Taktsang Senge Samdup (stag tshang seng ge bsam grub) cave where Padmasambhava is said to have meditated.[43]

He is said to have flown there from Tibet on the back of Yeshe Tsogyal, whom he transformed into a flying tigress for the purpose of the trip.[citation needed] Later he travelled to Bumthang district to subdue a powerful deity offended by a local king. According to legend, Padmasambhava's body imprint can be found in the wall of a cave at nearby Kurje Lhakhang temple.[citation needed]

Eight manifestations[edit]

Guru Senge Dradrog, a wrathful manifestation of Padmasambhava. (Painting in Tashichho Dzong)
Guru Dorje Drolo, Subduer of Demons
Bhutanese painted thanka of Guru Nyima Ozer, late 19th century.

The eight manifestations are also seen as Padmasambhava's biography that spans 1500 years. As Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche states,

When Guru Padmasambhava appeared on earth, he came as a human being. In order to dissolve our attachment to dualistic conceptions and destroy complex neurotic fixations, he also exhibited some extraordinary manifestations.[2]

In accord, Rigpa Shedra also states the eight principal forms were assumed by Guru Rinpoche at different points in his life. Padmasambhava's eight manifestations, or forms (Tib. Guru Tsen Gye), represent different aspects of his being as needed, such as wrathful or peaceful for example.

The Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava belong to the tradition of Terma, the Revealed Treasures (Tib.: ter ma),[2][44][45] and are described and enumerated as follows:

  1. Guru Pema Gyalpo (Wylie: gu ru pad ma rgyal-po, Skt: Guru Padmarāja) of Oddiyana, meaning "Lotus King", king of the Tripitaka (the Three Collections of Scripture), manifests as a child four years after the Mahaparinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni, as predicted by the Buddha. He is shown with a redish pink complexion and semi-wrathful, seated on a lotus and wearing yellow-orange robes, a small damaru in his right hand and a mirror and hook in his left hand, with a top-knot wrapped in white and streaming with red silk.
  2. Guru Nyima Ozer (Wylie: gu ru nyi-ma 'od-zer, Skrt: Guru Suryabhasa or Sūryaraśmi[46]), meaning "Ray of Sun", the Sunray Yogi, semi-wrathful, manifests in India simultaneously with Guru Pema Gyalpo, often portrayed as a crazy wisdom wandering yogi, numerous simultaneous emanations, illuminates the darkness of the mind through the insight of Dzogchen. He is shown seated on a lotus with left leg bent and with a golden-red complexion, semi-wrathful with slightly bulging eyes, long hair with bone ornaments, moustache and beard, bare-chested with a tiger-skin skirt, right hand holds a khatvanga and left hand is in a mudra, interacting with the sun.
  3. Guru Loden Chokse (Wylie: gu ru blo ldan mchog sred; Skrt: Guru Mativat Vararuci,[46]) meaning roughly "Super Knowledge Holder", peaceful, manifests after Guru Pema Gyalpo departs Oddiyana for the great charnel grounds of India and for all knowledge, the Intelligent Youth, the one who gathers the knowledge of all worlds. He is shown seated on a lotus, white complexion, wearing a white scarf with ribbons wrapped around his head, and a blue-green lotus decorating his hair, holding a damaru in the right hand and a lotus bowl in the left hand.
  4. Guru Padmasambhava (Skt: Guru Padmasambhava), meaning "Lotus Essence", a symbol of spiritual perfection, peaceful, manifests and teaches Mandarava, transforming negative energies into compassionate and peaceful forms. He is shown with a rich white complexion, very peaceful, and wears a red monk's hat, and sits on a lotus with his right hand in a mudra and left hand holding a skull-cup.
  5. Guru Shakya Senge (Wylie: shAkya seng-ge, Skt: Guru Śākyasimha) of Bodh Gaya, meaning "Undefeatable Lion", peaceful, manifests as Ananda's student and brings King Ashoka to the Dharma, Lion of the Sakyas, embodies patience and detachment, learns all Buddhist canons and Tantric practices of the eight Vidyadharas. He is shown similar to Buddha Shakymuni but with golden skin in red monk's robes, a unishaka, a begging bowl in the left hand and a five-pointed vajra in the right hand.
  6. Guru Senge Dradrog (Wylie: gu ru seng-ge sgra-sgrogs, Skt: Guru Simhanāda,[46]) meaning "The Lion's Roar", wrathful, subdues and pacifies negative influences, manifests in India and at Nalanda University, the Lion of Debate, promulgator of the Dharma throughout the six realms of sentient beings. He is shown as dark blue and surrounded by flames above a lotus, with fangs and three glaring eyes, crown of skulls and long hair, standing on a demon, holding a flaming vajra in the right hand, left hand in a subjugation mudra.
  7. Guru Pema Jungne (Wylie: pad ma 'byung-gnas, Skt: Guru Padmakara), meaning "Born from a Lotus", manifests before his arrival in Tibet, the Vajrayana Buddha that teaches the Dharma to the people, embodies all manifestations and actions of pacifying, increasing, magnetizing and subjugating. As the most depicted manifestation, he is shown sitting on a lotus, dressed in three robes, under which he wears a blue shirt, pants and Tibetan shoes. He holds a vajra in his right hand, and a skull-bowl with a small vase in his left hand. A special trident called a khatvanga leans on the left shoulder representing Yeshe Tsogyal, and he wears a Nepalese cloth hat in the shape of a lotus flower. Thus he is represented as he must have appeared in Tibet.
  8. Guru Dorje Drolo (Wylie: gu ru rDo-rje gro-lod, Skt: Guru Vajra), meaning "Crazy Wisdom", very wrathful, manifests five years before Guru Pema Jungne departs Tibet, 13 emanations for 13 Tiger's Nests caves, the fierce manifestation of Vajrakilaya (wrathful Vajrasattva) known as "Diamond Guts", the comforter of all, imprinting the elements with Wisdom-Treasure, subduer for degenerate times. He is shown dark red, surrounded by flames, wearing robes and Tibetan shoes, conch earrings, a garland of heads, dancing on a tiger, symbolizing Tashi Kyeden, that is also dancing.

Padmasambhava's various Sanskrit names are preserved in mantras such as those found in the Yang gsang rig 'dzin youngs rdzogs kyi blama guru mtshan brgyad bye brag du sgrub pa ye shes bdud rtsi'i sbrang char zhe bya ba.[clarification needed][46][47]

Iconography[edit]

Thangka of Padmasambhava, 19th century, Lhasa, Central Tibet.

