A translation of a foundational scripture in beautiful, lyrical translation, perfect for recitation.

A key text for one of the most important Buddhist tantric traditions, the Chakrasamvara Root Tantra has been passed down to us from the ancient mahasiddhas of India, such as the great yogi Saraha. This foundational ritual text is one of the earliest of the yogini tantras, tantric scriptures that emphasize female deities. This melodic translation by David Gonsalez (Ven. Losang Tsering) maintains the poetic structure of the original, making it ideal for practitioners and harmonious to recite. It is at once an object of devotion, a profound instruction, and a beautiful poem meant to inspire spiritual seekers.
The Chakrasamvara Root Tantra: The Speech of Glorious Heruka, Translated by David Gonsalez, Wisdom Publications, Hardcover, 216 pp, $24.95

David Gonsalez was the translator of numerous sadhanas and texts and served for many years as the personal translator and attendant for Gen Lobsang Chophel. He was the president of Dechen Ling, a nonprofit organization that works with the Tibetan community in exile to establish their monasteries and traditions.

CONTENTS: The Chakrasamvara Root Tantra
Publisher's Note to the New Edition		xi
Translator's Introduction		1
1.	Entering the Mandala	21
2.	The Ritual for Making Offerings to the Mandala	25
3.	The Good Qualities of the Ritual of Bestowing Empowerment	31
4.	Establishing the Inseparability of the Heroes and Yoginis	35
5.	The Ritual of Collecting the Letters of the Root Mantra	37
6.	The Armor of the Six Heroes	41
7.	The Condensed Rituals of the Root Mantra	43
8.	The Essence of the Reversed Armor and the Ritual of the Condensed Mantra of the Six Dakinis	49
9.	The Ritual Actions of the Root Mantra	51
10.	Accomplishing the Three Bodies and the Ritual of the Essence Mantra	53
11.	The Ritual of the Characteristics of the Seven-Birthed One	55
12.	The Ritual of the Close Essence Mantra	57
13.	The Ritual of the Armor Mantra	61
14.	Engaging in the Donkey Ritual	63
15.	The Ritual of the Signs of Each One of the Syllables	65
16.	Examining the Characteristics of the Seven Yoginis	67
17.	The Ritual of All the Dakinis' Forms, Hand Symbols, and Teaching the Mudra	71
18.	The Definitive Ritual of the Signs, Characteristics, and Colors of All the Dakinis	75
19.	Showing All the Mudras and Reply Mudras of the Yoginis	79
20.	The Ritual of Signs and Mudras of All the Yoginis	83
21.	The Ritual of Viewing the Characteristics of the Limbs of the Mudra	87
22.	The Ritual of the Particular Characteristics of the Mudras	89
23.	The Ritual of the Characteristics of the Particular Sign Mudras of the Dakinis	91
24.	The Ritual of the Imputed Signs of the Symbolic Words of All the Characteristics of the Four Classes	93
25.	The Ritual of the Secret Root Mantra	97
26.	The Ritual of Thoroughly Investigating the Disciple, and the Vows	99
27.	The Rituals of Activity, Conduct, Offering, and the Tormas	103
28.	The Ritual of Inner Fire Offering and Being Endowed with One Lineage	109
29.	The Ritual of the Characteristics of the Messengers and the Means of Abiding in Power	113
30.	The Ritual of Mantra Selection Bound in the Muraja Drum	115
31.	The Ritual of the Hand Signals of Food, the Fire Offering, and Tormas	119
32.	The Ritual of Accomplishing Animals, Sacrificial Animals, Zombies, and the Generation Stage	123
33.	The Ritual of the Secret Offering and Offering Respect	127
34.	The Ritual of the Actions of the Burned Offering of the Nondual Messenger	131
35.	The Ritual of the Actions of Nonduality and Cheating Untimely Death	133
36.	The Offering of Suchness and the Ritual of Action	135
37.	The Ritual of Oneself Attaining Inner Power	137
38.	The Ritual of the Abode of the Secret Hero and the Place of Accomplishing the Yogini	141
39.	The Ritual of the View and HA HA Laughter	145
40.	The Powerful Actions of the Five Lineages and Teachings on Mahamudra	147
41.	The Ritual of the Arrangement of the Twenty-Four Mandalas	149
42.	The Ritual of the Laughing Mantra and the Illusory Form of the Yogini	153
43.	The Ritual of Accomplishing the Actions of the Close Essence [Mantra]	155
44.	The Ritual Actions of the Seven Syllables of the Six Dakinis	161
45.	The Ritual of the Six Yoginis, the Attainments of Speech, and the Prophecy	165
46.	The Ritual of the Actions of the Five HA Syllables	171
47.	The Ritual of All the Actions of the Mantra of the Dakini of All the Buddhas	173
48.	The Ritual of the Secret Abode of All the Heroes and Yoginis	177
49.	The Ritual of Accomplishing the Complete Exchange of Form of the Seven-Birthed One	181
50.	The Ritual of the Controlling Burned Offering and Teaching on the Abodes of the Grounds and So Forth	185
51.	[Untitled Final Chapter]	191