He takes to learning and studies the Five Sciences, the sutras and the tantras from the learned and accomplished siddhas of the Indian subcontinent, who bestow upon him the empowerment of the tantras with their instructions explained. Studying under several male and female spiritual guides, Padmasambhava, the Lotus Born Prince goes through the process of hearing, reflecting and meditating on the instructions and empowerments that he receives from his masters.
With the eight great masters, I then travelled to Cool Grove cemetery,— The Wish-Fulfilling Tree
Where we remained in meditation for seven days.
On the final night, at the Great Enchanting Mound Stūpa,
We all beheld, as we meditated there,
That the stupa was glowing, sparks of light flashing.
A ḍākinī appeared and gave us each a casket of treasure teachings.
While I personally received the instructions for the Assembly of Sugatas,
Each of the masters also received a mandate of their own.
For a long time we remained at the Vajra Throne, preserving the Dharma.
The eight main masters include Manjushrimitra of Magadha, Nagarjuna and Buddhaguhya of India, Vimalamitra of Kashmir, Prabhahasti of Western India, Hungkara of Nepal, Dhana Sanskrita, Shantigarbha, Prahevajra and Guhyachandra of Uddiyana, and Shri Singha of Khotan. They all gathered at the Shankarakuta stupa (chorten Dechen Tsekpa) at the Cool Grove charnel ground, in present day Bihar. It is during this time that the Dakini Lekyi Wangmo appeared to them. She entrusted Padmasambhava and the eight masters the teachings of 'The Eight Great Deities: Assembly of Sugatas' (Kagye Deshek Dupa).