Padmasambhava has one face and two hands.[48][49] He is wrathful and smiling.[48] He blazes magnificently with the splendour of the major and minor marks.[48] His two eyes are wide open in a piercing gaze.[48] He has the youthful appearance of an eight-year-old child.[49] His complexion is white with a tinge of red.[49] He is seated with his two feet in the royal posture.[48][49][50]

On his head he wears a five-petalled lotus hat,[48][50] which has three points symbolizing the three kayas, five colours symbolizing the five kayas, the sun and moon symbolizing skillful means and wisdom, a vajra top to symbolize unshakable samadhi, and a vulture's feather to represent the realization of the highest view.[49]

Padmasambhava wears a white vajra undergarment. On top of this, in layers, a red robe, a dark blue mantrayana tunic, a red monastic shawl decorated with a golden flower pattern, and a maroon cloak of silk brocade.[48] Also, he wears a silk cloak, Dharma robes and gown.[50] He is wearing the dark blue gown of a mantra practitioner, the red and yellow shawl of a monk, the maroon cloak of a king, and the red robe and secret white garments of a bodhisattva.[49]

In his right hand, he holds a five-pronged vajra at his heart.[48][49][50] His left hand rests in the gesture of equanimity,[48] In his left hand he holds a skull-cup brimming with nectar, containing the vase of longevity that is also filled with the nectar of deathless wisdom[48][49] and ornamented on top by a wish-fulfilling tree.[50]

Cradled in his left arm he holds the three-pointed khatvanga (trident) symbolizing the Princess consort Mandarava, one of his two main consorts.[48][50] who arouses the wisdom of bliss and emptiness, concealed as the three-pointed khatvanga.[49] Other sources say that the khatvanga represents the Lady Yeshe Tsogyal, his primary consort and main disciple.[51] Its three points represent the essence, nature and compassionate energy (ngowo, rangshyin and tukjé).[49][50] Below these three prongs are three severed heads, dry, fresh and rotten, symbolizing the dharmakayasambhogakaya and nirmanakaya.[49][50] Nine iron rings adorning the prongs represent the nine yanas.[49][50] Five-coloured strips of silk symbolize the five wisdoms[49] The khatvanga is also adorned with locks of hair from dead and living mamos and dakinis, as a sign that the Master subjugated them all when he practised austerities in the Eight Great Charnel Grounds.[49][50]

Around him within a lattice of five-coloured light, appear the eight vidyadharas of India, the twenty-five disciples of Tibet, the deities of the three roots, and an ocean of oath-bound protectors[50]

Attributes[edit]

Pureland paradise[edit]

His pureland paradise is Zangdok Palri (the Copper-Coloured Mountain).[52]

Samantabhadra and Samantabhadri[edit]

Padmasambhava said:

My father is the intrinsic awareness, Samantabhadra (Sanskrit; Tib. ཀུན་ཏུ་བཟང་པོ). My mother is the ultimate sphere of reality, Samantabhadri (Sanskrit; Tib. ཀུན་ཏུ་བཟང་མོ). I belong to the caste of non-duality of the sphere of awareness. My name is the Glorious Lotus-Born. I am from the unborn sphere of all phenomena. I consume concepts of duality as my diet. I act in the way of the Buddhas of the three times.

Another translation of Guru Rinpoche's statement is:

My father is wisdom and my mother is voidness.

My country is the country of Dharma.

I am of no caste and no creed.

I am sustained by perplexity; and I am here to destroy lust, anger and sloth.

-Guru Padmasambhava[2]

Practices associated with Padmasambhava[edit]

From the earliest sources to today, Padmasambhava has remained closely associated with the Kila (phurba) dagger and also with the deity Vajrakilaya (a meditation deity based on the kila).[4]

Vajra Guru mantra[edit]

The Vajra Guru Mantra inscribed on a rock
The Vajra Guru Mantra in Lanydza and Tibetan script.

The Vajra Guru mantra is:

Oṃ āḥ hūṃ vajra guru padma siddhi hūṃ[citation needed]

Like most Sanskrit mantras in Tibet, the Tibetan pronunciation demonstrates dialectic variation and is generally Om Ah Hung Benza Guru Pema Siddhi Hung.

In the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, particularly in Nyingma, the Vajra Guru mantra is held to be a powerful mantra engendering communion with the Three Vajras of Padmasambhava's mindstream and by his grace, all enlightened beings.[53] The 14th century tertön Karma Lingpa wrote a famous commentary on the mantra.[54]

According to the great tertön Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, the basic meaning of the mantra is:

It begins with OṂ ĀḤ HŪṂ, which are the seed syllables of the three vajras (of body, speech and mind). Vajra signifies the dharmakāya since [like the adamantine vajra] it cannot be 'cut' or destroyed by the elaborations of conceptual thought. Guru signifies the sambhogakāya, which is 'heavily' laden with the qualities of the seven aspects of union. Padma signifies the nirmāṇakāya, the radiant awareness of the wisdom of discernment arising as the lotus family of enlightened speech. Remembering the qualities of the great Guru of Oḍḍiyāna, who is inseparable from these three kāyas, pray with the continuous devotion that is the intrinsic display of the nature of mind, free from the elaboration of conceptual thought. All the supreme and ordinary accomplishments—Siddhi—are obtained through the power of this prayer, and by thinking, "HŪṂ! May they be bestowed upon my mindstream, this very instant!"[55]

Seven Line Prayer[edit]

The Seven Line Prayer to Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) is a famous prayer that is recited by many Tibetans daily and is said to contain the most sacred and important teachings of Dzogchen. It is as follows:[56]

Hūṃ! In the north-west of the land of Oḍḍiyāna (hung orgyen yul gyi nubjang tsam)
In the heart of a lotus flower, (pema gesar dongpo la)
Endowed with the most marvellous attainments, (yatsen chok gi ngödrub nyé)
You are renowned as the 'Lotus-born', (pema jungné shyé su drak)
Surrounded by many hosts of ḍākinīs (khor du khandro mangpö kor)
Following in your footsteps, (khyé kyi jesu dak drub kyi)
I pray to you: Come, inspire me with your blessing! (jingyi lab chir shek su sol)
Guru padma siddhi hūṃ!

Sanskrit:

hūm । oḍiyāne vāyavye । padmakesarakāṇḍe । siddhirlabdhātyadbhutā । khyāta padmasambhava । bahuḍākībhirāvṛta । tavaivānusarāmi । āyāhyadhiṣṭhānārtham । guru padma siddhi hūm ॥

Jamgon Ju Mipham Gyatso composed a famous commentary to the Seven Line Prayer called White Lotus. It explains the meaning of the prayer in five levels of meaning intended to catalyze a process of realization. These hidden teachings are described as ripening and deepening, in time, with study and with contemplation.[57] There is also a shorter commentary by Tulku Thondup.[58]

Cham dances[edit]

Jakar tshechu, Guru Tshengye, Guru Rinpoche with two helpers and six manifestations

The life of Padmasambhava is widely depicted in the Cham dances which are masked and costumed dances associated with religious festivals in the Tibetan Buddhist world.[59] In Bhutan, the dances are performed during the annual religious festivals or tshechu.

Terma cycles[edit]

There are numerous Terma cycles which are believed to contain teachings of Padmasambhava.[60] According to Tibetan tradition, the Bardo Thodol (commonly referred to as the Tibetan Book of the Dead) was among these hidden treasures, subsequently discovered by a Tibetan tertön, Karma Lingpa (1326–1386).

Tantric cycles related to Padmasambhava are not just practiced by the Nyingma, they even gave rise to a new offshoot of Bön which emerged in the 14th century called the New Bön. Prominent figures of the Sarma (new translation) schools such as the Karmapas and Sakya lineage heads have practiced these cycles and taught them. Some of the greatest s who revealed teachings related to Padmasambhava have been from the Kagyu or Sakya lineages. The hidden lake temple of the Dalai Lamas behind the Potala Palace, called Lukhang, is dedicated to Dzogchen teachings and has murals depicting the eight manifestations of Padmasambhava.[61]

Five main consorts[edit]

Padmasambhava in yab-yum form with a spiritual consort

Many of the students gathered around Padmasambhāva became advanced Vajrayana tantric practitioners, and became enlightened. They also founded and propagated the Nyingma school. The most prominent of these include Padmasambhāva's five main female consorts, often referred to as wisdom dakinis, and his twenty five main students along with king Trisong Detsen.

