This set of sūtras is so called either because they represent distillations of the most profound scriptures, or because according to traditional histories they were recommended to King Trisong Detsen for his daily practice by Guru Padmasambhava. These are: (1) Bhadracaryāpraṇidhāna (bzang spyod smon lam, The Prayer of Good Conduct, Toh 1095); for aspiration (smon lam), and described as vast (rgya chen). (2) Vajravidāraṇādhāraṇī (rdo rje rnam ’joms, Toh 750); for ablution (khrus). (3) Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya (shes rab snying po, Toh 21 and 531); for the view (lta ba), and described as profound (zab mo). (4) Atyayajñāna (’da’ ka ye shes, Toh 122); for cultivation (sgom pa) and described as of definitive meaning (nges don). (5) bya ba ltung bshags (part of Vinayaviniścayopāliparipṛcchā, Toh 68); for purification of karmic obscurations (las sgrib dag pa). (6) Aparimitāyurjñāna (tshe dang ye shes dpag tu med pa’i mdo, Toh 674); for extending longevity (tshe bsring). (7) gos sngon can gyi gzungs, perhaps Bhagavānnīlāmbaradharavajrapāṇitantra (Toh 498) but possibly another of the several texts on this form of Vajrapāṇi; for protection (srung ba). (8) Uṣṇīṣasitātapatrā (gtsug tor gdugs dkar, Toh 590, 591, and 592); for averting (zlog pa). (9) Vasudhāra (nor rgyun ma, Toh 663 and 664); for increasing resources (longs spyod spel ba). (10) Ekākṣarīmātāprajñāpāramitā (sher phyin yi ge gcig ma, Toh 23); for the essence (snying po).

Introduction