Dzogchen Lineage Vairocana

Vairocana (or Berozana) was born into the Pagor family in Tibet and served as a great translator during the reign of King Trisong Detsen between 755 and 797 AD.

Vairocana, one of the 25 main disciples of Guru Padmasambhava, was recognized by Guru Padmasambhava as the reincarnation of an Indian pandit. The Tibetan king Trisong Detsen sent him to India to study under the pandit there. He also traveled to many regions at that time, including China, Khotan (Hotan), Nepal, Zhangzhung, etc.

Vairocana’s main guru was Sri Singha (the auspicious lion). Sri Singha gave Vairocana the guidance and empowerment of the Dzogchen teachings. Manjusri also appeared in a wisdom body and gave Vairocana direct teachings. It is said that Vairocana’s realization is the same as that of Guru Padmasambhava.

Vairocana translated many of Sri Singha’s works and many of the Mantra-Yana scriptures. He also translated a portion of the Prajnaparamita Sutra and other Buddhist texts. Since later translators did not always faithfully record the names of earlier translators, the exact number of his translations is no longer known.

Another great Tibetan translator, O Loden Sherab (1059-1109), once made a famous exclamation: “Vairocana is like the vast clear sky.”