Tilopa

Tilopa (Prakrit; Sanskrit: Talika or Tilopadā) was a Buddhist tantric mahasiddha who lived in northeast India around the 10th century -- perhaps from 988 to 1069 though from 928 to 1009 is also suggested . The information of his life comes from spiritual biographies or hagiographies where actual biographical details are few and the texts concentrate on spiritual growth of an individual . The earliest of these hagiographies was composed during the 11th century . Tilopa practised the Cakrasaṃvara Tantra , a set of spiritual practices intended to accelerate the process of attaining Buddhahood. He became a holder of all the tantric lineages, possibly the only person in his day to do so . In addition to the way of insight and Mahamudra , Tilopa learned and passed on the Way of Methods (today known as the Six Yogas of Naropa) and guru yoga. Naropa is considered his main student , though his hagiographies mention by name two other disciples as well .

Tilopa (Prakrit; Sanskrit: Talika or Tilopadā) was a Buddhist tantric mahasiddha who lived in northeast India around the 10th century -- perhaps from 988 to 1069 though from 928 to 1009 is also suggested . The information of his life comes from spiritual biographies or hagiographies where actual biographical details are few and the texts concentrate on spiritual growth of an individual . The earliest of these hagiographies was composed during the 11th century . Tilopa practised the Cakrasaṃvara Tantra , a set of spiritual practices intended to accelerate the process of attaining Buddhahood. He became a holder of all the tantric lineages, possibly the only person in his day to do so . In addition to the way of insight and Mahamudra , Tilopa learned and passed on the Way of Methods (today known as the Six Yogas of Naropa) and guru yoga. Naropa is considered his main student , though his hagiographies mention by name two other disciples as well . ==Teachings== ===Six Precepts or Words of Advice=== Tilopa gave Naropa a teaching called the Six Words of Advice . The original text does not survive, but a Tibetan translation has been preserved . In Tibetan, the teaching is called gnad kyi gzer drug – literally, "six nails of key points"; the aptness of the title becomes clear if one considers the meaning of the English idiomatic expression, "to hit the nail on the head." The six precepts have been translated in several rather different ways. Three are presented below. ===Mahamudra instructions=== Tilopa also gave mahamudra instruction to Naropa by means of the song known as "The Ganges Mahamudra," one stanza of which reads: The fool in his ignorance, disdaining Mahamudra, Knows nothing but struggle in the flood of samsara. Have compassion for those who suffer constant anxiety! Sick of unrelenting pain and desiring release, adhere to a Guru, For when his blessing touches your heart, the mind is liberated. ==References== ==Bibliography== ==External links== Tilopa's Mahamudra Teaching to Naropa "The Six Rays of the Vital Point of Tilopadā. The Diamond Way of Four Noble Truths." Śrī Maccidānanda Nātha (2026).

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