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- Publications (List) | Tib Shelf
Menu Close Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Terms of Use Privacy Policy Donate SUBSCRIBE Publications Watch People Listen Listen Relax and listen to engaging audio narrations of translated Tibetan texts. BIOGRAPHICAL BUDDHIST CONTEMPORARY GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONAL MISCELLANEOUS Author Tradition Historical Period View All Reset Filters Prayer The Outer, Inner, and Secret Practice Cycle of Zhepe Dorje Lelung Zhepe Dorje 00:00 / 02:26 This text presents the outer, inner, and secret practice cycles of Zhepe Dorje, transmitted by Lhachik Nyima Zhönu—a protector deity revealed through pure vision—in 1730 and recorded in 1731. See Publication Prayer Opening the Door to Prosperity: A Praise to Invoke the Sacred Commitment of the Great Shanglön Dorje Dudul Lelung Zhepe Dorje 00:00 / 05:42 Devotional praises invoking Shanglön Dorje Dudul, composed by Lelung Zhepe Dorje, describe him in great detail as a dark blue yakṣa figure adorned with jewels, holding a wish-fulfilling jewel and nectar vase, and capable of transforming into various wrathful forms. See Publication Song A Series of Spontaneous Spiritual Songs Lelung Zhepe Dorje 00:00 / 06:03 Two spontaneous songs by Lelung Zhepe Dorje: one honoring the mysterious Je Traktung Pawo, another celebrating unobstructed awareness - both transmitting direct spiritual experience through verse. See Publication Biography Namkechenma: A Dream of Guru Chökyi Wangchuk Guru Chökyi Wangchuk 00:00 / 04:20 Armed with the 'scroll of devastation' from his father, Guru Chöwang's first treasure excavation leads to a terrifying encounter with the Nine-Headed Nāga Demon, guardian of hidden teachings. See Publication Biography How Guru Chöwang Met the Guru at Ne Ngön Guru Chökyi Wangchuk 00:00 / 03:01 During an alchemical corpse ritual, Guru Chöwang meets Padmasambhava in a profound encounter that defies categorization as dream, vision, or reality - an event he insisted truly occurred. See Publication Biography An Extraordinary Pure Vision at Kharchu's Nectar Cave: A Dream of Guru Chöwang Guru Chökyi Wangchuk 00:00 / 04:51 After five days of Guru Pema practice, Chöwang's pure vision atop Mt Meru reveals worldly omens and a profound teaching: all phenomena, even demons, arise from mind itself. See Publication Praises In Praise of the Goddess Sarasvatī Tsongkhapa Lobzang Dragpa 00:00 / 01:31 Tsongkhapa's celebrated ode to Sarasvatī resonates beyond monastery walls into Tibet's artistic and literary spheres, becoming a cultural touchstone of devotional poetry. See Publication Biography A Brief Biography of Jetsunma Do Dasal Wangmo Tsangpo 00:00 / 10:36 A renowned female master in eastern Tibet, Do Dasal Wangmo - Do Khyentse's great-granddaughter - served as nun, physician, and treasure revealer, later teaching medicine despite political hardship. See Publication Correspondence A Letter to Hotoktu Rinpoche Tubten Chökyi Nyima 00:00 / 03:35 A mysterious letter from the Ninth Paṇchen Lama's secretary to Hotoktu Rinpoche, now preserved in a French private collection - its acquisition history remains unknown. See Publication Song A Song on the Merits of Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong Milarepa 00:00 / 01:54 Milarepa's poetic ode to Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong exalts nature itself as the source of this retreat site's blessing power, departing from traditional focus on Buddhist masters. See Publication Aspirational Prayer The Magical Lasso: A Prayer of Aspiration to Accomplish Khecara Lelung Zhepe Dorje 00:00 / 08:29 A heartfelt prayer to the ḍākinīs of three worlds, composed at Pemokö's Dudul Dewa Chenpo, seeking blessings to master the Vajrayāna path for all beings' benefit. See Publication Pure Vision Chapter Narrating the Pure Vision of Gesar Lelung Zhepe Dorje 00:00 / 10:07 Senior Geluk figure Lelung Zhepe Dorje (1697-1740) recounts his extraordinary 1729 pure vision of Gesar of Ling, marking a rare intersection of Geluk tradition with Tibet's epic hero. See Publication View More
- Tib Shelf | Tibetan Translations | Buddhist | History | Culture | Philosophy
