Naropa - His Teachings

Naropa

Homage to Naropa

Praise to the Guru, the Deva, and the Dakinis!
In the vast expanse of space, (note 1) the boundless path divine,

The Dharmakaya embodied as the lordly ruler rDo-rje-'chan (Vajradhara) (note 2)

Appears as (the sun, that) bright jewel in the sky, which represents

The five Sambhogakayas, each an integral unity of the noetic and communicative,

Whose myriad rays, the Nirmanakayas of Ses-rab bzan-po (Prajnabhadra),

Have opened the lotus of Naropa's mind to these Kayas Three.

Praise then to him who throughout the world has spread

The honeyed spirituality transmitted by word of mouth,

The Essence of all Sutras and all Tantras.

Praise to Naropa on his seat of lotus, sun, and moon,

On the lion throne of fearlessness, the embodiment of Buddhahood,

Who interprets the fundamental doctrine, the flawless gem Nam- mkha'i snin-po (Gaganagarbha),

Who has realized the transcending awareness of those who are exalted in renown supreme (the Buddhas),

Who is Kun-tu bzan-po (Samantabhadra), Chos-kyi rgyal-mtshan (Dharmadhvaja), and bsTan-pa 'dzin-pa (Sasanadhara). (note 3)

Devoutly worshipped by (the sun,) the friend of lotus flowers, brilliant in his ornaments of rays and lord over the three worlds,

By Asuras, Gandharvas, Nagas,

By Siva, Isvara, Visnu, by men and those that are not men;

Obedient to his Guru's word; refuge sublime for all that lives, the Lord himself,

Belonging to the family of the Awakened

May he shine as the gods' crown-jewel . . .

Translated from the original Tibetan with a Philosophical Commentary Based on the Oral Transmission by Herbert V. Guenther

Translators Notes:

Note 1: This is a rather free translation of the original term klon-yans. klon corresponds to Sanskrit urmi and signifies undulating movement. It is used exclusively with reference to Reality which is not a frozen absolute, but vibrating in all our experiences of it.
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Note 2: rDo-rje-'chan (Vajradhara) is for the bKa'-brgyud-pa and dGe-lugs-pa followers the symbol representation of the Dharmakaya which is pure noeticness (ye-ses chos-sku, jnanadharmakaya).
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Note 3: These are names which Naropa had at different stages of his spiritual development.
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