Padmasambhāva had five main female tantric consorts, beginning in India before his time in Tibet and then in Tibet as well. When seen from an outer, or perhaps even historical or mythological perspective, these five women from across South Asia were known as the Five Consorts. That the women come from very different geographic regions is understood as a mandala, a support for Padmasambhāva in spreading the dharma throughout the region.


Yet, when understood from a more inner tantric perspective, these same women are understood not as ordinary women but as wisdom dakinis. From this point of view, they are known as the "Five Wisdom Dakinis" (Wylie: Ye-shes mKha-'gro lnga). Each of these consorts is believed to be an emanation of the tantric yidamVajravārāhī.[62] As one author writes of these relationships:

Yet in reality, he [Padmasambhava] was never separate from the five emanations of Vajravarahi: the Body-emanation, Mandarava; the Speech-emanation, Yeshe Tsogyal; the Mind-emanation, Shakyadema; the Qualities-emanation, Kalasiddhi; and the Activity-emanation, Trashi [sic] Chidren.[63]

In summary, the five consorts/wisdom dakinis were:

  • Yeshe Tsogyal of Tibet, who was the emanation of Vajravarahi's Speech (TibetangsungSanskritvāk);
  • Mandarava of Zahor, northeast India, who was the emanation of Vajravarahi's Body (Tibetan: sku; Sanskrit: kāya);
  • Belwong Kalasiddhi of northwest India, who was the emanation of Vajravarahi's Quality (Tibetan: yon-tan; Sanskrit: gūna);
  • Belmo Sakya Devi of Nepal, who was the emanation of Vajravarahi's Mind (Tibetan: thugs; Sanskrit: citta); and
  • Tashi Kyeden (or Kyedren or Chidren), sometimes called Mangala, of Bhutan and Tiger's Nest caves, is an emanation of Vajravarahi's Activity (Tibetan: phrin-las; Sanskrit: karma).[64] Tashi Kyeden is often depicted with Guru Dorje Drolo.[2]

While there are very few sources on the lives of Kalasiddhi, Sakya Devi, and Tashi Kyedren, there are extant biographies of both Yeshe Tsogyal and Mandarava that have been translated into English and other western languages.

Twenty-five main students[edit]

Padmasambhava has twenty five main students (Tibetanརྗེ་འབངས་ཉེར་ལྔWylierje 'bangs nyer lnga) in Tibet during the Nyingma's school's Early Translation period. These students are also called the "Twenty-five King and subjects" and "The King and 25" of Chimphu.[65] [66] In Dudjom Rinpoche's list,[67] and in other sources, these include:

  • King Trisong Detsen (Tibetanཁྲི་སྲོང་ལྡེའུ་བཏཟནWyliekhri srong lde'u btzan)

Also, but not listed in the 25:

In addition to Yeshe Tsogyal, 15 other women practitioners became accomplished Nyingma masters during this Early Translation period of the Nyingma school:[67][14]

Gallery[edit]

Biographies in English[edit]

  • Adzom Drukpa. Biography of Orgyen Guru Pema Jungne. Translated by Padma Samye Ling. Dharma Samudra.
  • Chokgyur Lingpa, Orgyen (1973). The Legend of the Great Stupa and the Life Story of the Lotus Born Guru. Translated by Keith Dowman. Dharma Publishing.
  • Chokgyur Lingpa (2016). "The Wish-Fulfilling Tree". The Great. Translated by Phakchok Rinpoche. Lhasey Lotsawa Publications.
  • Kongtrul, Jamgon (1999). "A Short Biography of Padmasambhava". Dakini Teachings. Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang. Rangjung Yeshe Publishing.
  • Kongtrul, Jamgon (2005). The Vajra Garland and the Lotus Garden: Treasure Biographies of Padmakara and Vairochana. Translated by Yeshe Gyamtso. KTD Publications.
  • Kongtrul, Jamgön (2019). Following in Your Footsteps: The Lotus-Born Guru in Nepal. Translated by Neten Chokling Rinpoche & Lhasey Lotsawa Translations. Rangjung Yeshe Publishing.
  • Lotsawa, Lhasey (2021). Following in Your Footsteps: The Lotus-Born Guru in India. Rangjung Yeshe.
  • Orgyen Padma (2004). The Condensed Chronicle. Translated by Tony Duff. Padma Karpo Translation Committee.
  • Sogyal Rinpoche (1990). Dzogchen and Padmasambhava. Rigpa International.
  • Yeshe Tsogyal (1978). The Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava. Padma bKa'i Thang. (Parts I & II). Translated by Gustave-Charles Toussaint; Kenneth Douglas; Gwendolyn Bays. Dharma Publishing. ISBN 0-913546-18-6 and ISBN 0-913546-20-8.
  • Yeshe Tsogyal (1993). Binder Schmidt, M.; Hein Schmidt, E. (eds.). The Lotus-Born: The Life Story of Padmasambhava. Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang. Boston: Shambhala Publications. Reprint: Boudhanath: Rangjung Yeshe Publications, 2004. ISBN 962-7341-55-X.
  • Yeshe Tsogyal (2009). Padmasambhava Comes to Tibet. Translated by Tarthang Tulku. Dharma Publishing.
  • Taranatha (2005). The Life of Padmasambhava. Translated by Cristiana de Falco. Shang Shung Publications.
  • Zangpo, Ngawang (2002). Guru Rinpoché: His Life and Times. Snow Lion Publications.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Sanskrit पद्मसम्भव PadmasambhavaTibetanཔདྨ་འབྱུང་གནས།Wyliepad+ma 'byung gnas (EWTS)); Mongolian ловон Бадмажунай, lovon BadmajunaiChinese莲花生大士 (pinyinLiánhuāshēng)

