Buddhism : Critical Concepts in Religious Studies, Vol. VI

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ON THE CONCEPT OF SAHAJA

The Consecration of the Secret^31


From the secret comes the Consecration of the Secret ~ through tasting
the Moon^32 and through beholding (the Lotus of the Seal). (ST p. 21)
Having thereupon performed the worship of the secret, he (i.e. the pre-
ceptor) gives the Nectar of Immortality^33 to the disciple and lets him
behold the Lotus of the Seal~ thereby (this) is the Consecration of the
Secret, through tasting the Moon and through beholding (the Lotus of
the Seal). (ST p. 22)
Thereafter, in a place made secluded by means of a screen etc., the
Master takes hold of the Seal who possesses the characteristics men-
tioned in the tantras^34 , who resembles Nairatmya^3 S, and on whom have
been impressed the three syllables OM, HUM, and AI:I on her head,
heart, and throat^36 (respectively). Having recited the mantra "OM
padma sukhadhara" ("OM Lotus, receptacle of bliss"), and having
made the host of Buddhas situated in space enter the Vajra^37 , he
sprinkles her until she becomes possessed of sukra^38.
"As the Sons of Enlightenment are consecrated by the former
Buddhas, (thus) are you consecrated by me with the flow of
(Bodhi)citta in the Consecration of the Secret"
~with this mantra^39 the preceptor, using the middle and the fourth
finger, causes the Thought-of-Enlightenment which is inside his own
Vajra to drop into the mouth of the disciple who has the form ofVairo-
cana40. And he, crying "Ah, bliss!" tastes the Nectar of immortality.
Having thereupon arisen, that naked woman whose form is
beautiful^41 wantonly places the drops of honey4^2 remaining inside her
own Lotus on his lips which are in the middle of the lotus which is his
face^43. Thus is the Consecration of the Secret. (HSP p. 30)
Then there is the following Secret Consecration: The student should
give clothing, etc., to his teacher and present to him a delightful woman
adorned with beauty and youth ... Then, having paid his respects to the
teacher, the student should go outside and remain there, repeating the
mantra: "Om, 0 Candamaharo;;aJ:la, hiirp, phat!'' The teacher, more-
over, should worship himself with intoxicants, meats, etc., and having
satisfied Wisdom, being in her embrace, he should place the resulting
white and red on a leaf, shaped into a funnel, etc. Then, having sum-
moned the student, he should take that substance with his ring finger
and thumb, and write the letters "Hum, phat!" on the student's tongue.
Then he should have the student pronounce the words. "Ah! Pleasure!"
And then the teacher should say the following "To day I cause to be
produced the Buddha-knowledge, the very same means by which the
past, present, and future Buddhas, Lords, obtained independent
(aprati;;thita) NirviiJ:la. (CMT p. 55).
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