The Aspiration of the Primordial Buddha
This profound teaching appears in the ninth chapter of the “Tantra of the Great Perfection That Shows the Penetrating Wisdom of Samantabhadra.” As we explore each statement, we’ll discover how this text both summarizes our progress and illuminates our Pathless Path.
The Nature of Samantabhadra
The Primordial Template
Samantabhadra represents the Buddhic Blueprint – not a being but rather the primordial force from which all Buddhas arise. This force transcends time, reality, and existence itself, serving as both guide and template for Buddhic manifestation.
The Buddha Families
Within Buddhist understanding, different Buddha manifestations represent various aspects of enlightened expression. Rather than separate entities, these ‘families’ are better understood as facets of a singular reality, appearing in different forms to guide beings toward awakening.
The Three Kayas
Each Buddha manifests through three ‘bodies’ or kayas:
- The Dharmakaya – the primordial body of ultimate reality
- The Sambhogakaya – the body of divine enjoyment
- The Nirmanakaya – the manifested physical form
Samantabhadra embodies the Dharmakaya aspect, the most fundamental level of Buddhic expression. In this text, this primal Buddha delivers teachings that reveal the nature of reality itself.
The Ground of Being
One Ground, Two Paths
All phenomena – whether samsaric or nirvanic – emerge from a single ground and follow one of two paths:
- The path into samsara through Dependent Origination
- The path to liberation through the Noble Eightfold Path
Two Levels of Understanding
The ‘Ground of All’ can be understood on two levels:
- Conventional Level: Mind as the basis of experience
- All phenomena arise as mental patterns
- These patterns are neither identical to mind nor separate from it
- Both samsara and nirvana manifest within this ground
- Ultimate Level: Pure Awareness of the Great Perfection
- Transcends even the concept of ‘mind’
- Represents the Dharmakaya state
- Beyond all conceptual elaboration
The Nature of Awareness and Cognition
Two Forms of Awareness
The fundamental distinction in awareness manifests as:
- Rigpa – Awareness with a core of Knowing (Gnosis)
- Ma-Rigpa – Awareness clouded by fundamental ignorance
The Uncompounded Ground
The ground of all being exhibits three essential characteristics:
Uncompounded Nature
The primal awareness exists as a singular, indivisible whole. While we speak of its various manifestations, these are merely apparent distinctions within what is fundamentally unified. This subtle awareness pervades all existence, though only Buddhas perceive it directly. Other beings, from Bodhisattvas to ordinary sentients, see only the veils created by afflictive and cognitive obscurations.
Self-Arising Quality
This awareness is:
- Unborn and seemingly eternal
- Present behind all conventional consciousness
- The source from which all other awarenesses emerge
Infinite Expanse
The ground transcends all dimensional limitations:
- Exists without foundation
- Manifests as zero-dimensional awareness
- Transcends all conceptual frameworks
- Contains yet transcends infinity itself
Beyond Conventional Reality
Transcending Duality
The Dharmakaya state surpasses ordinary experiential frameworks:
- Neither samsara nor nirvana apply
- Transcends temporal limitations
- Exists beyond conventional labels and concepts
The Recognition Factor
Two fundamental states characterize beings’ relationship to this ground:
- Recognition leads to buddhahood
- Non-recognition perpetuates samsaric wandering
The Process of Realization
The Two Paths of Practice
Liberation can be approached through:
- The Gradual Path
- Exploration of the Bhumis
- Progressive perfection of the paramis
- The Golden Middle Path
- Balancing wisdom and insight
- Direct recognition of mind’s nature
The Movement of Mind
Until realization occurs, mind typically responds to objects in three ways:
- Through desire
- Through rejection
- Through ignorance
These responses create the chain of dependent origination that perpetuates samsara.