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Kværne, Per (2013). Tuttle, Gray; Schaeffer, Kurtis R. (eds.). The Tibetan history reader. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 168ISBN 978-0-231-14469-8.
  2. Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche, The Eight Manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava, (May 1992), https://turtlehill.org/cleanup/khen/eman.html
  3. Jump up to:a b c d Schaik, Sam van. Tibet: A History. Yale University Press 2011, pp. 34-35.
  4. Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Doney, Lewis. "Padmasambhava in Tibetan Buddhism" in Silk, Jonathan A. et al. Brill's Encyclopedia of Buddhism, pp. 1197-1212. BRILL, Leiden, Boston.
  5. Jump up to:a b c Schaik, Sam van. Tibet: A History. Yale University Press 2011, page 34-5, 96-8.
  6. ^ Kværne, Per (2013). Tuttle, Gray; Schaeffer, Kurtis R. (eds.). The Tibetan history reader. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-231-14469-8.
  7. ^ Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Jr., Donald S. (2013). The Princeton dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 608. ISBN 978-1-4008-4805-8. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  8. ^ Schaik, Sam van. Tibet: A History. Yale University Press 2011, p. 96.
  9. ^ Doney, Lewis. The Zangs gling ma. The First Padmasambhava Biography. Two Exemplars of the Earliest Attested Recension. 2014. MONUMENTA TIBETICA HISTORICA Abt. II: Band 3.
  10. ^ Dalton, Jacob. The Early Development of the Padmasambhava Legend in Tibet: A Study of IOL Tib J 644 and Pelliot tibétain 307. Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 124, No. 4 (Oct. - Dec., 2004), pp. 759- 772
  11. Jump up to:a b Germano, David (2005), "The Funerary Transformation of the Great Perfection (Rdzogs chen)", Journal of the International Association of Tibetan Studies (1): 1–54
  12. Jump up to:a b c d Gyatso, Janet (August 2006). "A Partial Genealogy of the Lifestory of Ye shes mtsho rgyal"The Journal of the International Association of Tibetan Studies (2).
  13. ^ Harvey, Peter (2008). An Introduction to Buddhism Teachings, History and Practices (2 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 204. ISBN 978-0-521-67674-8. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  14. Jump up to:a b c Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal. Lion's Gaze: A Commentary on Tsig Sum Nedek. Sky Dancer Press, 1998.
  15. Jump up to:a b Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche, Beauty of Awakened Mind: The Dzogchen Lineage of Shigpo Dudtsi. Dharma Samudra, 2013. https://www.padmasambhava.org/chiso/books-by-khenpo-rinpoches/beauty-of-awakened-mind-dzogchen-lineage-of-shigpo-dudtsi/
  16. ^ Fremantle, Francesca (2001). Luminous Emptiness: Understanding the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Shambhala Publications, Inc. ISBN 1-57062-450-X p.19
  17. ^ "Padmasambhava"Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  18. ^ Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Jr., Donald S. (2013). The Princeton dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 608. ISBN 978-1-4008-4805-8. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  19. ^ van Schaik, Sam; Iwao, Kazushi (2009). "Fragments of the Testament of Ba from Dunhuang". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 128 (3): 477–487. ISSN 0003-0279
  20. ^ Schaik, Sam van. Tibet: A History. Yale University Press 2011, pp. 34-5, 96-8, 273.
  21. ^ Meulenbeld, Ben (2001). Buddhist Symbolism in Tibetan Thangkas: The Story of Siddhartha and Other Buddhas Interpreted in Modern Nepalese Painting. Binkey Kok. p. 93. ISBN 978-90-74597-44-9.
  22. ^ Kazi, Jigme N. (2020-10-20). Sons of Sikkim: The Rise and Fall of the Namgyal Dynasty of Sikkim. Notion Press. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-64805-981-0.
  23. ^ Schaik, Sam Van (2011-06-28). Tibet: A History. Yale University Press. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-300-17217-1.
  24. Jump up to:a b Schaik, Sam van. Tibet: A History. Yale University Press 2011, p. 35.
  25. ^ Cantwell, Cathy;Mayer, Rob; REPRESENTATIONS OF PADMASAMBHAVA IN EARLY POST-IMPERIAL TIBET(pg.22). https://ocbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Cantwell-Mayer-Early-Representations-of-Padmasambhava-copy.pdf
  26. ^ Davidson, Ronald M. Tibetan Renaissance. pg 229. Columbia University Press, 2005.
  27. ^ Davidson, Ronald M. Tibetan Renaissance. pg 278. Columbia University Press, 2005.
  28. ^ Schaik, Sam van. Tibet: A History. Yale University Press 2011, page 96.
  29. ^ Daniel Hirshberg, Nyangrel Nyima Ozer, Treasury of Lives, April 2013, https://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Nyangrel-Nyima-Ozer/TBRC_P364
  30. Jump up to:a b c Trungpa (2001) pp. 26-27. For debate on its geographical location, see also the article on Oddiyana.
  31. ^ Morgan (2010) 208.
  32. ^ Lama Chonam and Sangye Khandro, translators. The Lives and Liberation of Princess Mandarava: The Indian Consort of Padmasambhava. (1998). Wisdom Publications.
  33. ^ Maratikahttp://www.treasuryoflives.org/institution/Maratika
  34. ^ Snelling 1987.
  35. ^ Harvey 1995.
  36. ^ Heine 2002.
  37. ^ Norbu 1987, p. 162.
  38. ^ Snelling 1987, p. 198.
  39. ^ Snelling 1987, p. 196, 198.
  40. ^ 'Guru Rinpoche' and 'Yeshe Tsogyal' in: Forbes, Andrew ; Henley, David (2013). The Illustrated Tibetan Book of the Dead. Chiang Mai: Cognoscenti Books. B00BCRLONM
  41. ^ Changchub, Gyalwa; Namkhai Nyingpo (2002). Padmakara Translation Group (ed.). Lady of the Lotus-Born: The Life and Enlightenment of Yeshe Tsogyal. Shambhala Publications, Inc. p. xxxvii. ISBN 1-57062-544-1.
  42. ^ "Padmasambhava - The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters". Archived from the original on 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  43. ^ Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche, The Eight Manifestations of Guru Rinpoche, (May 1992), https://turtlehill.org
  44. ^ Eight Manifestations of Guru Rinpoche, Rigpawiki, http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Eight_Manifestations_of_Guru_Rinpoche
  45. ^ For the eight manifestations as terma, see: Eight Manifestations: Dorje Drolohttp://www.himalayanart.org/image.cfm/261.html
  46. Jump up to:a b c d Boord 1993, p. 115.
  47. ^ See also image + description
  48. Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Illuminating the Excellent Path to Omniscience
  49. Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Chökyi Drakpa, A Torch for the Path to Omniscience: A Word by Word Commentary on the Text of the Longchen Nyingtik Preliminary Practices.
  50. Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k Patrul Rinpoche, Brief Guide to the Ngöndro Visualization
  51. ^ John Huntington and Dina Bangdel. The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art. Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio, and Serindia Publications, Chicago. 2004. p. 358.
  52. ^ Schmidt and Binder 1993, pp. 252-53.
  53. ^ Sogyal Rinpoche (1992). The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, pp. 386-389 Harper, San Francisco. ISBN 0-7126-5437-2.
  54. ^ Benefits and Advantages of the Vajra Guru Mantra
  55. ^ Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. Illuminating the Excellent Path — Notes on the Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro. Lotsawa House.
  56. ^ "Seven Line Prayer"Lotsawa House. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  57. ^ White Lotus: An Explanation of the Seven-line Prayer to Guru Padmasambhava by Mipham Rinpoche, Ju and translated by the Padmakara Translation Group Archived 2009-01-25 at the Wayback Machine
  58. ^ "Commentary on the Seven Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche". Archived from the original on 2008-01-07. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
  59. ^ Dancing on the demon's back: the dramnyen dance and song of Bhutan[permanent dead link], by Elaine Dobson, John Blacking Symposium: Music, Culture and Society, Callaway Centre, University of Western Australia, July 2003
  60. ^ Laird (2006) 90.
  61. ^ Ian A. Baker: The Lukhang: A hidden temple in Tibet.
  62. ^ Dowman, Keith. (1984). Sky Dancer: The Secret Life and Songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel. p. 265.
  63. ^ Gyalwa Changchub and Namkhai Nyingpo, Lady of the Lotus-Born: The Life and Enlightenment of Yeshe Tsogyal, Shambhala (1999, pp. 3-4)
  64. ^ Tibetan Wylie transliteration and Sanskrit transliteration are found in Dowman, Keith. (1984). Sky Dancer: The Secret Life and Songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel. p. 193.
  65. ^ Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche, Illuminating the Path, pg 179. Padmasambhava Buddhist Center, 2008.
  66. ^ RigpaShedra
  67. Jump up to:a b Dudjom Rinpoche, The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism: Its Fundamentals and History, pg 534-537. Translated by Gyurme Dorje and Matthew Kapstein. Boston: Wisdom Publications. 1991, 2002.
  68. ^ Mandelbaum, Arthur (August 2007). "Denma Tsemang"The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  69. ^ Mandelbaum, Arthur (August 2007). "Nanam Dorje Dudjom"The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  70. ^ Dorje, Gyurme (August 2008). "Lasum Gyelwa Jangchub"The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  71. ^ Mandelbaum, Arthur (August 2007). "Gyelwa Choyang"The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  72. ^ Mandelbaum, Arthur (August 2007). "Gyelwai Lodro"The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  73. ^ Garry, Ron (August 2007). "Nyak Jñānakumara"The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  74. ^ Mandelbaum, Arthur (August 2007). "Kawa Peltsek"The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
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  76. ^ Mandelbaum, Arthur (August 2007). "Sokpo Pelgyi Yeshe"The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  77. ^ Mandelbaum, Arthur (August 2007). "Lhalung Pelgyi Dorje"The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
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Sources[edit]

