Jīngāngdǐng jīng guānzìzài wáng rúlái xiūxíng fǎ 金剛頂經觀自在王如來修行法
Method of Practice of the Avalokiteśvara-King Tathāgata from the Vajraśekhara-sūtra by 不空 Bùkōng (Amoghavajra, 譯)
About the work
A one-fascicle Esoteric ritual manual by Amoghavajra (不空) for the practice of the Avalokiteśvara-King Tathāgata (Guānzìzài wáng rúlái 觀自在王如來) — the cosmic-king form of Avalokiteśvara, identified with the Western Vajradhātu Buddha Amitāyus. In the Vajradhātu mandalic framework, Avalokiteśvara is the principal Bodhisattva of the Lotus-family, whose cosmic-king aspect is identical with the Lotus-family Buddha Amitāyus.
Abstract
The text provides the Vajradhātu Esoteric sādhana for the Avalokiteśvara-King practice — distinct from the standard Mahāyāna Avalokiteśvara devotional cult by its specifically Vajradhātu yoga-tantra framework. The text is one of the principal Táng Esoteric Avalokiteśvara practice manuals and was foundational for the later development of the Avalokiteśvara-Esoteric synthesis in both China and Japan.
The composition dates from Amoghavajra’s mature Cháng’ān period (746–774).
Translations and research
- Yü Chün-fang. Kuan-yin: The Chinese Transformation of Avalokiteśvara. New York: Columbia UP, 2001. — Background on the Avalokiteśvara cult in China.
Links
- CBETA T19n0931
- Kanseki DB
- 不空 Bùkōng DILA
- Dazangthings date evidence (CBETA / Taishō; date: 750)