Buddha's Lions: The Lives of the Eighty-Four Siddhas
Caturaśīti-siddha-pravṛtti by Abhayadatta
Translator James B. Robinson.
This book is part of the Tibetan Translation Series by Dharma Publishing.
The illustrations of the siddhas which appear throughout the translation are based on various sets of thankas and wood-block prints, some of which were provided by John C. Huntington. They have been drawn by Rosalyn White under the direction of Tarthang Tulku.
From the Foreword:
The siddha tradition could, in many ways, be considered the foundation of Tibetan Buddhism, for the siddhas and their lives provide us with a central vision of the Vajrayana teachings, the way to live in perfect freedom. The siddhas offer a special form of realization that cuts through confusion, like wind through clouds, to reveal clarity and confidence, inner health and well-being. More than simply life stories, these biographies embody profound teachings designed to contribute to our inner development. When we understand the siddhas' teachings, it is possible that we, here, today, can gain enlightenment. The way is truly simple, and open to us.
Because the enlightened mind is beyond duality, the yogin and his teachings can manifest in any form: they may even be 'hidden' within our ordinary reality. Yet before we can take full advantage of the Vajrayana teachings, there must be preparation, which may take many years. Such preparation may manifest in different ways, perhaps through experiencing deeply the frustrations of life in the world, or even by living a monastic life. After such preparation there must then be the right juncture of well-prepared disciple and enlightened teacher; only then can the teacher transmit the Buddha's realization, so that enlightenment may be found within a single lifetime.
This text is perhaps the most comprehensive work in Tibetan to be found on the siddhas, and the one most representative of the various siddha traditions in Tibet. All of the siddhas in this text are Indian Masters who could be considered the founders of the siddha lineages that passed into Tibet during the eighth to the eleventh centuries. The list of siddhas, as well as some of the facts of their histories may differ, however, according to the various lineages. . .
Other siddhas are remembered for their writings which are expressed both in narrative and in the form of dohas, songs of enlightenment. Just as the siddhas inspired growth in all those whose lives they touched, their songs can uplift the quality of our lives as well. For the teachings of the doha, while directed toward ordinary people, are not in ordinary language, but in a language illumined by understanding. This inner lightness points the way through surface meanings to unfolding levels of realization, making each doha the actuality of perfect liberation.
From the Introduction:
The Tibetan text which is here translated is itself a translation of the Caturaśīti-siddha-pravṛtti, a Sanskrit text written in the late eleventh or early twelfth century by Abhayadatta, 'the Great Guru of Campara'. The book is essentially a collection of short biographies, though these narratives, while clearly anchored to historical figures and traditions, could perhaps best be considered as 'hagiography', writings from within a living tradition honoring holy or exalted individuals.
The eighty-four siddhas, in general, represent all those throughout the ages who have, within a single lifetime, attained direct realization of the Buddha's teachings. In particular, these eighty-four siddhas brought about the flowering of the Tantric tradition during the later period of Indian Buddhism. . .
These individuals, men and women, kings and beggars, young and old, not only represent those who have in the past attained direct realization of the Buddha's teaching, but stand for all humankind as well - demonstrating that anyone, no matter what his or her initial state, can reach the highest human condition within a single lifetime. Just as the experience of the siddha opened to these highest possibilities, so the reader may also experience an opening to the highest teachings of the Dharma.
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