  • Berzin, Alexander (November 10–11, 2000). "History of Dzogchen"Study Buddhism. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  • Bischoff, F.A. (1978). Ligeti, Louis (ed.). "Padmasambhava est-il un personnage historique?". Csoma de Körös Memorial Symposium. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó: 27–33. ISBN 963-05-1568-7.
  • Boord, Martin (1993). Cult of the Deity Vajrakila. Institute of Buddhist Studies. ISBN 0-9515424-3-5.
  • Dudjom Rinpoche The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism: Its Fundamentals and History. Translated by Gyurme Dorje and Matthew Kapstein. Boston: Wisdom Publications. 1991, 2002. ISBN 0-86171-199-8.
  • Guenther, Herbert V. (1996), The Teachings of Padmasambhava, Leiden: E.J. Brill, ISBN 90-04-10542-5
  • Harvey, Peter (1995), An introduction to Buddhism. Teachings, history and practices, Cambridge University Press
  • Heine, Steven (2002), Opening a Mountain. Koans of the Zen Masters, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  • Jackson, D. (1979) 'The Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava (Padma bKaí thang)' in: The Journal of Asian Studies 39: 123-25.
  • Jestis, Phyllis G. (2004) Holy People of the World Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1-57607-355-6.
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  • Laird, Thomas. (2006). The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama. Grove Press, New York. ISBN 978-0-8021-1827-1.
  • Morgan, D. (2010) Essential Buddhism: A Comprehensive Guide to Belief and Practice Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 0-313-38452-5.
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  • Thondup, Tulku. Hidden Teachings of Tibet: An Explanation of the Terma Tradition of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. London: Wisdom Publications, 1986.
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Further reading[edit]

  • Padmasambhava. Advice from the Lotus-Born: A Collection of Padmasambhava's Advice to the Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal and Other Close Disciples. With Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. Rangjung Yeshe Publications, 2013.

External links[edit]

전설의 지상낙원 ‘베율’을 찾아라…한국인 4명 탐사 나서 | 한경닷컴

전설의 지상낙원 ‘베율’을 찾아라…한국인 4명 탐사 나서 | 한경닷컴

전설의 지상낙원 ‘베율’을 찾아라…한국인 4명 탐사 나서

입력2015.03.10 

베율

[텐아시아=정시우 기자]미지의 폭포 베율이 화제다.

8일 방송된 SBS스페셜 UHD특집 3부작 ‘인생횡단’ 1부에서는 티베트 불교에 예언된 전설의 낙원 베율이 소개됐다.

베율은 티베트 불교의 창시자 파드마 삼바바가 예언한 전설의 땅으로 현대인이 겪고 있는 절망과 고통을 잊게 해준다는 꿈의 파라다이스로 티베트의 정신적 지도자 14대 달라이라마도 그 지리적 실체를 인정한 곳이다. 지난 1998년 미국의 탐험가 이안 베이커는 베율을 찾아낸 공로를 인정받아 미국국립지리학회로부터 천년의 탐험가상을 받기도 했다.

낙원의 땅 베율을 발견한 탐험가 이안 베이커는 여덟 차례나 히말라야를 전역을 탐사했다. 그리고 마침내 파드마 삼바바가 예언서에 기록한 거대한 폭포 뒤편에서 베율로 연결된 문을 발견한다. 그의 발견은 지리학적으로도 큰 성과였지만 아쉽게도 이안 베이커는 물살 때문에 강을 건널 수 없어 베율 입구에 도달하지 못했다.

베율을 향한 장장 180일, 히말라야 서쪽 끝 파키스탄부터 티베트, 네팔을 거쳐 동 쪽 시킴까지 이동거리 6,600km의 대장정에 4명의 대한민국 사나이가 나섰다. 10년 전 히말라야 촐라체에서 8개의 손가락을 잃었지만 패러글라이딩으로 히말라야 횡단에 성공해 새로운 탐험의 패러다임을 보여준 산악인 박정헌을 필두로 산악스키 전국가대표 박상현, 보디빌더 출신의 만능 스포츠맨 박대하, 한국 최초 익스트림 카야커 강호가 한 팀을 이뤄 히말라야에 숨겨진 베율을 찾는 대장정에 도전한다.

총 3부에 걸쳐 방영되는 이번 방송은 산에 대한 남다른 애정을 가진 배우 손현주가 내레이션으로 합류했다.

지상낙원 '베율', 고통없는 낙원…그곳은 과연 어디? | 중앙일보

지상낙원 '베율', 고통없는 낙원…그곳은 과연 어디? | 중앙일보

지상낙원 '베율', 고통없는 낙원…그곳은 과연 어디?
온라인 중앙일보

입력 2015.03.09 
‘베율’. [SBS SBS ‘인생횡단’ 캡처]

1000전 티베트 불교에 예원된 지상낙원 ‘베율’이 소개돼 화제다.

8일 SBS스페셜 UHD특집 3부작 ‘인생횡단’ 1부에서는 티베트 불교에 예언된 전설의 낙원 베율이 소개됐다. 베율이 새삼 화제를 모으는 건 산악인 박정헌을 비롯한 최고의 전문가들이 뭉쳐 베율을 향한 장장 180일의 여정을 떠나면서다.

지난 1998년 미국의 탐험가 이안 베이커에 의해 발견된 베율은 티베트 불교의 창시자 파드마 삼바바가 예언한 전설의 땅으로, 현대인이 겪고 있는 절망과 고통을 잊게 해준다는 꿈의 파라다이스이다. 티베트의 정신적 지도자 14대 달라이라마도 그 지리적 실체를 인정한 바 있다.

달라이라마는 “베율은 천년의 비밀을 간직한 파라다이스다. 고통이 없는 낙원을 연상케 하는 이곳은 엄청난 고난을 통해서만 도달할 수 있다”고 했다.

베율은 히말라야 만년설이 녹아 흐르는 강줄기에 둘러싸여 있다. 베율의 입구는 거대한 폭포 건너편에 있는데, 그 폭포의 위력 앞에 1998년 미국의 탐험가 이안 베이커가 발견하고도 더 이상 들어가기를 포기해야 했던 곳으로 알려졌다.

