The Perfection of Desire as the Path: Three Early Indian Vajrayana Treatises

The three treatises translated herein from the original Sanskrit represent the earliest phase of Vajrayana expository literature. A principle expounded in common by all is that of the utilization of the special skillful means (upaya-kaushalya) of Vajrayana to transmute afflictive emotions (klesha), especially desire (kama), into Great Bliss (mahasukha) and enlightenment (bodhi). This principle has been called Kama-Siddhi, the "Perfection of Desire" in the Cakrasamvaratantra and cited in Ana...