The Manifestation of Buddhas and Wisdom
The Nature of Primordial Awareness
Samantabhadra embodies awareness that is:
- Free from cause and condition
- Spontaneously present
- Self-arising and self-knowing
- Beyond inner and outer distinctions
The Five Wisdoms and Buddha Families
When the five skandhas are purified, they manifest as the five Buddha families:
| Skandha | Element | Poison | Wisdom | Buddha Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form | Earth | Ignorance | All-Encompassing | Vairocana |
| Feeling | Water | Pride | Mirror-Like | Akshobhya |
| Perception | Fire | Desire | Discriminating | Amitabha |
| Formation | Air | Jealousy | All-Accomplishing | Amoghasiddhi |
| Consciousness | Space | Anger | Dharmadhatu | Ratnasambhava |
The Hierarchy of Enlightened Manifestation
The Peaceful Buddhas
From the expansion of primordial wisdom arise:
- Six Buddhas representing the pure essence of each realm of existence
- Thirty-six additional Buddhas with their wisdom aspects
- Each manifestation includes both active and receptive principles
The Wrathful Manifestations
The sixty wrathful herukas emerge as:
- Transformative expressions of the five wisdoms
- Essential aspects of complete awakening
- Tools for transmuting afflictive emotions
The Nature of Emanation
Continuous Manifestation
The Dharmakaya’s emanations are:
- Unceasing and spontaneous
- Beyond temporal limitations
- Present in an eternal now
The Purpose of Manifestation
Emanations arise:
- According to beings’ needs
- In countless forms and methods
- As appropriate teaching vehicles
The Process of Delusion and Liberation
The Origins of Confusion
Delusion emerges through:
- Non-recognition of source awareness
- Development of dualistic perception
- Establishment of subject-object division
The Path to Recognition
Liberation occurs through:
- Recognition of original awareness
- Dissolution of dualistic fixation
- Direct realization of primordial wisdom
The Nature of Delusion and Ignorance
The Two Forms of Ignorance
Coemergent Ignorance
- Manifests as fundamental unconsciousness
- Creates a state of primordial distraction
- Causes the ‘fall’ into conditioned existence
- Functions as the ground for conceptual ignorance
Conceptual Ignorance
- Establishes the duality of self and other
- Creates the framework for all conceptual proliferation
- Reinforces the illusion of separation
- Generates the basis for karmic accumulation
The Five Poisons and Their Effects
The Development of Afflictions
| Poison | Manifestation | Result | Realm of Rebirth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attachment | Craving for objects | Insatiable desire | Hungry Ghost |
| Aversion | Hatred and violence | Burning torment | Hell Realm |
| Pride | Superiority and conceit | Perpetual conflict | God Realm |
| Jealousy | Competitive strife | Constant warfare | Demigod Realm |
| Ignorance | Mental dullness | Bewilderment | Animal Realm |
The Mechanism of Samsaric Existence
The Chain of Confusion
- Initial non-recognition of awareness
- Development of dualistic perception
- Establishment of habitual patterns
- Perpetuation through karmic actions
The Six Realms as States of Mind
Each realm represents a particular pattern of cognitive distortion:
- Hell Beings: Dominated by hatred and aggression
- Hungry Ghosts: Consumed by insatiable craving
- Animals: Characterized by ignorance and dullness
- Humans: Mixture of all afflictions with potential for awareness
- Demigods: Driven by jealousy and competition
- Gods: Trapped in pride and subtle suffering
The Nature of Worldly Illusion
The Five Desirables
Beings become tormented through attachment to:
- Food and sustenance
- Material wealth
- Clothing and adornments
- Dwelling places
- Companionship
The Perpetuation of Delusion
- Worldly illusions create endless dualistic activity
- Karmic patterns strengthen through habitual tendencies
- Beings remain bound by their own mental constructions
- The cycle continues without beginning or end
The Path Beyond Delusion
Breaking the Pattern
- Recognition of fundamental awareness
- Neither accepting nor rejecting appearances
- Resting in natural state
- Restoration of self-refreshing awareness
The Path to Liberation and Final Aspirations
Recognition of Fundamental Nature
- All beings share the same basic nature as the primordial buddha
- This nature remains unchanged despite confusion
- Liberation occurs through recognition rather than creation
The Process of Awakening
- Relaxation of conceptual mind
- Restoration of natural awareness
- Development of discriminating wisdom
