The Himalayan yogis knew him as the greatest of the MahaSiddhas. He is known by many names, Padmasambhava, Guru Rinpoche, Nyima Ozer, Dorje Trollo and more. Vajrayana Buddhists recognize him as the supreme spiritual teacher and the Tantric Buddha, the fulfillment of Shakyamuni Buddha's promise to return to teach the Tantras. Padmasambhava single handedly spread the Buddhist teachings all over the Himalayas, establishing the dharma in Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. Padmasambhava's life is a vital living essence that continues to nourish us today, twelve hundred years after his lifetime. He embodied and spread the MahaSiddhas teachings, and is venerated widely by many traditions.

Padmasambhava who lived in the 8th century, was born in India in the valley of Oddiyana, the son of Indrabhuti. During his life, he received teachings, empowerments and initiations directly from the wisdom Dakinis in human form, through visionary transmission and received training and instruction from all of the MahaSiddhas, completing and synthesizing all this within himself. He taught and established Mahasiddha style of Buddhist practice, the Tantric and Dzogchen teachings, as well as many other teachings based on the needs of the students. He taught with his main disciple and consort, Yeshe Tsogyal. Together they introduced Buddhism to Tibet and taught many disciples both monastic and yogic (non-monastic). Also known as Guru Rinpoche, he established the tradition of the" terma", or hidden dharma treasure teachings, with the intent that the teachings would be continuously refreshed and enlivened through their discovery in future times.

He is depicted with his right hand holding the vajra, the symbol of the indestructible diamond-thunderbolt that is beyond ignorance. His left hand holds a kapala, a skullcup filled with nectar, symbolizing enjoyment and emptiness united. He is clutching the khatvanga, a ritual staff representing his division-less union with his consort.

"Hung! On the north-west border of the land of Odiyana, on the pollen bed of a lotus, You who have attained the wondrous, are renowned as the Lotus-Born, surrounded by a circle of many Dakinis. Following after you, I will practice the path. I beseech you; come and grant your blessings! Guru Pema Siddhi Hung!"

OM AH HUNG BENZDRA GURU PEMA SIDDHI HUNG

Yeshe Tsogyal, the female Tantric Buddha, is an extraordinary example of enlightenment in female form. She demonstrated through her life circumstances the applicability of the teachings to all situations and the possibility of discovering awareness within personal hardship.

She traveled extensively with Padmasambhava as his consort, establishing and depositing the Tantric teachings throughout the Himalayas and especially in Tibet.

Yeshe Tsogyal's heart's desire was the dharma, but her royal parents insisted on marrying her off. When she ran away from her suitor and was then stolen by another rival suitor, the King of Tibet decided to take her as his wife in order to avert war. This king, King Trisong Detson, requested teachings from Padmasambhava and gave him his kingdom (including Yeshe Tsogyal) as an offering. She then became Padmasambhava's student, consort and partner in establishing the teachings and dharma treasures to be discovered in future times. She was an extraordinary practitioner and teacher.At one time, Yeshe Tsogyal was traveling to find her consort, Atsare Sale. She was carrying a bag of gold that her Guru had given her for his ransom. After traveling through remote areas for some time, she saw that she was being stalked by thieves. She knew there was no one to help her or hear her cry out. Being in the state of workability and open-ended-ness, she saw it as an opportunity to share with them the generosity of the dharma. When they surrounded her, she began to sing. As she did, she laid out her gold in a mandala offering and made a prayer of invitation for the thieves to receive it. They didn't understand the song, but were struck by her actions and the sweetness of her voice and so asked her who she was. She gave them the teaching of The Five Wisdoms, and they became her first students. These were the essence teachings of The Five Wisdoms and Transforming Emotion, which is taught in our school.

In the last moments before her death, her followers asked her to stay. Her response was:

"Listen, faithful Tibetans! I am merging with the fundamental, the ground of all that is--- physical pain and suffering are disappearing.... The son, the inner elements of my body, are reuniting with the mother, the outer elements. Her physical remains will disappear into earth and stone. The compassion of the Guru has never left me; his manifestations fill all the world and call out to welcome me. This wild lady has done everything; Many times have I come and gone, but now, no longer. I am a Tibetan wife sent back to her family. I shall now appear as the Queen, the All-good, the Dharmakaya."

"Now until the dualistic identity mind melts and dissolves, it may seem that we are parting. Please be happy. When you understand the dualistic mind, there will be no separation from me. May my good wishes fill the sky."

Quote From: Dakini teachings: Padmasambhava's oral instructions to Lady Tsogyal / revealed by Nyang Ral Nyimey Oser and Sangye Linpa; recorded and concealed by Yeshe Tsogyal; translated by Erik Pema Kunsang.