The Archetypal Tantric Guru | Part 1 | Akasajoti
Introduction
In this video series, Akasa Jody explores the theme of life and liberation through inspiration from the Tibetan teacher of the 8th century called Padmasambhava. She will be looking at the symbolism associated with his iconography and suggest some implications for how we might empower our practice towards liberation.
- Akasa Jody explains that she will explore the symbolism associated with Padmasambhava's iconography.
- She warns against literalism and explains how symbols point beyond themselves to deeper realities.
- Akasa Jody talks about how tantric Buddhism concerns itself most directly with what we most deeply are, which is the nature of mind and reality.
- She explains that tantric Buddhism is concerned with three aspects of wisdom, compassion, and energy.
Padmasambhava as an Archetypal Tantric Guru
In this section, Akasa Jody talks about what a guru means in Tantric Buddhism and how Padmasambhava is an archetypal tantric guru.
- A guru activates the energies of a student or disciple by transmitting energy rather than just knowledge.
- Friends or teachers who make us feel more alive can also stand in as guru figures in our lives.
- Padmasambhava is a symbol of that which empowers our practice and activates our energy.
The Four Idi Padas
In this section, Akasa Jody introduces four idi padas, which are four bases of spiritual potency that someone who possesses idi has.
- Pada means step or path, and idi means support or basis.
- Someone who possesses idi is potent in heart and mind, a potency that can be developed through meditation and practice.
- Padmasambhava is an inexhaustible symbol, not to be defined or taken literally.
Conclusion
In this section, Akasa Jody concludes the video by summarizing what she covered about Padmasambhava and Tantric Buddhism.
- No new information provided.