![Secret Wisdom: Three Tantras of the Great Perfection by [Wilkinson, Christopher, Raksita, Vairocana]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/511z6GDRpsL._SY346_.jpg)
We’re fortunate to live in a time when the great literature of Buddhism is being translated at an exponentially increasing speed. That includes works originally in Pali, Sanskrit, and Tibetan as well as Chinese and Japanese. Particularly noteworthy have been the multiple volume translations of the earliest Sutras (Suttas) translated by Maurice Walshe such as The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Digha Nikaya found in the Theravada and Mahayana traditions. The translations by Red Pine of the Heart Sutra, the Diamond Sutra, the Platform Sutra and the Lankavatara Sutra are welcome additions of later Sutras. Now we can welcome Secret Wisdom: Three Root Tantras of the Great Perfection. Translated by Christopher Wilkinson over ten years and completed in 1990, these Tantras are basic to the Dzogchen tradition.
The radical nature of the teaching is obvious within the first several pages: “Self-awareness has no object. It is obvious without concentration. There is, therefore, nothing but the Dharmadhatu.”(At page 4) In this brief passage and throughout the translations terms of art such as Dharmadhatu are used so the reader needs to be already knowledgeable or sitting at a computer search engine. The footnotes are of little help for this since most of the footnotes are just listing the original Tibetan words. This quote is part of the first short chapter of The Tantra of the Secret Wisdom Of the Great Perfection, the first of the three tantras translated without commentary. It ends, “ So he (The Lord of Secrets, apparently Vajrapani) spoke, and the audiences were terrified. Vajrasattva himself fainted.” (At page5) Now that’s powerful.
It should be pointed out that two of the three translations are considered “secret”. Traditionally this meant they weren’t to be read or received except through a qualified teacher, usually after years of practice and then only through direct transmission and guidance from that teacher. However, there is a school of thought that says when it’s considered secret it’s self-secret, meaning you won’t be able to gain much from it if you aren’t ready for the teachings. The latter view seems a reasonable one. It’s your call. In any case, take advantage of the “Look Inside” feature and see what you think.
In the way of full disclosure, I am now substantially into this translation but have not completed the book. That’s a good thing. It means this book is a gem. It’s the kind of reading that should not be rushed and needs to be reflected and meditated on along the way. Nevertheless, I feel it’s a good time to comment since I’ve read enough to have the flavor, and want to encourage others to join in the feast. This book will have courses and retreats built around it.
If you decide to proceed you should nestle into a comfortable chair, strap on your seat belt, and enjoy the ride. It will provide many days, weeks and months of rewarding reading. You might even decide to center a Dzogchen practice on it.
- File Size: 676 KB
- Print Length: 219 pages
- Publisher: Christopher Wilkinson; 1 edition (September 5, 2014)
- Publication Date: September 5, 2014
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00ND6HUPG
- Text-to-Speech:
Enabled
- Word Wise: Not Enabled
- Lending: Not Enabled
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Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
#755,589 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #1461 in Asian Literature (Books)
- #210 in Asian Literature (Kindle Store)
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