Seventeen tantras

Lore & Background

The Seventeen Tantras are traditionally traced back to the quasi-historical figure Garab Dorje, who is said to have received them from the Buddha Kuntu Zangpo. The Indian scholar Vimalamitra, a student of Shri Singha, is closely associated with the Seventeen Tantras; his student Nyangban Tingzin Zangpo is said to have concealed them at Zha Lhakhang after Vimalamitra left Tibet. They were later discovered by the caretaker monk Dangma Lhungyel in the 11th century, who transmitted them to Chetsün Sengé Wangchuk.

Reader's Guide

The Seventeen Tantras are foundational to the Nyingma school's Dzogchen teachings, explaining the view, meditation, and conduct of a practitioner. They cover kadag trekchö (cutting through primordial purity) and lhündrub tögal (direct crossing of spontaneous presence), along with topics such as the basis, cosmogony, subtle body, buddha-nature, meditative techniques, mandalas, and post-death states. Contemporary Tibetologists like David Germano and Christopher Hatchell hold that the Vima Nyingthig was likely composed by its discoverer Zhangton Tashi Dorje, and that the first historically attested figure connected with these tantras is Chetsün Sengé Wangchuk. Samten Karmay notes uncertainty about Vimalamitra, and that some critics claimed Chetsün Sengé Wangchuk authored the tantras. Bryan J. Cuevas states that while traditional Nyingma views see them as divine revelations received by Garab Dorje, the texts appear to have been compiled over a long period by multiple unknown redactors. The lineage from Chetsün Sengé Wangchuk onward includes datable figures, culminating with Kumaradza, the root guru of Longchenpa.

Did You Know?

• Contemporary Tibetologists hold that the Vima Nyingthig was likely composed by its discoverer, not by the 8th-century figure Vimalamitra.
• The tantras are stylistically similar, depicting dialogues with Buddhas in settings such as space, volcanoes, and charnel grounds.
• The first historically attested figure in the lineage of the Seventeen Tantras is Chetsün Sengé Wangchuk (c. 11th century).