A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s6.t5.90

v2.c19.s6.t5.90

The Pañcakrama⁴ is said to be an extract from the Guhyasamāja. It is an Anuttarayoga-Tantra, and deals more with Yoga than with the actual Tantric usages. As the name implies, the Pañcakrama is a presentation of the "five stages," the last of which is the final possession of the highest Yoga. The preliminary stages consist of the purification of body, speech and mind, so that these receive the "diamond nature"¹ of the body, the speech and the mind of the Buddhas. However, the means for attaining the five stages are magic circles, magic formulas, mysterious syllables and the worshipping of Mahāyānist and Tantric deities. In this manner, the Yogin reaches the highest stage of all, where all differences cease and where no duality of any kind exists. Of this Yogin it is said (VI, 30 ff.):