- Transcendence of dualistic fixation
The Six Realms and Their Transformation
Transforming the Root Causes
| Realm | Root Cause | Transformation | Resulting Wisdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hell | Hatred | Acceptance | Mirror-like Wisdom |
| Hungry Ghost | Craving | Satisfaction | Discriminating Wisdom |
| Animal | Ignorance | Awakening | All-encompassing Wisdom |
| Human | Desire | Understanding | Equalizing Wisdom |
| Demigod | Jealousy | Appreciation | All-accomplishing Wisdom |
| God | Pride | Humility | Wisdom of Dharmadhatu |
The Practice of the Aspiration
Timing for Practice
Specific times for recitation include:
- Solar eclipses
- Lunar eclipses
- Earthquakes
- Earth-rumbling phenomena
- Solstices
- New Year
Method of Practice
- Visualize oneself as Samantabhadra
- Recite the aspiration audibly
- Maintain awareness of the benefit for all beings
- Trust in the power of the aspiration
The Promise of Liberation
Three-Life Liberation
- Those who hear this aspiration with pure intention
- Those who understand its meaning
- Those who practice its essence
Universal Scope
The aspiration encompasses:
- All beings of the three realms
- All levels of consciousness
- All states of existence
Final Synthesis
The Prayer of Samantabhadra stands as a profound map of both spiritual confusion and awakening. This teaching weaves together three essential dimensions of understanding:
The Ground
At the heart of all experience lies the unborn, uncompounded awareness – the Dharmakaya itself. This ground:
- Transcends both samsara and nirvana
- Exists as pure, timeless awareness
- Manifests as both wisdom and confusion
The Path
The journey from confusion to awakening unfolds through:
- Recognition of our fundamental nature
- Understanding of how confusion arises
- Transformation of the five poisons into five wisdoms
- Progressive realization through the bhumis
The Fruition
The ultimate realization reveals:
- The inseparability of awareness and phenomena
- The natural liberation of all conceptual fixation
- The spontaneous benefit of all beings
- The fulfillment of primordial buddha’s aspiration
Practical Significance
This teaching serves multiple functions:
- As a contemplative text revealing the nature of mind
- As a practical guide for understanding confusion and liberation
- As a powerful aspiration that can transform consciousness
- As a complete path to awakening
The profound significance of this prayer lies in its revelation that the very ground of confusion is identical to the ground of enlightenment. Through this understanding, practitioners can recognize that liberation requires no creation or achievement, but rather the recognition of what has always been present.
The final message of Samantabhadra’s aspiration points to a singular truth: within the expanse of dharmadhatu, all beings are already perfect and complete, merely waiting to recognise their own true nature.
Further Reading Section
Books
- The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva
- Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche
- Luminous Mind: The Way of the Buddha by Kalu Rinpoche
Online Resources
Video Resources
The Nature of Mind teachings by HH Dalai Lama
Introduction to Dzogchen by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
This article is based from “Rubedo,” the highly anticipated fourth volume in Dr. Simon Robinson’s groundbreaking series “A Course in Modern Alchemy.” Currently in development and scheduled for publication in 2026, this work represents the culmination of an extraordinary journey through alchemical transformation and spiritual awakening.
Rubedo delves deep into the final stage of the alchemical opus, exploring profound concepts like the Prayer of Samantabhadra, the nature of dream-like reality, and the eight vajra points of Longchenpa. The book masterfully weaves together Buddhist wisdom, alchemical symbolism, and practical spiritual guidance, offering readers a comprehensive framework for understanding the highest levels of spiritual attainment. At its heart, Rubedo examines how the seemingly solid world of appearances dissolves into the pure awareness of the dharmakaya, marking the completion of the great work.
While this online excerpt provides valuable insights, the full hardcover edition will include extensive commentary, detailed practical instructions, and profound teachings that can only be fully appreciated in their complete form. The book builds upon the foundational work laid out in the first three volumes of the series, creating a complete system for spiritual transformation in the modern age.