Tibet.- Ritual of the Fierce Aspect of Buddhahood, manuscript in Tibetan, on simple native paper, complete in 42 numbered leaves, black ink on 5 ruled lines of 215mm. consisting of c.38 syllables, first and last leaf chipped and frayed at edges, browning, some generally light soiling and staining, occasional very small marginal worming, affecting a few letters to final few leaves, leaves loose, wrapped in dark pink cotton and housed in modern card folder, each leaf c.66 x 267mm., [Tibet], [18th century]. *** A central text of Tibetan Buddhism in which the Nying-ma-pa school exalt their guru to cosmic heights, defending their practices and beliefs against the criticisms of the ‘reformed’ schools. A partially illegible title-page identifies the text as a ritual manual, centred on the fierce aspect of the guru (Padmasambhava) as the embodiment of Buddhahood. The guru is invoked to grant the meditator a number of worldly and religious benefits, such as the overthrow of the eight classes of arrogant spirits, pestilence, fatal diseases, hysteria, the bestowal of empowerments and so on.