Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s6.t7: Phyag rgya chen po
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s6.t7
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Phyag rgya chen po
v1.c7.s6.t7.1
It is the core doctrine of the Kagyu Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Kagyu sect is consistent with other schools, promotes Madhyamika thoughts, especially observes Karmapa’s Prasangika Madhyamaka. Because Kagyu Sect attaches importance to practice and cultivation of guru heritance and tantric doctrines, great hand seal becomes its unique core doctrines and rites. The so-called "great hand seal" does not mean hand seal in cultivation and practice of Tantric doctrines but is a symbol to obtain achievement, enlightenment and intelligence for cultivation and practice of Tantric doctrines, such as self-nature, ultimate reality, Bodhi, true body and true character.
v1.c7.s6.t7.2
The Great Hand Seal is related to exoteric and esoteric cultivation. Exoteric Great Hand Seal means that concentration and cultivation of non-differentiation can attain enlightenment while Esoteric Great Hand Seal means putting air into great and happy brightness from mid rids, which is the essence of *Anuttarayoga Tantra*. Esoteric great hand seal has complex doctrine system and multiple branches.
v1.c7.s6.t7.3
There are four yoga ways mainly in the aspect of cultivation: one-pointedness yoga, simplicity yoga, one taste yoga, and non-meditation yoga.
v1.c7.s6.t7.4
Besides great hand seal, Kagyu sect promotes specific cultivation of "six doctrines of Naropa" which originated from Tantric doctrines inherited from Indian Master Naropa. Great hand seal and doctrines of Naropa are inseparably interconnected. Six doctrines of Naropa are composed of six cultivation doctrines advanced gradually in the due order from the shallower to the deeper. Firstly, dharma attainment is to obtain the goal of Vajra Dharani by developing the natural intelligence of bliss and emptiness of a cultivator; secondly, vision body attainment is to obtain reward of perfect Buddha's body by developing natural intelligence of immediate voidness and non-differentiation of a cultivator; thirdly, dream attainment is to prove and realise the true reality of empty self-nature by developing natural intelligence of awareness of voidness; fourthly, bright attainment is to obtain the two goals of utmost enlightenment and absolute reality by developing natural intelligence of complete voidness of a cultivator; fifthly, intermediate attainment is to obtain ultimate release by developing natural intelligence of the three periods of a cultivator; sixthly, phowa attainment is to obtain achievement of Buddha's body by developing natural intelligence of nondifferentiation of a cultivator.
v1.c7.s6.t7.5
(*Kalsang gyal*)