Faith or Fate? The path towards immortality according to the Tantric traditions of Tibet

Tantrism represents the esoteric traditions originated in India around 500-600 AD. Hindu Tantric scriptures were composed from the eighth century onwards, primarily in Kashmir and Nepal and from those regions they were gradually introduced in Tibet where they were translated concurrently with the hagiographies of famous saints. Tantric teachings are revered and practiced by all major and minor Buddhist schools as well as Bon, the autochthonous spiritual tradition of Tibet. According to the followers of the first and oldest Tibetan Buddhist school called rNying ma (literally, the Old One), they were made known by the Indian Guru Padmasambhava, who was invited in the eighth century by King Trison Detsen (Tib. Khri srong lDe'u btsan), the second of the three Dharmarāja who played a pivotal role in supporting the spread of Buddhism during the era of maximum influence of the Tibetan Empire (seventh-ninth century AD). On a mystical level, Tantric teachings are said to have been transmitted in an ultra-mundane sphere by Buddhas or other supernatural beings who manifested themselves under specific symbolic forms, which in turn became the object of meditation, contemplation, liturgies, and bio-spiritual praxes, depending on the teacher or lineage followed. The Tantric Path is considered the fastest one to obtain Enlightenment in reason of its philosophical view, which fosters deep understanding of the nature of reality in the initiated adepts which results in swift development and attainment of psycho-physical powers, among which longevity and immortality. The paper will introduce the different levels of Tantric teachings along with their specific characteristics and objectives; such introduction will serve as a platform for an analysis of the role played by faith and fate in the quest for immortality and the purpose of longevity in the Tibetan religious traditions.