Ratna Lingpa's Stake

Transcreator's Homage

Light is your donning of saffron robes for one's own ease and benefit
But burdensome their nature, the fresh and heavy hide of elephant
Some see spring and crocuses; others, Blazing Secret Charnel Ground
Homage to the Guru who unites the three-fold vow!

Jamgon Kongtrul's Promise and Opening Statement

Non-abiding gnostic dharma bod
To its existential vajra god
I've bowed, now I hold Activity
Forebears proven true, I shall tot'lly clarify

Were one to purposefully engage in Ratna Lingpa's Stake, Super-Secret Unsurpassed Secret Accomplishment, one's own system should be in accord with the examples of ancient and latter texts. The revelatory systems should be left in pristine condition, but if one must combine the means of accomplishment with activity and purification; in case one can't carry through with the elaborate and extensive empowerment practices of essential empowerments, &c. in the context of daily practice: Sanggye Lingpa's condensed version of Stake's Activity can be taken on the path. As for the abridged version, the verses of manifest realization by Chagmed Rinpoche, short and sweet, have been inserted here. Happy with the way it looks, that's how should be.

Vajra Youth, King of Wrath

Transcreator's Notes on the Practice Manual

Vajra Youth, King of Wrath is a collection of Buddhist ritual and liturgical works in the realm of Ratna Lingpa's revelation of Vajrakīla, or Adamant Stake; a source of living Mahāyāna tradition in the form a devotional practice manual characteristic of the inner tantras (Mahāyoga, Anuyoga, Atiyoga) while encompassing all nine vehicles at-large.

The authoritative daily practice and collective turning is arranged by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye the Great. We have included traditional prayers and lineage supplications as frontmatter, and a few other other verses according to the ritual formatting of Palyul Ling and Garchen Buddhist Institute (two main upholders of Ratna Lingpa's Stake).

Jamgon Kongtrul the Great is renowned for his non-sectarian revival of Buddhism in Tibet. While the Western world precipitated on the Modern era, the great non-sectarians compiled and commented on practically the entirety of Buddha's teaching (represented by a millienium's worth of classical Tibetan literature on the five traditional sciences). Again, while the West has embraced such things as definitive science and modern art this text remains deep within the context of Lamaism, the pinnacle of the Tibetan take on Buddhadharma.

Jamgon Kongtrul the Great penned works by a variety of names as befitting of his capacity and the genre of each. Padma Garwang Tsal, for example, is compiler and editor of the daily practice and collective revolution, or gaṇachakra. Yontan Gyamtsho composed the supplication in the frontmatter, "Defeater of Demons, Vajra Ballad". "Stake Guards Prayer and Offering" is also drawn from the 11th volume of Kongtrul's Collected Works; since there is no colophon or specific attribution regarding this prayer's provenance it is possible that Rinpoche simply composed it himself.

The frontmatter's supplication, "Continual Shower of Blessings," is by Tshewang Dragpa, a disciple of Ratna Lingpa. This supplication outlines a unique lineage history of accomplishment of Adamant Stake contemporaneous in the present. The supplication is specific to the Ratna Lingpa lineage and compliments Kongtrul the Great's "Defeator of Demons, Vajra Ballad," a broadly encompassed supplication of all lineages of Adamant Stake.

All of these works exist in the public domain and are accessible via the Buddhist Digital Resource Center (bdrc.io). "Prayer and Offering" is from Palyul Monastery's Daily Practice, while "Abbreviated Offerings and Praise," "Disclosure," and "Stabilization" are addended according to the liturgy of Garchen Buddhist Institute.

Vajra Youth, King of Wrath, recited beginning to end in its fullest ritual context (replete with instruments, torma, and all the ritual items) provides the textual support for an hours-long festival of super-secret, gnostic wrath. The wisdom, commitments, and qualities of this tradition are extremely profound and must be practiced with respect to their corresponding empowerments, reading transmissions, and instructions of fully qualified lineage holders.

Closing Verses to the Daily Practice by Kongtrul the Great

Demon Tamer Queen's word is fine as gold
This secret proof bedecked with turquoise strains
Adorns and beautifies young wisdom magis' throats
Supreme teaching in its prime, it opens wide anew!

Bibliography

Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye's Collected Works: Expanded Edition ('jam mgon kong sprul blo gros mtha' yas kyi gsung 'bum rgya chen bka' mdzod), Vol. 11.

Palpung Monastery's Select Ritual Texts (dpal spungs dpe rnying gsar bskrun las dkyil chog phyogs bsgrigs), Vol. 4.