그럼에도 베이커는 이 발견의 공로를 인정받아 미국국립지리학회로부터 ‘천년의 탐험가’상을 받고 기네스북에도 등재됐다.

이번 베율을 향한 180일간의 여정은 히말라야 촐라체에서 8개의 손가락을 잃고도 패러글라이딩으로 히말라야 횡단에 성공해 새로운 탐험의 패러다임을 보여준 산악인 박정헌을 필두로 한다. 여기에 산악스키 전국가대표 박상현, 보디빌더 출신의 만능 스포츠맨 박대하, 한국 최초 익스트림 카야커 강호가 한 팀을 이뤄 히말라야에 숨겨진 베율을 찾는 대장정에 도전한다.

이 여정은 히말라야 서쪽 끝 파키스탄부터 티베트, 네팔을 거쳐 동 쪽 시킴까지 이동거리 6600km의 대장정이다.

이런 대단한 도전을 한 4명의 사나이는 오롯이 인간의 힘을 이용한 무동력 수단(카약, 패러글라이딩, 산악스키, 산악자전거)으로 이동해 더욱 관심을 끈다. 이 여정은 8일 밤 ‘SBS 스페셜’의 초고화질(UHD)특집 3부작 인생횡단 1부를 통해 전파를 탔다. 과연 이 험난한 도전으로 미지의 폭포 베율에 도달할 수 있을지 귀추가 주목된다.

온라인 중앙일보
‘베율’. [SBS SBS ‘인생횡단’ 캡처]

[SBS 스페셜] 드디어 베율을 찾았다

[SBS 스페셜] 드디어 베율을 찾았다


[SBS 스페셜] 드디어 베율을 찾았다
2015-03-21
lifenewsteam medical@medicalworldnews.co.kr

[SBS스페셜]이 드디어 베율을 찾았다.

베율은 티베트 불교의 창시자 파드마 삼바바가 예언한 전설의 땅으로 현대인이 겪고 있는 절망과 고통을 잊게 해준다는 꿈의 파라다이스다. 신화에 등장할 법한 이곳은 티베트의 정신적 지도자 14대 달라이라마도 그 지리적 실체를 인정한 곳이다. 1998년 미국 탐험가 이안 베이커에 의해 발견된 “베율”을 찾아 [SBS스페셜] 원정 탐험대는 장장 6,600km의 180일 간의 여정을 소화해 냈다.

지식의 사자(使者)

인도 시킴에 위치한 남걀 티베트학 연구소에서 박정헌 탐사대장은 <지식의 사자>라는 베율에 대한 새로운 단서를 발견했다. [지식의 사자]는 16세기 티베트 왕 린풍파가 베율에서 환생한 그의 아버지께 보내는 편지이다. 린풍파는 편지를 전달할 사자(使者)들을 위해 글 서두에 베율로 가는 경로를 매우 구체적으로 묘사해 놨다.

그 출발점은 티베트의 수도 라싸이다. 그는 티베트 일대를 가로지르며 라마승들을 만나 베율로 가는 지혜를 구하라고 이야기 한다. 그리고 그들에게 베율을 찾으며 겪게 될 난관과 시련을 이겨낼 힘을 얻으라고 조언한다. 그 뒤, 린풍파는 사자들이 황량하고 타들어 갈 듯 한 사막과 온갖 야생동물의 위협이 엄습하는 숲 등 극한으로 치닫는 고비를 맞게 될 거라 예언한다.

이 지역들을 통과해야 비로소 마지막 난관이 될 지역에 들어서게 된다. 지리상으로 오늘날 파키스탄 부근인 이곳을 린풍파는 마치 성난 악마가 길을 막아 놓은 것 같다고 묘사했다. 눈 쌓인 거대한 바위벽과 치솟은 산이 그곳을 지나는 이의 발걸음을 위협하지만 이 난관을 지나야 비로소 베율에 도착한다고 했다. [SBS스페셜]의 베율탐사대는 [지식의 사자]에 적힌 경로를 어떻게 통과했을까?

강 린포체, 영혼의 보석



인도 시킴에 위치한 남걀 티베트학 연구소에서 박정헌 탐사대장은 <지식의 사자>라는 베율에 대한 새로운 단서를 발견했다. [지식의 사자]는 16세기 티베트 왕 린풍파가 베율에서 환생한 그의 아버지께 보내는 편지이다. 린풍파는 편지를 전달할 사자(使者)들을 위해 글 서두에 베율로 가는 경로를 매우 구체적으로 묘사해 놨다.

그 출발점은 티베트의 수도 라싸이다. 그는 티베트 일대를 가로지르며 라마승들을 만나 베율로 가는 지혜를 구하라고 이야기 한다. 그리고 그들에게 베율을 찾으며 겪게 될 난관과 시련을 이겨낼 힘을 얻으라고 조언한다. 그 뒤, 린풍파는 사자들이 황량하고 타들어 갈 듯 한 사막과 온갖 야생동물의 위협이 엄습하는 숲 등 극한으로 치닫는 고비를 맞게 될 거라 예언한다.

이 지역들을 통과해야 비로소 마지막 난관이 될 지역에 들어서게 된다. 지리상으로 오늘날 파키스탄 부근인 이곳을 린풍파는 마치 성난 악마가 길을 막아 놓은 것 같다고 묘사했다. 눈 쌓인 거대한 바위벽과 치솟은 산이 그곳을 지나는 이의 발걸음을 위협하지만 이 난관을 지나야 비로소 베율에 도착한다고 했다. [SBS스페셜]의 베율탐사대는 [지식의 사자]에 적힌 경로를 어떻게 통과했을까?

강 린포체, 영혼의 보석

“(베율로 가려면) 라싸에서 출발해 시가체로 가라. 그런 다음 성스러운 산 카일라스로 가라. 그리고 길가에 지어진 사원과 성지를 방문하고 라마승들을 접견하라.“ -지식의 사자 첫 번째 장-

[지식의 사자]를 좇아 라싸에서부터 카일라스까지 티베트 일대를 가로지르기 위해 베율 탐사대가 산악자전거에 몸을 실었다. 티베트는 1951년 중국 공산당에 무력침공 당해 아직까지 식민지 상태에 놓여있다. 이러한 역사적 배경 속에서 티베트 인들의 정신과 신념을 지켜준 것이 바로 티베트 불교였다.

첫 출발지인 라싸는 ‘신의 땅’이라는 본래의 뜻과는 달리 변해있었다. 티베트 불교의 정신적 지주 달라이 라마의 거처 포탈라궁은 관광지로 변해 돈벌이 수단이 되어버렸고, 자신의 몸을 신께 바쳐 기도하는 오체투지 또한 구걸행위가 되어버렸다.

마지막 기대를 걸고 탐사대가 향한 곳은 순례자들의 발길이 끊이지 않는 4대 종교(불교, 힌두교, 자이나교, 뵌교)의 성지 ‘카일라스’다. 과연 그곳에서 탐사대는 베율에 이르는 지혜를 찾을 수 있을 것인가?

코라, 순례자의 길

“길은 점점 험난해질 것이다. 눈앞에 거대한 바위벽과 하늘을 찌를 듯 한 눈 산맥이 길을 막고 있을 것이다. 여기서 절망해서는 안 된다.” - 지식의 사자 마지막 장

<지식의 사자>에 언급된 마지막 여정은 티베트를 지나 파키스탄으로 이어진다. 베율 탐사대가 파키스탄에 첫 발을 내딛자마자 무장 경찰이 탐사대의 여정에 동행했다. 평소에도 탈레반에 의한 크고 작은 테러가 끊이지 않아 항상 위험하기 때문이다.

