Dudjom Rinpoche's Re-presentation of Pema Lingpa's Ultra Secret Razor Lifeforce Vajrakīlaya (yang gsang srog gi spu gri)

Abstract

Dudjom Rinpoche compiled a number of ritual practice texts for the Vajrakīlaya revelation cycle of Bhutan’s national saint, Pema Lingpa (padma gling pa, 1450–1521), also writing commentarial instructions on them. Here, two of his compilations are examined in detail. In assessing Dudjom Rinpoche's two texts, various aspects of the productive process are highlighted, such as: the 'blessings' of a current generation high status lama connected with the tradition; the needs of the ritual community for familiar textual structures and liturgies; beautiful metrical verses for chanting; the integration of materials from the broader tantric heritage, but also the preservation of some highly individual elements of the revelation.