Restricted Texts Policy
“These issues are complex, and the key decisions must be taken by holders of the lineages rather than translators. Fortunately, we can defer to Alak Zenkar Rinpoché as our main advisor. His advice has generally been to publish without restriction (but with a warning wherever necessary) all but those texts that are liable to be misconstrued. There is also a kind of inflationary process that must be considered: whenever one lama or publisher makes a text available this sets a precedent that influences the decisions of others. Over time, this inevitably means that the trend is towards greater openness and accessibility.”
Some texts on this website are labelled as restricted. The practice of Secret Mantra in Tibetan Buddhism is potentially very powerful but must be approached with caution. When taught by authentic masters and practiced diligently by qualified disciples, these teachings can accelerate spiritual growth, ultimately leading, it is said, to enlightenment in a single lifetime. Misuse, however, can have serious consequences.
Proper Transmission and Practice
To practice these teachings correctly, one must receive empowerments, reading transmissions, and oral instructions from a qualified master. This often involves extensive preparation, such as completion of the requisite preliminary practices (ngöndro). Practitioners must also take the samaya pledge, which also involves daily practices of confession to maintain the life-force of the commitment.
Reasons for Secrecy
Tantric teachings are kept secret for two main reasons:
Preserving Tradition: Sharing these teachings with unprepared recipients might dilute their power and weaken the lineage. “Divulging secrets reduces the value of the pith instructions,” Mipham Rinpoche wrote in a text called The Old Sage’s Honest Talk: On the Need for the Pith Instructions to Remain Secret. Vajrayāna teachings should not be treated casually, as mere information or to satisfy intellectual curiosity.
Protecting Disciples: Without proper guidance, advanced teachings and tantric practices, such as sādhanas, could be misunderstood or misapplied, leading to negative outcomes, such as the development of wrong views or the reinforcement of egoistic tendencies.
Modern Challenges
In modern times, empowerments are often given to large audiences all around the world, and attempts to restrict access to tantric texts face challenges. Some translations are available only as restricted books (often at high prices), with the requirement that would-be purchasers provide details about when, where and from whom they received the requisite empowerments and transmissions. Such a system is intended to protect the texts from falling into the wrong hands and also to avoid the fault of divulging secrets, which is a breach of tantric commitments. Yet the process is still open to abuse and is beyond the scope of a small organisation such as ours. We could not possibly keep track of all the occasions on which transmissions of the many texts that are available here might occur. Nor are we in a position to pass judgement on the legitimacy of teachers.
Today, almost all traditionally restricted Tibetan Buddhist materials are accessible in some form to those who search for them. Unfortunately, in some cases, the teachings are also misrepresented or even exploited.
Conclusion
Our policy, then, is to make authentic translations available based on the advice of our senior advisors, with the aspiration that individuals will benefit from these texts by approaching them in the proper way. That is to say, they will respect the restrictions that tradition places upon them and seek guidance from an authentic teacher before applying them in practice.
If you are unsure as to whether you are entitled to read or practice a particular text please consult a qualified teacher.
Further Reading
Blankleder, Helena and Wulstan Fletcher. "Translators’ Introduction" in Jigme Lingpa, Treasury of Precious Qualities, Book Two: Vajrayana and the Great Perfection. Translated by the Padmakara Translation Group. Boulder: Shambhala, 2013.
Pearcey, Adam. "For Your Ears Only" adamspearcey.com https://adamspearcey.com/2016/08/29/for-your-ears-only
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