Padmasambhava - Guru Rinpoche

The Historical Figure He first appears in Buddhist manuscripts in the early 7th century, described as one of the most powerful Tantrics in Tibetan history, summoned to Tibet by King Trisong Detsen to propagate Buddhism. It was he who built the Samye Monastery. He is revered in India, Tibet and Nepal as being the master of the Tantras, the fundamental texts in the Vajrayana tradition. His name, Padmasambhava, was given to him as legend has it that he was found as a young child, 8 years of age, in the heart of a lotus on the Dhanakosha lake in the kingdom of Oddiyana (now in the region of Kashmir). His entire existence was recorded in several texts that are still being discovered today. The charm of Padmasambhava is due to his spiritually devoted life that filled with miraculous feats accomplished all over the Himalayan region. Today, many of the power places for Buddhist are in locations that Padmasambhava is said to have visited. One of the most famous places is in Bhutan, known as the Tiger's Nest, where it is said that Padmasambhava meditated for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days and 3 hours. His varying imagery and 8 forms can be understood to represent the complex nature of Vajrayana practice. Known as the Guru Rinpoche to most Tibetans, he is believed to be present in all spiritual teachers. Believed to reside in the Glorious Copper Mountain, a thangka that usually represents him in his eight forms surrounded by dakas and dakinis dancing and feasting. Another popular Thangka will display him with his 25 greatest disciples, amongst which you will find the King Trisong Detsen and one of his servants. According to legend, he is said to have trusted these disciple with the task of hiding certain sacred texts and treasures that will be discovered by their incarnations at the opportune moment.