The Pearl Necklace Tantra: Upadesha Instructions of the Great Perfection
Christopher WilkinsonDzogchen (rDzogs chen), is a tradition of esoteric Buddhism that
propounds instantaneous enlightenment and was first brought to
Tibet in the Eighth Century of the Common Era. The Indian
manuscripts of this tradition have been lost in time. Only the Tibetan
translations remain. The original teachings of this tradition are
contained in Tantras, which are generally divided into three
categories: The Mind Section, the Space Section, and the Upadesha
Instruction Section. The Upadesha Instruction section is devoted to
the pointing out instructions or practical advice in the understanding
and application of the Great Perfection. It is generally described as
having seventeen root scriptures. The Pearl Necklace Tantra is one of
these seventeen works.
In this Tantra Hayagriva, the King of the Wrathful Ones,
presents Vajradhara with hard hitting questions about the structure
of reality and the nature of the awareness, how we are ensnared
and how we are liberated. The Tantra is a frank discussion of the
applicability of the great perfection to a world that is wrapped in
delusions.
I have included images of the Tibetan manuscript for your
convenience and to help preserve this ancient literature.