Item: Padmasambhava

Padmasambhava (Tibetan: pema jung ne. English: the Lotus Born): from the land of Oddiyana, Padmasambhava is considered one of the three principal founders of Tibetan Buddhism in the 8th century.

At the bottom center is wrathful Vajrapani, blue in colour, with one face and two hands, surrounded by orange and red flames.

Padmasambhava has numerous forms representing outer, inner and secret aspects of his spiritual being. He is also known by many different names which generally follow chronologically his life story. Aside from Trisong Detsen and Shantarakshita, the most important figures to interact with Padmasambhava were his principle Tibetan consort Yeshe Tsogyal and the principal Twenty-five Disciples. There are various Padmasambhava Number Sets which help to organize the important topics and essential subjects of his life and chronological sequence of important events, along with grouping the various sub-sets of important disciples. An 18th century curiosity is the inclusion of Padmasambhava as one of the pre-incarnations in the line of Panchen Lamas.

Jeff Watt 1-2014