(Padmavajra)

The book "Padmavajra", an important treatise based on the Buddhist Tantric tradition, is primarily centred on the works of the Ācārya Padmavajra in the Vajrayāna (Tantrayāna) tradition, especially his commentary titled Tantrāryāvatāra-ṭīkā.

Philosophical Significance

This work presents both the Path of Knowledge (jñāna-mārga) and the Path of Means (upāya-mārga) in Buddhist Tantra from a balanced perspective. It explains the dualities of emptiness (śūnyatā) and compassion (karuṇā), wisdom (prajñā) and skilful means (upāya), as well as equality (samatā) and discernment (viveka) in their non-dual (advaya) form.

The discussion of Apabhraṃśa 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 Apabhraṃśa sources, he has demonstrated that the tradition of Padmavajra represents a supreme example in Buddhist Tantric thought of the non-dual synthesis of Wisdom (Prajñā) and Compassion (Karuṇā).