In 1997, Sangharakshita wrote a poem which communicates, in a very few words something of the nature of Padmasambhava, something of the energy of that mysterious, wonderful, and inspiring presence.  As well as evoking Padmasambhava’s activity of transformation, he also addresses him as ‘The Thousand-Armed’ and ‘The Infinite Light’, making it clear that Padmasambhava is an emanation of the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion, Avalokiteśvara, and of Amitābha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. In addressing Padmasambhava in this way, Sangharakshita is referring to a traditional Nyingmapa vision of the trikāya or ‘three bodies’ of the Buddha: Amitābha represents the dharmakāya, Avalokiteśvara the sambhogakāya, while Padmasambhava himself is the all-creative and active nirmāṇakāya.

With this reference, Sangharakshita is also evoking one of the most important practices he received from Kachu Rimpoche at the time of his initiation — the practice of Guru Yoga. In the Tharpe Delam, this Guru Yoga involves transforming oneself into ‘the divine devotee’, the red ḍākinī Vajrayogini, and seeing above ourself our own Guru, and above him, Padmasambhava, above him, the Eleven-headed and Thousand-armed Avalokiteśvara, and finally above him, Amitābha. Through aspirational prayers and mantras, one generates intensely focussed devotion and faith to this lineage. Finally, one dissolves the Gurus into one’s heart and, dissolving into the light of Great Bliss, one achieves an effortless state of union with the trikāya lineage.

Small bronze Padmasambhava
Purchased by Sangharakshita in India in 1966/7

Sometime in 2015, I found myself spontaneously reciting this poem after my morning meditation. I mentioned this in a letter to Sangharakshita and below is his reply —

Dear Padmavajra,

Many thanks for your email dated July 5th and for all your news. I was glad to hear that all was well with you and with Padmaloka. What you said about my poem 'Padmasambhava' made me turn to it after many years. In fact I asked Mahamati to read it to me, and afterwards I repeated it to myself a number of times. It struck me that the poem was like a little sadhana. I wonder what you will make of this thought.

With much love,

Sangharakshita

Perhaps we could all recite this ‘little sadhana’ daily to remind ourselves not only of Padmasambhava, but also of Sangharakshita who has brought the spirit of Padmasambhava into our lives today, beginning with that chance meeting all those years ago in Darjeeling.

Dharmachari Padmavajra