Melong
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Melong (
Description
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Meaning and significance
The mirror is an ancient symbol throughout
Mahayana
The mirror is part of the iconography of
Vajrayana
The mirror may be engaged in the advanced Tantric
In an essay accompanying the
The looking glass/mirror (T. me-long, Skt. adarsa), which represents the dharmakaya or Truth Body, having the aspects of purity (a mirror is clear of pollution) and wisdom (a mirror reflects all phenomena without distinction).[4]
Dzogchen
The mirror motif is pervasive throughout Buddhist literature[2] and is important to traditions of Dzogchen, representing the ground or base.[5] Namkhai Norbu (1938–2018) writes that the term base denotes "the fundamental ground of existence, both at the universal level and at the level of the individual, the two being essentially the same." This base is "uncreated, ever pure and, self-perfected, it is not something that has to be constructed," however it "remains hidden to the experience of every being affected by the illusion of dualism."[6] Jean Luc-Achard defines the basis as "the actual, authentic abiding mode of the Mind."[7] According to Achard, Dzogchen tantras define the basis as "Great Primordial Purity" (ka dag chen po). The Tantra of the Beautiful Auspiciousness (bKra shis mdzes ldan gyi rgyud) defines this as "the state abiding before authentic Buddhas arose and before impure sentient beings appeared."[7]
Namkhai Norbu relates that the metaphor of the mirror reflects the trifold nature of the base:
- The essence, or 'fundamental voidness' of the base, which cannot be changed, just as a mirror is not changed by the reflections it enfolds;
- The nature of the base is 'to manifest', just as a mirror must reflect whatever is before it, without judging the content;
- The energy of the base, or dang, refers to how the 'world around us' arises due to the delusion known as 'karmic vision'; just as a mirror faithfully reflects any content, dang "has the capacity to adopt any form".[5]
A number of texts use the mirror motif in their title, such as
See also
- Mandarava § Iconography
- Mirror armour – Type of cuirass (armour)
- Saraswati § In Indo-Tibetan Buddhism
- Toli – ritual mirror used in shamanism
References
Notes
- etymon: refer, accoutrement.
- darśana with a grammatical adposition.
- ganacakra.
Citations
- ^ Beer (2003), p. 198.
- ^ a b Bentor (1995).
- ^ Keown (2003), p. 209.
- ^ Sawyer (1998).
- ^ a b Norbu (2000).
- ^ Norbu (2000), p. 89.
- ^ a b Achard (2015).
- ^ Talbot (ed.) in Longchenpa (2014).
Works cited
- Achard, Jean-Luc (2015). "The View of spyi-ti yoga". Revue d'Études Tibétaines. CNRS: 1–20. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
- Beer, Robert (2003). "The Mirror". The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols. Serindia. ISBN 978-1-932476-03-3.
- Bentor, Yael (March 1995). "On the symbolism of the mirror in Indo-Tibetan consecration rituals". Journal of Indian Philosophy. 23 (1): 57–71. ISSN 1573-0395(Online)
- Keown, Damien (2003). A Dictionary of Buddhism. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-860560-9.
- ISBN 978-1-55939-434-5.
- Norbu, Namkhai (2000). The Crystal and the Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen. Snow Lion Publications.
- Sawyer, Chad (3 June 1998). "Offerings to Mahakala". Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
Further reading
- Demiéville, Paul (1948). "Le miroir spirituel" [The Mirror of the Mind]. In Gregory, Peter N. (ed.). Sudden and Gradual: Approaches to Enlightenment in Chinese Thought. Translated by Neal Donner. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press (published 1987). pp. 13–40.
- ISBN 978-0-9607000-0-4.