Tantra

Dudjom Rinpoche’s commentary to the third chapter of Longchenpa’s “Precious Garland for the Four Themes of (Gampopa),” entitled “Having the Pathway Minds Eliminate Confusion.”

A downfall from the tantric vows requires transgressing one of the fourteen root vows with the four binding factors being complete. Several factors may cause us to transgress our vows.

The Tibetan word “damtsig,” “samaya” in Sanskrit, means “close bond.” It refers to practices that create a close bond between us and a Buddha-figure or our spiritual teacher.

Practices that bond us closely to mother tantra helps us to remain on course for achieving blissful awareness of voidness with clear light mental activity.

In addition to taking bodhisattva and tantric vows, we also pledge at an anuttarayoga empowerment to maintain nine auxiliary bonding practices that bond us closely to tantra.

Presentation of bonding practices that create close bonds with the five “Buddha-families” – aspects of clear light mental activity that allow us to attain enlightenment.

The Prasangika-Madhyamaka presentation of how to achieve a union of method and voidness both in sutra and tantra.

Understanding and appreciating Kalachakra’s unique features and methods for attaining enlightenment grow based on first understanding and appreciating the unique features of Mahayana sutra, general tantra and anuttarayoga tantra.

Taking the Kalachakra empowerment also entails six uncommon practices that create close bonds with six Buddha-family traits.

These root tantric vows give the necessary supporting context to our practice. Without them, we cannot gain attainments or realizations from tantric practice in the yogaand anuttarayoga classes.