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Essential Advice in Three Sets of Three

As potent as it is pithy, this short text outlines three sets of qualities required respectively by sages, bodhisattvas, and practitioners of the Mantrayāna. There is obvious overlap in the advice contained at each level, particularly ascending from the initial to the final qualities, which mirrors the central training of the three Buddhist vehicles essential to the Tibetan tradition.

Butön Rinchen Drub

The Wondrous Light of Lunar Nectar:

The Biography of Künga Palden

The Wondrous Light of Lunar Nectar is a biography of Chatral Künga Palden (1878–1944) written by Dilgo Khyentsé Tashi Paljor.

Dilgo Khyentsé Tashi Paljor

Abridged Biographies: The Lineage of the Do Family

This text provides us with an insight into the life of Do Khyentsé Yeshé Dorjé by presenting a concise biography of the master in addition to those of his family. It, moreover, offers stories from the life of his half-sister and spiritual partner, Losal Drölma—an honored teacher in her own right and a figure on the fringe of the Yeshé Dorjé tales told in temples.

Do Dasal Wangmo

A Lineage Prayer for the Natural Liberation of Grasping

This lineage prayer for Do Khyentsé's treasure cycle of the Natural Liberation of Grasping (Dzinpa Rangdröl) is found in a liturgical compilation arranged by Galwang Nyima. The prayer comprises verses from the supplication prayer and Tröma practice as located in the revealed treasure texts as well as a short transmission lineage.

Do Khyentsé Yeshé Dorjé

The Hook Which Invokes Blessings: A Supplication to the Life and Liberation of Knowledge-Holder Jalü Dorjé

This concise biographical prayer to Do Khyentsé Yeshé Dorjé was written by the master himself at the request of a king, most likely Namkha Lhündrup of Trokyab.

Do Khyentsé Yeshé Dorjé

The Recitation for the Gradual Path of the Preliminaries

This liturgy for the preliminary practices, or ngöndro (sngon 'gro), of Do Khyentsé's terma revelation Yangsang Khandrö Tuktik, 'The Exceedingly Secret, Enlightened Heart–Essence of the Ḍākinī", includes the common, outer practices of contemplation and the main, inner preliminaries of taking refuge, generating bodhicitta, offering the maṇḍala, purifying obscurations through Vajrasattva, and guru yoga.

Do Khyentsé Yeshé Dorjé

Preliminary Practice

The Truthful Words of a Sage

This aspirational prayer of Do Khyentsé is the last text in his Natural Liberation of Grasping (Dzinpa Rangdröl) treasure cycle located within The Exceedingly Secret, Enlightened Heart–Essence of the Ḍākinī treasure cache.

Do Khyentsé Yeshé Dorjé

Asprational Prayer

A Biography of Tamdrin Lhamo

Tamdrin Lhamo was a twentieth-century yoginī of the Nyingma monastery Nakla Gar in Chamdo. Her father was the treasure revealer and Dzogchen master Nakla Jangchub Dorjé.

Döndor and Tenzin Chödrak

Waterfall of Youth

‘Waterfall of Youth’, written in 1983, is a free-verse poem written in Tibetan. The form of the poem is that of a waterfall. As you read down the page, you can see the sometimes gentle, sometimes violent flow as the waterfall of youth visually cascades down the page. The cadence of the lines is also reminiscent of the flow of a waterfall or the current of a river.

Döndrup Gyal

The Formation of the Outer Container

The Formation of the Outer Container is a description of the formation of the universe according to Buddhist cosmogony.

Drigung Könchok Tenzin Chökyi Lodrö

Sixteen Self-Assertions

The first rendition of the seal was written in 1619 by the First Drukpa Shabdrung, Ngawang Namgyal, after seizing military victory over Püntsok Namgyal, the ruler of Tsang in Tibet. The lines translated here are in a different order in comparison to other editions. Nevertheless, this epic declaration not only helps to establish the emerging country of Bhutan but centralizes Shabdrung's power in a talismanic nature.

Drukpa Shabdrung, Ngawang Namgyal

The Ruby Garland: A Genealogy of Genghis Khan

The Ruby Garland is a genealogy of the Tibetan clans Barchung and Ju, descended from Genghis Khan. It might be the only Tibetan historical document that holds a clear account of Buddhism's existence in Mongolia during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Parallel historical narratives can be found in the official historical records of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Shi (明史).

Gyurmé Pema Chogyal

The Guidebook to the Hidden Land of Pemokö

The Guidebook to the Hidden Land of Pemokö is a revealed treasure text included in Jatsön Nyinpo’s Embodiment of the Precious Ones, the Könchok Chidü. It is a prediction text about the future degenerate times and purportedly the first guidebook to the hidden land of Pemokö.

Jatsön Nyingpo

The Vajra Verses: A Prayer of the Fierce Inner Heat

This supplication, filled with instruction for the completion stage practice of fierce inner heat, was written by Jigmé Lingpa in his renowned work of The Heart Essence of the Great Expanse, or Longchen Nyingtik. It is traditionally sung after the lineage supplication and before the fierce inner heat practice.

Jigmé Lingpa

The History of Galenteng Monastery

A short text concerning Galenteng Monastery purportedly initially established by Lhalung Palgyi Dorjé. Its construction, linage affiliation, pronunciation, and orthography changed over time lending itself to a multitude of modifications.