베율을 찾으려면 우선 파키스탄 깊숙한 곳으로 들어가 거대한 바위벽과 눈 덮인 산맥을 가로질러야 한다. [지식의 사자]에선 이러한 고난의 땅을 지나야 비로소 눈 속에 파묻힌 계곡이 펼쳐지고, 그곳에서 진주빛깔로 빛나는 베율을 발견하게 된다고 한다.

탐사대는 파키스탄 북쪽 끝에서 평균 고도 5000m에 위치한 세계에서 가장 긴 길이의 빙하지대에 도착했다. 그곳은 거대한 빙퇴석이 길을 막고, 양 옆으로 높은 설산이 병풍처럼 이어진 지형이었다.

얼음과 흙 외에는 아무것도 존재하지 않는 빙하 위, 고소와 추위에 맞서는 베율 탐사대의 치열한 고난기가 계속된다. 그리고 마침내 빙하를 벗어나 탐사대 앞에 새로운 모습의 땅이 드러났다. 이곳은 [지식의 사자]에 언급된 베율의 모습, 숨겨진 계곡과 매우 흡사했다. 과연 그들이 찾은 베율은 어떤 곳이었을까. 탐사대가 발견한 곳이 베율의 지리적인 실체를 이번 주 방송되는 
[SBS스페셜-인생횡단 3부]에서 공개된다. 방송일정 (3부) : 3월 22일(일) 밤 11:15~

Beyul: The Sacred Hidden Valleys | Documentary

Beyul, The Sacred Hidden Valleys – Dharma Documentaries

Beyul, The Sacred Hidden Valleys – Dharma Documentaries

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Beyul, The Sacred Hidden Valleys

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Dharma Documentaries

A film from Nepal which looks at how traditional concepts are being incorporated into park management.



This is a film from Nepal about the idea of the Sacred Valley, or Beyul, which is a concept similar to Shangra-la, a hidden away valley where people live in peace and prosperity, and in harmony with nature.

The film looks at how this concept has helped with conservation through the ages, and how a sense of the sacred guides people in their relationship with the natural world, especially as it pertains to the Sherpa culture.

It also shows how these traditional concepts are being embedded in national park management in Nepal, providing a stronger guidance on the protection and use of natural resources in the country.

For this reason we see how traditional religions and science can work together to help protect the natural world from the forces of greed that have been unleashed upon it.

It is also one of the few films I have seen which fits into all three categories this site is concerned with: Culture, Dharma and Ecology.






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Beyul: The Sacred Hidden Valleys | Documentary
94,402 viewsDec 4, 2020

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Mila Productions
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This documentary is filmed in the Khumbu valley located at the foot of Mt. Everest. The area is now declared as Sagarmatha National Park and a World Heritage Site. Locals believe that Khumbu is one of the many Beyuls - the sacred valleys of the Himalaya, hidden by the 8th century Buddhist saint Padmasmbhava as refuges for people suffering from the impacts of war, conflicts, famine, or religious persecution. The Khumbu Beyul was discovered by the ancestors of the Sherpa people escaping religious conflict in Tibet. 

The film introduces traditional Sherpa views of the Beyul as a sacred space, co-habited by many other natural and supernatural beings, where negative thoughts and actions such as quarreling, polluting, and taking life are discouraged because the place is considered spiritually powerful. It is these positive attitudes and self restraint on part of the people that made Khumbu not only a peaceful place for people to live and visit but also a safe refuge for wild animals and plants. The sympathetic attitudes of Beyul believers supported most Beyuls  to become national parks and protected areas. The role of the ancient belief system in conservation however has received little recognition. The lack of recognition, outside cultural domination and the influence of modern education that do not take into account the value of the indigenous knowledge have eroded knowledge about Beyul values. This film reveals both the strength of the Beyul concept in maintaining environmental and cultural integrity of a place as well as the vulnerability of concepts to change. This film is produced to raise awareness among viewers of the role of sacred natural sites such as Beyul in protecting the environment and maintaining harmonious relationships between the land and people throughout the world. 

Directed by: Tsering Rhitar Sherpa
Concept by: Dr. Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa
Produced by: The Mountain Institute
Language: Sherpa / Nepali / English
Subtitle: English


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Beyul of the Himalaya – Nepal, Tibet, India – Sacred Land

Beyul of the Himalaya – Nepal, Tibet, India – Sacred Land



Beyul of the Himalaya


Status Threatened
Country Nepal, Tibet, India
Report By
Amy Corbin
Thanks
Lhakpa Sherpa, senior technical expert at the Mountain Institute, for reviewing prior to publication.
Posted
August 11, 2009
Updated
August 11, 2009







Throughout the famed Himalayan mountains are large, hidden valleys known as beyul, places of peace and refuge revered by Tibetan Buddhists. These secret lands of legend have drawn Buddhist seekers for centuries, and one called Pemako is thought to have been the inspiration for Shangri-La, the mystical Himalayan utopia described in James Hilton’s 1933 novel “Lost Horizon.” Because of their remote and isolated location, and the respect with which they have been treated by the communities that reside in or near them, the beyul contain high levels of biodiversity in a setting of tremendous beauty. However, outside influences like globalization, nationalization, cultural assimilation and tourism have begun to erode the power of the traditional beyul concept in many places, while development encroaches on the physical landscape. If modern conservation and management efforts are to be successful, they must find ways to preserve and integrate longstanding traditional beliefs and practices. In his introduction to the Ian Baker book “Heart of the World,” the Dalai Lama writes, “From a Buddhist perspective, sacred environments such as Pemako are not places to escape the world, but to enter it more deeply.”
The Land and Its People

The beyul are large mountain valleys, sometimes encompassing hundreds of square kilometers, found in the Buddhist areas of the Himalaya in Nepal, Tibet, India and Bhutan. They originate from the beliefs of the Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, which has a rich tradition of respect for natural sites. According to ancient Buddhist texts, the beyul were preserves of Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, who introduced Buddhism to Tibet and founded the Nyingmapa tradition in the eighth century. Information on their locations was kept on scrolls hidden under rocks and inside caves, monasteries and stupa (shrines). Some beyul are now inhabited, others are occasionally visited by spiritual seekers and adventurers, and some are still unknown. The total number of beyul, discovered and not, is often said to be 108.

One of the most legendary beyul is Pemako (“the Secret Land Shaped Like a Lotus”), in southeastern Tibet, east of a dramatic Tsangpo River gorge known as the Great Bend, where the river curves sharply into the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Tsangpo Gorge is three times deeper than the Grand Canyon, with enormous waterfalls in which the river drops more than 8,000 feet in a 150-mile stretch. These waterfalls, where several explorers have lost their lives, are said to be a gateway to a secret inner part of Beyul Pemako. The Tsangpo River connects Pemako to one of Tibet’s most sacred mountains, Mount Kailash, and the landscape of the Tsangpo-Pemako area is said to represent the body of the goddess Dorje Pagmo, with the river her spine and the surrounding peaks her breasts.

