Luminosity (Vajrayana)

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Luminosity or clear light (Tibetan od gsal, Sanskrit prabhāsvara), in Vajrayana, Tibetan Buddhism and Bon, refers to the nature of mind experienced in deep sleep and death.^[1][2]

Definitions

Patrul Rinpoche defines ground luminosity as the:

...luminosity that occurs during deep sleep, union and death.^[3]

Practice

The practitioner trains to consciously enter the deep sleep state.^[4] If one has the ability to remain conscious during deep sleep, one will be able to recognize the luminosity of death and gain Buddhahood.^[5] This is called the meeting of mother and child luminosities, resulting in the state of thuktam at death.^[6]

See also

• Yoga Nidra

References

1. ↑ Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Jr., Donald S. (2013). The Princeton dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9781400848058. Entry on "prabhāsvara".
2. ↑ Dharmachakra Translation Committee (2006). Deity, Mantra, and Wisdom. Ithaca, N.Y.: Snow Lion Publications. p. 192. ISBN 978-1-55939-300-3. 
3. ↑ Dharmachakra Translation Committee (2006). Deity, Mantra, and Wisdom. Ithaca, N.Y.: Snow Lion Publications. p. 192. ISBN 978-1-55939-300-3. 
4. ↑ Ponlop, Dzogchen (2008). Mind beyond death. Ithaca, N.Y.: Snow Lion Publications. pp. 86–7. ISBN 1-55939-301-7. 
5. ↑ Ponlop, Dzogchen (2008). Mind beyond death. Ithaca, N.Y.: Snow Lion Publications. pp. 86–7. ISBN 1-55939-301-7. 
6. ↑ Rinpoche, Dudjom (2001). Counsels from My Heart. Boston: Shambhala. pp. 59–76. ISBN 1-57062-844-0.