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| [[Image:Guru ngadrama.JPG|frame|The famous '[[Looks Like Me]]' statue of Guru Padmasambhava]]
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| '''Guru Rinpoche''', the ‘Precious Master’, is the founder of Tibetan Buddhism and the [[Buddha]] of our time. Whereas Buddha is known primarly for having taught the teachings of the sutra vehicle, Padmasambhava came into this world, and to Tibet in particular, in order to teach the tantras. While [[Buddha Shakyamuni]] exemplifies the buddha principle, the most important element in the [[sutrayana]] path, Padmasambhava personifies the guru principle, the heart of [[Vajrayana]] Buddhism, and he is therefore known as ''sangyé nyipa'' [Tib.], the ‘second Buddha’.
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| ==Biographies==
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| There are many accounts of Guru Rinpoche’s life, written by great scholars or revealed by the [[tertön]]s. Some of the most famous of his biographies are the ''Namthar Zanglingma'', ‘The Zanglingma Lifestory’, named after the Copper Temple at [[Samyé]] where it was discovered as a terma by [[Nyangrel Nyima Özer]], the ''Padmé Kathang'' or ''Namthar Sheldrakma'', ‘The Life-Story from the Crystal Cave’, revealed by [[Orgyen Lingpa]], the ''Kathang Serthreng'' ‘Golden Garland Chronicles’ discovered by [[Sangyé Lingpa]], and the ''Namthar Yikyi Münsel'', ‘The Life-Story that Dispels Mind’s Darkness’, by [[Sokdokpa Lodrö Gyaltsen]]. Guru Rinpoche’s life is also recorded in the histories of the different teaching cycles; there exists a famous Indian version compiled by [[Jetsün Taranatha]], and biographies are even to be found in the [[Bön]] tradition of Tibet.
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| :''See'' ‘The Life of Guru Padmasambhava’ in ''[[A Great Treasure of Blessings]]''.
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| [[Category:Historical Masters]] | | [[Category:Historical Masters]] |
| [[Category:Buddhas and Deities]] | | [[Category:Buddhas and Deities]] |