Discover Tibetan literary treasures with Tib Shelf. An online library of expertly translated Tibetan primary texts spanning diverse genres, time periods, and wisdom—your gateway to the stories and culture of Tibet. Enjoy downloadable publications, immersive videos and engaging audio narrations. Tibetan literature brought to you through beautifully translated publications, engaging audio narrations & immersive videos. Biography An Extraordinary Pure Vision at Kharchu's Nectar Cave: A Dream of Guru Chöwang Guru Chökyi Wangchuk After five days of Guru Pema practice, Chöwang's pure vision atop Mt Meru reveals worldly omens and a profound teaching: all phenomena, even demons, arise from mind itself. Watch Today's Picks Song A Song on the Merits of Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong Milarepa Milarepa's poetic ode to Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong exalts nature itself as the source of this retreat site's blessing power, departing from traditional focus on Buddhist masters. Biography A Brief Biography of Jetsunma Do Dasal Wangmo Tsangpo A renowned female master in eastern Tibet, Do Dasal Wangmo - Do Khyentse's great-granddaughter - served as nun, physician, and treasure revealer, later teaching medicine despite political hardship. Biography A Biography of Chöje Lingpa Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye A Biography of Chöje Lingpa by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye, detailing the life of Chöje Lingpa (Rogje Lingpa), a seventeenth- to eighteenth-century Tibetan treasure revealer (tertön) known for discovering and transmitting profound spiritual treasures (terma), including teachings on Guru Padmasambhava, Mahāmudrā, and Dzogchen. Biography Mura Pema Dechen Zangpo Tenzin Lungtok Nyima A genealogy of the Mura lineage through its incarnations, focusing on the Third Mura Pema Dechen's life, teachings, and key relationships, penned by Tenzin Lungtok Nyima. Aspirational Prayer For the Long Life of Ḍākki Losal Drölma Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje Do Khyentse, writing as Tragtung Dorje, crafts a long-life prayer for Ḍākki Losal Drölma that playfully incorporates her lesser-known name Drön while praising her spiritual attainments. Download Biography Namkechenma: A Dream of Guru Chökyi Wangchuk Guru Chökyi Wangchuk Armed with the 'scroll of devastation' from his father, Guru Chöwang's first treasure excavation leads to a terrifying encounter with the Nine-Headed Nāga Demon, guardian of hidden teachings. Read LATEST PUBLICATIONS Milarepa The Faults of Humanity: A Blessed Spiritual Song of Lord Milarepa | Lelung Zhepe Dorje The Outer, Inner, and Secret Practice Cycle of Zhepe Dorje Lelung Zhepe Dorje Opening the Door to Prosperity: A Praise to Invoke the Sacred Commitment of the Great Shanglön Dorje Dudul Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye A Biography of Chöje Lingpa Lelung Zhepe Dorje A Series of Spontaneous Spiritual Songs Guru Chökyi Wangchuk The Great Symbolic Vision at Palpuk Ring: A Dream of Guru Chökyi Wangchuk People 1836-1896 Jetsunma Tamdrin Wangmo Kelzang Chokyi Nyima View 1808–1887 Dza Patrul Orgyen Jigme Chökyi Wangpo View 1879–1955 Pema Tegchok Loden View 1910–1991 Dilgo Khyentse Tashi Paljor View WEEKLY QUOTES The flowers of the secret tantras blossom in the ocean-like multitudes of teachings and practices; By tapping them to extract the honey-like nectar of the essential pith instructions, You introduced the intelligent to the restfulness of the supreme adepts. Yogin Marpa the Translator, I long for you from the center of my heart— Bless me to realize the innate primordial wisdom! Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo AUDIO NARRATION Opening the Door to Prosperity: A Praise to Invoke the Sacred Commitment of the Great Shanglön Dorje Dudul Lelung Zhepe Dorje Devotional praises invoking Shanglön Dorje Dudul, composed by Lelung Zhepe Dorje, describe him in great detail as a dark blue yakṣa figure adorned with jewels, holding a wish-fulfilling jewel and nectar vase, and capable of transforming into various wrathful forms. Listen CLICK PLAY TO LISTEN Publications for Download Download Download Download Download Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Terms of Use Privacy Policy Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved. Menu Close Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Terms of Use Privacy Policy Donate SUBSCRIBE Publications People Listen Watch
- How Guru Chöwang Met the Guru at Ne Ngön
