GROUNDS AND PATHS OF SECRET MANTRA offers a concise overview of the structure of the tantric path, presenting the paths of all four classes of tantra. While not being a guide to highest yoga tantra practice itself, this subject provides a clear overview of its complex path structure. Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche offered the oral commentary on Ngawang Palden’s Illumination of the Tantric Tradition, the FPMT Basic Program standard text for this subject, at Vajrapani Institute in 2003. The perfectly edited transcript of the teachings, published as Principles of Buddhist Tantra, includes the translation of the standard BP text and is the required course book for this BP Online subject.

At the explicit advice of Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche, who felt that those with faith would benefit, this teaching on GROUNDS AND PATHS OF SECRET MANTRA is offered without the customary restriction of a prior highest yoga tantra empowerment and its commitments. The subject should not be studied though without extensive prior engagement with the Dharma, and sincere respect for and faith in the Buddhist tantric path.

The suggested amount of time needed to complete this subject is five months.