Material: Cloth. Printing. Scroll. (Padmasambhava)

Size: Approx. 122 x 83 cm

Description:

Padmasambhava (Tibetan: པདྨ་སམྦྷ་ཝ, meaning "born from lotus"), also known as Guru Rinpoche, is one of the most legendary patriarchs in Tibetan Buddhism and is revered as the "Second Buddha". He introduced Buddhism from India to Tibet in the 8th century and had a profound influence on the establishment and development of Tibetan Buddhism. His stories of subduing demons and monsters not only show his magical powers, but also reflect the integration of Buddhist teachings with the native Tibetan Bon culture. The following is a brief account of the main mythological stories about Guru Padmasambhava’s subjugation of demons and monsters:

1. **Subjugation of local Tibetan gods**

When Guru Padmasambhava came to Tibet at the invitation of the Tibetan king Trisong Detsen, the local Bon religion was strong and many local gods and evil spirits were hindering the spread of Buddhism. These gods were believed to control natural forces, causing storms, earthquakes and other disasters, and tried to prevent Guru Padmasambhava from building Samye Monastery (the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet).

With his boundless wisdom and supernatural powers, Guru Padmasambhava subjugated these local gods and demons through meditation and mantras. For example, he fought against fierce mountain gods, lake gods and evil spirits, and used tantric rituals and mantras to transform them into Buddhist guardian gods. One of the most famous stories is the subjugation of the Tenma Goddesses, these powerful female gods were originally the patron saints of Bon religion. Guru Padmasambhava eventually converted them to Buddhism through fighting with them and made them the power to protect the Dharma.

2. **Construction and subjugation of demons in Samye Monastery**

During the construction of Samye Monastery, it is said that whenever workers built the monastery during the day, demons and local gods would destroy the project at night, hindering the progress. Guru Padmasambhava used tantric rituals to enter meditation at night and fight with these evil spirits. He subdued the evil spirits that hindered the construction of the monastery with instruments such as vajra and powerful mantras, and transformed them into Buddhist guardian gods. In the end, Samye Monastery was successfully built and became a holy place for Tibetan Buddhism.

3. **Subjugation of demons and inheritance of treasures**

Guru Padmasambhava not only subdued external demons, but also foresaw the possible decline of Buddhism in the future. Therefore, he buried a large number of "termas" (termas), that is, hidden scriptures, teachings and instruments, in various parts of Tibet for future generations to discover and continue the Dharma. The burial process of these treasures is also related to subjugating demons. Guru Padmasambhava used his supernatural powers to seal the teachings in rocks, lakes or the void, and sent guardian gods to guard and prevent evil spirits from invading. These hidden treasures were later discovered by "Tertons" and became an important tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

4. **Subjugating the Demon King Rakshasa**

In some legends, Guru Padmasambhava fought against the vicious Rakshasa demon king. These demon kings represented ignorance and greed, and tried to destroy the Dharma. Guru Padmasambhava, with his supreme tantric power, subdued these demon kings through vajra dance, mantras and meditation, and transformed their negative power into positive energy to protect the Dharma. For example, in some stories, he incarnated into a wrathful form (such as Heruka) and destroyed the demons with a mighty posture, demonstrating the wisdom of "fighting poison with poison" in tantra.

5. **Fighting with Bon wizards**

The Bon wizards at that time tried to use witchcraft to obstruct Guru Padmasambhava's teaching. It is said that they summoned evil spirits and plagues to fight. Guru Padmasambhava easily resolved these attacks with higher supernatural powers and wisdom, and demonstrated the superiority of Buddhism through debates and supernatural powers, persuading many Bon believers to convert to Buddhism. He did not completely deny Bon religion, but integrated some of its rituals and beliefs into Buddhism, creating a unique Tibetan Buddhist culture.

The symbolic meaning of the myth

The story of Guru Padmasambhava's subjugation of demons is not only a display of supernatural powers, but also has profound symbolic meaning. These "demons" are often interpreted as inner ignorance, greed and hatred. The process of Guru Padmasambhava's subjugation symbolizes the process of practitioners overcoming inner obstacles through wisdom and compassion. At the same time, these stories also reflect the historical process of the integration of Buddhism and local beliefs in Tibet. Guru Padmasambhava incorporated Bon gods into the Buddhist guardian system in a tolerant and transformative way, promoting the harmonious coexistence of cultures.

Conclusion

The mythical story of Guru Padmasambhava's subjugation of demons shows his boundless wisdom and supernatural powers as a master of Tantric Buddhism, and also embodies the unique spirit of Tibetan Buddhism. His deeds are not only religious legends, but also an important symbol of the integration of Tibetan culture and Buddhism. In Tibetan Buddhism, Guru Padmasambhava is regarded as the embodiment of compassion and wisdom. His story inspires countless believers to overcome internal and external obstacles on the path of practice and pursue liberation.

Guru Padmasambhava (printed thangka in cloth frame)