(Padmavajra)

The book "Padmavajra", an important treatise based on the Buddhist Tantric tradition, is primarily centred on the works of the ¿c¿rya Padmavajra in the Vajray¿na (Tantray¿na) tradition, especially his commentary titled Tantr¿ry¿vat¿ra-¿¿k¿.Philosophical SignificanceThis work presents both the Path of Knowledge (jñ¿na-m¿rga) and the Path of Means (up¿ya-m¿rga) in Buddhist Tantra from a balanced perspective. It explains the dualities of emptiness (¿¿nyat¿) and compassion (karu¿¿), wisdom (prajñ¿) and skilful means (up¿ya), as well as equality (samat¿) and discernment (viveka) in their non-dual (advaya) form.The discussion of Apabhrä¿a Buddhist literature in the book also makes it clear that Buddhist Tantric practice was not limited only to Sanskrit texts; rather, it spread widely in vernacular languages as well.This work by Prof. Suniti Kumar Pathak connects the philosophical, linguistic, and practical dimensions of Indian Buddhist Tantric literature. Through a comparative study of Tibetan, Sanskrit, and Apabhrä¿a sources, he has demonstrated that the tradition of Padmavajra represents a supreme example in Buddhist Tantric thought of the non-dual synthesis of Wisdom (Prajñ¿) and Compassion (Karu¿¿).