A Subtle Arrangement of Gemstones: Two Upadesha Tantras of the Great Perfection
Christopher Wilkinsonare Tantras, or esoteric scriptures, of the Great Perfection. The Great
Perfection, also known as the Atiyoga or Dzogchen (rDzogs chen), is
a tradition of esoteric Buddhism that upholds instantaneous
enlightenment. This tradition arrived in Tibet in the Eighth Century
of the Common Era and has been maintained up until this day. The
scriptures of the Great Perfection have not survived in any language
other than Tibetan, the originals having been lost in time. The
literature of the Great Perfection is divided into three sections or
groups: The Mind Section, the Space Section, and the Upadesha
Instruction Section. The Upadesha Instruction Section is represented
by a famous set of Seventeen Tantras. The Tantras translated in this
volume are among these Seventeen Tantras, and are filled with
practical advice and pointing out instructions for the realization of
the Great Perfection.
It is a great pleasure to present to you translations of this
ancient literature into English, with the hope that the timeless
message of the Atiyoga will live on and be better understood
throughout the world. For your convenience and for the preservation
of this ancient literature, I have included images of the Tibetan
texts. Those who wish to request transmissions or teachings on this
literature from those who hold the lineage will also find this helpful.