Takdrol

Takdrol (Wyl. btags grol) is one of the “five methods that lead to liberation without the need for meditation”. These are sometimes given as:

• liberation through seeing (chakras);
• liberation on hearing (mantra);
• liberation by tasting (amrita);
• liberation by touch (mudra or takdrol); and
• liberation by recollection or thinking (phowa).

Numerous kinds of takdrol exist: many are mantras in diagrams related to the Dzogchen teachings, and others belong to the tantras. The takdrol can form part of a more detailed empowerment, or it can be given independently as a simple empowerment on its own. Sometimes a text of a tantra is used as a takdrol and worn, for example, in a locket on the top of the head. (Information kindly given by Tulku Thondup Rinpoche).