Vima Nyingtik


Vima Nyingthig, "Seminal Heart of Vimalamitra", is one of the two "seminal heart" collections of the menngagde cycle Dzogchen, the other one being "Seminal Heart of the Dakini". Traditionally the teachings are ascribed to Vimalamitra, but they were codified and collated by their Tibetan discoverers in the 11th and 12th century.

History

The Vima Nyingthig is founded principally on the seventeen tantras and the Troma tantra. It is the teachings both for and of the panditas, brought to Tibet by Vimalamitra.

Contents

The Vima Nyingtik itself consists of three sections:
  1. tantras, which refer to the Seventeen Tantras;
  2. āgamas, which are largely Tibetan syntheses;
  3. upadēśavargas ; these refer to 119 treatises of pith advice.

    Troma Tantra

The "Troma Tantra" or the "Ngagsung Tromay Tantra" otherwise known as the "Ekajaṭĭ Khros Ma'i rGyud" focuses on rites of the protector, Ekajati.

Seventeen tantras

The "Seventeen tantras of the esoteric instruction cycle" which are supports for the Vima Nyingthig are as follows :
  1. "Self-existing Perfection"
  2. "Without Letters"
  3. "Self-arising Primordial Awareness"
  4. "Self-liberated Primordial Awareness"
  5. "Piled Gems"
  6. "Shining Relics of Enlightened Body"
  7. "Reverberation of Sound"
  8. "Great Auspicious Beauty"
  9. "The Mirror of the Heart of Vajrasattva"
  10. "The Mirror of the Mind of Samantabhadra"
  11. "Direct Introduction"
  12. "Necklace of Precious Pearls"
  13. "Sixfold Expanse of Samantabhadra"
  14. "Blazing Lamp"
  15. "Union of the Sun and Moon"
  16. "Lion's Perfect Expressive Power"
  17. "Array of Jewels"
These seventeen tantras are to be found in the Nyingma Gyubum, volumes 9 and 10, folio numbers 143–159 of the edition edited by Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, commonly known as Dilgo Khyentse, reproduced from the manuscript preserved at Tingkye Gonpa Jang Monastery in Tibet.

Lineage

was a senior disciple of Melong Dorje. Kumaradza studied with the grand master Orgyenpa, who conveyed teachings of "Vimalamitra's Seminal Heart" upon him.

Testaments of the knowledge-holders

"The Posthumous Teachings of the Vidyadhara" are found in the Vima Nyingtik. These are the last testaments of the early vidyadharas: Garab Dorje, Mañjuśrīmitra, Sri Singha and Jnanasutra. These testaments are post-humous as they were delivered by the vidhyadhara to their senior disciple from within a thigle of the Five Pure Lights in their rainbow body. In this tradition, the thigle is understood to be comparable to a pure land or mandala. These were first compiled by Vimalamitra in his five series. These posthumous teaching belong to the series of the "Golden Letters".

Last testament of Garab Dorje

"The Three Statement That Strike the Essential Points" or "The Three Vajra Verses"

Last testament of Manjushrimitra

"The Six Meditation Experiences"

Last testament of Śrī Singha

"The Seven Nails"

Last testament of Jñānasūtra

"The Four Methods of Establishing Absorption"

Vima Nyingtik: Fourth Volume

The Eleven Themes

Scheidegger in a recent work discusses the first four of "The Eleven Themes" a work composed by Longchenpa contained in the fourth volume of the Vima Nyingtik.