Jigmé Samdrup

The Biography of Khyungtrül Pema Trinlé Gyatso

Khyungtrül Pema Trinlé Gyatso, also known as Khyungtrül Kargyam, was a treasure revealer, a highly learned master, and undeniably an important figure in the Rimé movement of the nineteenth century in Kham. Pema Gyurme’s disciple, Khen Orgyen Namgyal, composed this short biographical text, sourcing Khyungtrül’s autobiography and oral account.

Khen Orgyan Namgyal

Dzogchen Khenchen Abu Lhagang

Khenpo Tsondru's brief biography of his own teacher Pema Tekchok Loden (1879–1955), alias Khenchen Abu Lhagang, tells how he studied under some of the most illustrious masters of his day before serving as abbot for eight years at the famed monastic college of Dzogchen Śrī Siṃha and then retiring to a nearby cave, focusing on meditative practice.

Khenpo Tsöndrü

An Aspiration to Travel to the Hidden Land of Pemokö

A prayer to take rebirth in the hidden sanctuary of Pemakö, where obstacles such as sickness and conflict are scarce or nonexistent and favourable conditions may aid progress on the Dharma path.

Lelung Shepé Dorjé

Aspiration Prayer

Chapter Narrating the Pure Vision of Gesar

The Fifth Lelung Rinpoche, Shepé Dorjé (1697–1740), is unusual among senior Geluk figures for having taken a personal interest in the figure of Gesar of Ling, eponymous hero of the Tibetan epic. The text translated here narrates his ‘pure vision’ of Gesar, which took place near his monastic seat at Lelung, in Olga, in 1729. Please see the full abstract in the note section of the translation.

Lelung Shepé Dorjé

The Magical Lasso – A Prayer of Aspiration to Accomplish Khecara

This aspirational prayer calls upon all the ḍākinīs of the three worlds to grant their blessings, so that the practitioner may complete the vajrayāna path and bring benefit to all beings.

Lelung Shepé Dorjé

Aspirational Prayer

A Song on the Merits of Kyangpen Namkhé Dzong

This meditative or spiritual song was composed by Milarepa (1040–1123), Tibet’s most famous yogi and poet. With an almost Wordsworthian rhapsody, Mila describes the inconceivable qualities of Kyangpen Namkhé Dzong and explains why it is so favourable for meditative retreat. Strikingly, he identifies the natural world itself, rather than past Buddhist masters, as the wellspring of blessings for this holy place.

Milarepa

Mura Pema Dechen Sangpo

This is a short biographical history of the Mura lineage including previous incarnations culminating in a longer biography of the Third Mura Pema Dechen. Written by Tenzin Lungtog Nyima it clearly describes some of the key moments, activities, teachers and students of the Mura lineage.

Tenzin Lungtok Nyima

The Brilliant Essence: The Ritual Manual for the Secret Embodiment of the Guru (Lama Sangdü)

Terdak Lingpa compiled this ritual manual (las byang) for the Secret Embodiment of the Guru (bla ma gsang 'dus) revelation of Guru Chökyi Wangchuk (1212–1270) in order to facilitate the elaborate offering practices performed on the tenth day of the lunar month at Mindrolling Monastery.

Terdak Lingpa

A Letter to Hotoktu Rinpoche

This letter is purportedly from the secretary of the Ninth Paṇchen Lama to Hotoktu Rinpoche. It was purchased and is now conserved in a private collection in France. The means of the initial acquisition is unknown. We are happy to receive any information concerning this letter.

The Secretary of The Ninth Paṇchen Lama, Tubten Chökyi Nyima

Eleventh Day, Ninth Month, Water Pig Year

These letters were purchased and are now conserved in a private collection in France. The means of the initial acquisition is unknown. The recipient(s) of the letters are currently unidentified, and their connection with the Thirteenth Dalai Lama is undetermined. We are happy to receive any information concerning these letters.

Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tubten Gyatso

The Tibetan Charter

A translation of pertinent and interesting sections of the Tibetan Charter, a document setting out the organisation structure of its government. This translation is purely for a historical presentation.

Tibetan Government in Exile

In Praise of the Goddess Sarasvatī

One of the most famous poems in Tibetan history in which Tsongkhapa calls out and praises the goddess Sarasvatī. This poem is not only chanted in monastic halls but also sung by performing artists and taught in literature classes.

Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa

A Chronological Timetable:

Lives of Do Khyentsé’s Familial Line

This concise table features birth and death dates for essential individuals connected with Do Khyentsé Yeshé Dorjé's familial line.

Tubten Chödar

Biography of Gyalsé Rigpé Raltri

This biography of Rigpé Raltri was written by Tubten Chödar. Rigpé Raltri was the younger son of Do Khyentsé Yeshé Dorjé and was recognized as the reincarnation of Jigmé Lingpa's son, Jigmé Nyinché Wözer.

Tubten Chödar

A Brief Biography: The Successive Incarnations of Tsoknyi Öser

These introductory biographies of the successive reincarnations of Tsoknyi Öser invite us to the land of liberation by establishing their enlightened lifestyles as examples. The text highlights the significance of devotion towards a spiritual master as, for example, the Third Tsokyni lighting his ring finger on fire, offering it as a lamp to fulfil his guru's aspirations.

Wönpo Gelek

A Brief History of Kyodrak Monastery

A brief history of Kyodrak monastery where the successive reincarnations of Tsoknyi Özer reside. It is the main seat of the Barom order, one of the four main divisions of the Kagyü, situated in Do Kham.

Various Authors

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