In Nepal and Tibet, around Mount Everest, are the Khenbalung, Khumbu, Rolwaling, Rongshar, Kyirong and Nubri sacred valleys. Khumbu was discovered by ancestors of the Sherpa people, who had left Tibet to escape religious persecution in the 15th and 16th centuries. They entered the valley to seek refuge and made a new homeland there. Buddhist monasteries and sacred mountains have brought many spiritual travelers to Khumbu, more accessible than the mysterious Pemako.

Many other beyul are known only to local people and they often transcend political boundaries. The exact geographical locations of beyul are often debated because their locations are also spiritual. A person might follow instructions from the ancient texts but still not be able to see or experience the beyul if not in the proper spiritual state.

Beyul are religious conceptions, but because of the reverence with which they are treated by local residents, hunting, fighting and disturbing the natural landscape are considered inappropriate behaviors and are avoided. As a result, beyul have become significant oases of biodiversity as well. They typically have plentiful water coming from the surrounding mountains, and their terrain is covered with forests, lakes, alpine meadows, and snow and ice fields. These valleys cover large areas and have vast elevation ranges. Their size and topographic variations provide a home for a diverse array of plants and animals; their isolation and inaccessibility generally means low levels of human disturbance.

Within the beyul, particular natural features such as lakes, rocks and patches of forest are often regarded as especially sacred because they are home to supernatural beings. Some gathering of plant resources, such as medicinal plants, firewood and timber, is allowed, but collectors make sure they have not harvested more than is needed. The animals in beyul are protected by the Buddhist taboo against killing. The residents of the Kharta and Rongshar areas in Tibet, for example, challenged British explorers who wanted to hunt when they arrived in 1921. Endangered species that live in beyul include the snow leopard, musk deer, red panda and Himalayan black bear.

The sacredness of the beyul also means that human conflicts are spiritually discouraged. In Beyul Dremoshung in the Indian state of Sikkim, two groups, the Lepchas and Bhutias, hold an annual festival that commemorates the signing of a peace treaty. The festival celebrates the deity of the beyul’s Mount Kangchendjunga, who is supposed to have witnessed the treaty signing.
Current Challenges and Preservation Efforts

Today, most beyul in the Himalaya are designated as some form of park or reserve by their respective governments. In the process, the centuries of protection the beyul concept has provided are being forgotten, and regulation and policing are taking precedence over communities’ faith-based conservation. Many beyul are no longer so isolated because of modern modes of transportation and communication. Education in outside languages often erodes local cultural values and traditional knowledge. When children adopt cultures that are alien to their own land, traditional concepts such as the beyul begin to lose their grip on people’s minds.

In the age of global economic systems, voluntary faith-based approaches may also not be adequate to ensure continued environmental protection, as development projects are authorized from outside the communities. Roads now run through Ronghsar and Kyirong and there are airfields near Khumbu and Khenbalung. Burning of forests, livestock overgrazing and soil erosion are becoming problems as community respect for the beyul declines. And since the higher-elevation and more isolated areas tend to be economically poorer, the money to be made from tourism and development is a powerful force. Adventure tourism like trekking is often unregulated, and increasing numbers of visitors are taking their toll on fragile areas. Recent migrants to the area often serve as commercial and trekking porters, and they do not share the religious and cultural traditions of long-term inhabitants.

Pemako is currently threatened by China’s plans to build a hydroelectric dam, twice as big as the controversial Three Gorges Dam, which would harness the power of the Tsangpo waterfalls to pump water to northeast China. The project would displace the traditional Tibetan villages above the gorge and impact millions of people downriver in India, who will be deprived of river water and the nutrients its flood levels bring into soil. The artificial lake created by the dam would also submerge untouched forests and wildlife.

Sagarmatha National Park, which encompasses Beyul Khumbu, near Mount Everest, was established in 1976 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage site three years later. It is the second most visited national park in Nepal’s Himalayan region; tourism increased from 3,600 tourists in 1979 to 21,570 in 2001. The Sherpa continue to live in the park and grow food through traditional methods. However, there are pressing concerns about the increased harvesting of fragile and slow-growing high-altitude vegetation such as shrub juniper and cushion plants, which the growing population uses for fuel. Tourism has brought them some financial benefits, but the growing numbers of people disturb fragile ecological zones, and tourism income is not equally distributed throughout the region.

For protected areas to be successful in the long term, park managers and government officials need to learn more about the spiritual underpinnings of the beyul concept in order to gain support from the local communities who are the real guardians of the hidden lands. Regulations should complement traditional use rules instead of override them. A full survey of beyul throughout the Himalayas needs to be conducted, alongside interviews with community spiritual leaders to document the principles by which they govern their beyul. Local schools should incorporate beyul traditions into their curriculum so adults can pass on indigenous knowledge and practices. Outside visitors and migrant workers should also be educated in the local culture and conservation ethics; their respect and interest will further encourage community members to preserve their heritage.

Some community groups and NGOs are currently working to strengthen local attachment to the beyul and educate communities about the value of ecotourism, which can provide income while also protecting the sacred valleys. The Mountain Institute’s Himalaya Program works with local communities in the eastern Himalayan valleys of Nepal and Tibet to preserve mountain cultures, improve mountain livelihoods and conserve ecosystems. Its Sacred Sites Trail Project has constructed a trail in Sagarmatha National Park to keep tourists away from fragile areas and direct them to lesser-known sacred sites and villages in the Khumbu region, thus spreading the economic benefits to isolated communities and lessening the impact on better-known places. The nonprofit Vision Builders runs the Lhundrüp Topgyé Ling School in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which serves local students and Tibetan refugees by teaching literacy, Buddhist principles and cultural traditions.

Protecting ecosystems across political boundaries is also vital for long-term conservation. Toward that end, the Mountain Institute has supported the governments of Nepal, India and the Tibet Autonomous Region in creating a network of transboundary protected areas including Sagarmatha National Park, Makalu-Barun National Park and Tibet’s Qomolangma Nature Preserve. These adjacent parks jointly protect nearly 40,000 square kilometers around Mount Everest in the heart of the Himalaya, including six beyul.
What You Can Do

Read more about the work of the Mountain Institute and consider making a donation. You can also watch their film “Beyul: The Sacred Hidden Valleys,” which documents Beyul Khumbu, the Sherpa’s traditional reverence for it, and the vulnerability of this belief in modern times.

Visit the Vision Builders website to learn more about Lhundrüp Topgyé Ling school and how you can donate to their work.

If you visit Himalayan beyul regions, be respectful of Buddhist tradition regarding sacred places; read the cultural tips in the Mountain Institute’s sacred sites trail brochure (PDF) to learn more. For more general guidelines, read Sacred Sites International Foundation’s Ethics for Visiting Sacred Sites.
Sources

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Nepal Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Sagarmatha National Park.

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Sud, Hari. “China’s Future Water War With India.” UPI Asia, May 13, 2008.

Snow Lion Publications. “The Pemako Project.” The Snow Lion Newsletter, July 2003.

Tsering, Tashi. Hydro Logic: Water for Human Development: An Analysis of China’s Water Management and Politics. Tibet Justice Center: 2002. (PDF)

Tsering, Tashi. “Inviting Apocalypse: India to Support China’s Plans to Harness the Brahmaputra River.” TRIN-GYI-PHO-NYA: Tibet’s Environment and Development Digest, December 7, 2005.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. “Sagarmatha National Park.” UNESCO World Heritage Center.
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