The Path of Compassion: A Biography of Hor shul Khenpo Gelek Palsang Rinpoche — Part One: An Introduction to the Lineage of the Nyingma Tradition — The Three Exceptional Inner Tantras

Those with profound roots of virtue develop unwavering faith as soon as they encounter the exceptional right view, meditation, and conduct of the Vajrayana. Those whose roots of virtue are somewhat weaker doubt its authenticity, because the esoteric teachings were neither personally taught by an emanated buddha nor translated directly from an Indian language. It is therefore necessary to clarify the history of the lineage of the exceptional three inner tantras.

According to the Vajrayana scriptures, the history of the lineage of the skillful means of the inner esoteric teachings of the Vajrayana is as follows:

The Sun and Moon Conjoined Tantra says: “When history is unclear, this fault arises: genuine faith in the profound and secret true meaning is lost.” The Garland of Jewels: A Collection of the Oral Lineage likewise says: “Because accomplished masters brought the Dharma into this world through oral transmission, it is easily challenged by others. Therefore one must first explain the history of how the Dharma teachings were introduced.”

The history of the formation of the esoteric tantras—the three yogas of inner tantra, Mahāyoga, Anuyoga, and Atiyoga—is described below. The esoteric Nyingma tradition passed through a series of transformations within three lineages before its lineage of human speech took form in this human world. The three lineages are the mind-to-mind lineage of the buddhas, the symbolic lineage of the vidyādharas, and the oral lineage of individuals. In addition, there are the treasure lineage entrusted to the ḍākinīs, the lineage of blessings through aspiration, the lineage of words on yellow scrolls (the lineage of instructions and prophecies and the lineage of blessings through practice), the lineage of oral practice, and the lineage of customary activity, making nine lineages in all. As the Ocean of Explanatory Tantras says of the three lineages: “This lineage passed through tathāgatas, bodhisattvas, and yogins; through enlightened intent, vidyādharas, and aural transmission, it has reached its present holders.” From the sixth great Vajradhara Buddha down to the root guru of today, the lines of the three lineages have never been broken and the essential meaning of the Buddhadharma has never been tainted. This Dharma lineage therefore possesses great power of blessing.