Thangka Guru Rinpoche

This scroll shows Padmasambhava in a variety of contexts.
The central figure shows him as the "Precious Teacher" Guru Rinpoche, the earthly master on the Nirmanakaya level; on the Sambhogakaya level above he appears as Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. On the highest Dharmakaya level, one encounters Buddha Amitayus, the Buddha of immeasurable light. All three appearances embody the three levels of enlightenment.
This vertical triad identifies Padmasambhava as the Trikaya Lama, who manifests on all three planes of existence. The two large depictions in the bottom row show the master in two wrathful appearances, on the left as Yidam Guru Dragpo and on the right as Dakini Simhamukha. Together with the central figure, they again form a group of three, indicating the appearance aspect of Padmasambhava as Lama, Yidam and Dakini.

Padmasambhava appears in eight forms depending on the context of his teaching or religious activity. These surround the central figure and are listed clockwise from the depiction in the second row on the right: as siddha and yogi Nyima Öser (nyi ma ód zer), as wisdom proclaimer Loden Chogse (blo ldan mchog sred), as second Buddha Sakya Senge (sakya seng ge), as demon vanquisher Dorje Dolö (rdo rje gro lod), Tzokye Dorje (mtzo skyes rdo rje) as an Adibuddha in the yab-yum position, Senge Dadog (seng ge sgra sgrogs) as a powerful protective deity, Pemasambha (padma sambha) as a pandita and finally Padma Gyalpo (padma rgyal po) as a lotus-born king.

The image can be understood as a representation of a gradual visualization in meditation.