In Part One Geshe Kelsang explains with great clarity and precision how we can practise the sublime meditations of Heruka body mandala, and thereby gradually transform our ordinary world and experiences into the transcendental reality of a Buddha.
Then, in Part Two, he provides definitive instructions on the completion stage practices that lead to the supreme bliss of full enlightenment in this one lifetime.
This is a treasury of practical instructions for those seriously interested in following the Tantric path.
Excerpt from this book:
A General Explanation of the Yoga of the Guru
Guru yoga is a special way of relying upon our Spiritual Guide. `Guru' refers to any Spiritual Guide who gives us unmistaken instructions on how to begin, progress on, and complete the spiritual path, and who sets a good example for us to follow. Here the term `yoga' reveals a special way of relying upon our Spiritual Guide that is a powerful method for accumulating merit and receiving the blessings of all the Buddhas.
At the moment, because our mind is impure - obstructed by ignorance and negative karma - we cannot directly perceive pure beings such as Buddhas. We see only impure beings who, like ourself, experience problems such as sickness, ageing, and death. However, by practising Guru yoga we can communicate with all the enlightened beings through our Spiritual Guide; through him or her they accept our offerings, respect, and devotion, and grant us their powerful blessings, protection, and care. In the Lamrim teachings it says:
Whenever a disciple relies upon his Spiritual Guide,
Without invitation all the enlightened beings
Enter and abide within the Spiritual Guide's body,
Accepting offerings and bestowing blessings.
Mahasiddha Ghantapa, for example, accomplished the state of the Union of Buddha Heruka by receiving the blessings of all the Buddhas through his Spiritual Guide, a woman who was an emanation of Vajrayogini. All the lineage Gurus of the instructions of Heruka body mandala, from Ghantapa up to Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang Losang Yeshe, attained enlightenment by receiving the blessings of all the Buddhas through their Spiritual Guide.
In these impure times it is only through receiving the blessings of the enlightened beings that we can maintain the mental peace that is the root of our daily happiness. For this reason alone, we can clearly see that the practice of relying upon the Spiritual Guide is supremely important.
During the meditation session, Heruka body mandala practitioners visualize their root Guru in the aspect of Heruka and invite all the Buddhas in the aspect of Heruka to dissolve into his body. With the strong recognition that their Guru is the synthesis of all the Buddhas, they make prostrations, offerings, and requests, and receive his or her blessings. They then integrate this special way of relying upon the Spiritual Guide into their daily life by remembering that he is a manifestation of Buddha Heruka and engaging in actions to delight him such as prostrations, offerings, requesting blessings, and, in particular, sincerely practising his teachings on Lamrim and Highest Yoga Tantra.
For such practitioners, Guru yoga is the actual quick path to enlightenment because, whenever they engage in any actions to delight their Spiritual Guide, the merit they create is multiplied by the number of enlightened beings. Since there are infinite enlightened beings, the virtue of any action done to please their Spiritual Guide is also infinite. For this reason, one moment of Guru yoga can accumulate as much merit as is accumulated over many aeons through other practices. Furthermore, the attainment of Buddhahood, which takes aeons to accomplish through other practices, can be accomplished in one life through the practice of Guru yoga. This was demonstrated by Dromtönpa, the heart disciple of Atisha, and by Khädrubje, the heart disciple of Je Tsongkhapa.
Geshe Potowa says:
Whether or not our Spiritual Guide is precious
Depends upon us and not upon our Spiritual Guide.