Saraha

Saraha ( 8th century ) is one of the Mahasiddhas (see siddhi ) of the Indian Tantric Buddhism, the author of mystical chants and one of the founders of the Indo-Tibetan Mahamudra lineage, one of the Zen -like tradition of meditation.

Life

Saraha lived in the late 8th century AD; He was a contemporary of King Dharmapala ( 769-809; Pala dynasty ) and one of the foremost Indian yogis. He came from a Bengali Brahmin family and was educated to become a Buddhist monk. It is unclear whether he was expelled from the monastery because he was found the trunk or similar violations of the monastic rules she has been guilty, or whether he left the order on his own initiative. He became a wandering yogi and student Ratnamatis, in the Guhyasamâjatantra and the methods in the subtle channels him to use (Sanskrit Nadi, compare Nadi ( yoga) ) located forces inaugurated. After he had found a companion, he worked as a blacksmith arrow. Therefore, he is always shown with an arrow in his hand.

Work

Saraha is the author of numerous mystical songs ( Sanskrit: Doha), in which he argues against literalism and outdated customs and for a direct, personal way:

"With just this, through which one is born, lives and dies, by just that one attains the highest bliss. But although Saraha this deep, mysterious words pronounce, seems this stupid world they do not understand. "

Successor

From one of the Saraha Mahamudra lineages continues to Savari, Luipada, Dengri, Vajraghanta, Kambala, Jalandhara, Krsnacarya, Vijayapada, Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, Milarepa, Gampopa and the first Karmapa.