The Life Stories of Padmasambhava and their Significance for Tibetan Buddhists

Abstract: This works seeks to examine a small selection of biographies of Padmasambhava, the figure who introduced and spread the Buddhist teachings in Tibet during the eighth century. These writings appear to have a function that goes beyond merely recounting the details of Padmasambhava’s life and works. Two of these functions – the transmission of various teachings and support for the Tibetan identity – have been the main focus for my investigation.