During an alchemical corpse ritual, Guru Chöwang meets Padmasambhava in a profound encounter that defies categorization as dream, vision, or reality - an event he insisted truly occurred. How Guru Chöwang Met the Guru at Ne Ngön Namo Guru! I, Chökyi Wangchuk, a monk of the Pang [family], was engaged in a corpse ritual of the body of a small boy in the early morning on the tenth day of the Horse month of the Dog year at Ne Ngön Monastery. While supplicating the Three Roots, Guru Pema arrived on a sunray; he was naked with a long[-petalled] lotus hat and held a sun and a moon in his two hands. He unified the sun and moon in his hands And dissolved it into my heart— At that time, the delusional appearance of self-grasping subsided into space, [ 1 ] And a space-like experience dawned. That’s when the Guru went on to state: “If you know how to unify space and awareness as one, Saṃsāra and nirvāṇa will be released without accepting nor rejecting— Dharmakāya, devoid of hopes and fears.” Saying this, he also gave the symbol to me. Machik Jomo Tsogyal also came. She was in the fashion of a beautiful young goddess, With red silk garments and diadem. Her precious jewelry jangled— si li li . She spun a white silver mirror. Putting the mirror to my heart, She placed the threatening mudrā on it and went on to state: “[When] lucid and thought-free, the knots of the mind grasping The five sense objects unravel. Continue without distraction and grasping!” That’s when she recounted past events. The story is otherwise secret. It is contained elsewhere. Layman She’u Khari also came, A man with a tiger skin quiver and a fierce gaze. [ 2 ] His silk [ 3 ] turban fluttering— char ra ra . As he spun a magical staff overhead. He guffawed ha ha he he! and Shot an arrow into the ground before me. While entrusted his staff into my hand— “If the mind alone is realized, The empty life-force of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa will be severed at once, And the bhūmi of the unchanging Mahāyāna mastered.” Saying this, he also presented the symbol. The treasure protector Nine-Headed Nāga Demon was also there. He had a blue spear with tiger tassels, [ 4 ] And nine snake heads decorated the crown of his head. In his hand, he held a precious chest. “ Na ga du na !” he proclaimed. He entrusted the precious chest to me And said, “It is not exhausted through generosity.” Thus, all in a single voice They taught the eight symbolic teachings, and Everything I perceived dissolved into my mind, And a sky-like experience dawned. Then the Guru’s retinue Completely dissolved into the Guru. And the Guru went into the expanse of space. This wasn’t a vision; it was real. It happened because Chöwang’s [ 5 ] mind was blissful. It was karmic fortune; don’t be conceited. COLOPHON This is called “The Eight Symbolic Teachings.” Maṅgalam!! As such he said. NOTES Sigla: A1 and A2: Guru Chöwang (gu ru chos dbang). 1979. gu ru chos dbang gi rang rnam dang zhal gdams . 2 vols. rin chen gter mdzod chen po’i rgyab chos, vols . 8–9. Paro: Ugyen Tempai Gyaltsen. BDRC MW23802 . B1–3: Tertön Guru Chökyi Wangchuk (gter ston gu ru chos kyi dbang phyug). 2022. gter ston gu ru chos kyi dbang phyug gi ran rnam dang zhal gdams bzugs so , vols. 1–3. Edited by Dungse Lama Pema Tsewang (gdung sras bla ma pad+ma tshe dbang). Lamagaun, Nepal: Tsum Library. [1] This line in A1 breaks the metre of the verse and is thus placed in parentheses in B2. The shift in the metre might suggest that the line was previously an interlineal note, as the compilation as a whole is inundated with them. [2] A1: 376.6, 496.7: gziD shuD ; B2: 53.11: gzig shub , 128.4: gzig shubs . As both examples in Edition A contain two retroflexes, the translation aligns with that understanding, compared to the modern Edition B. [3] White silk according to A1: 497.1: dar dkar la thod phya ra ra . [4] A1: 377.1: khye thang (B2: 128.5–6: ched sdod ; A1: 497.1: khyed sdod sngon po stag (A1: 497.1: rtag ) gzar (B2: 128.6: gzar ; B2: 53.14: gzigs ) can . The accuracy of this rendition is subject to uncertainty. Please reach out to us if you have further information regarding this line. [5] There is an ostensible shift from first-person to third-person narration. This is quite common in Chöwang’s literary corpus, with a couple of facets to highlight, though more could be said on the matter. Chöwang employs a literary and perhaps didactic device, one utilized by other treasure revealers, that is, the phrase bag ’dra (“like me”). He has a habit of introducing his dream self in this manner; a paraphrastic example of this is “a Chöwang likened unto myself once had a dream in which….” This not only shows his self-characterization in a literary sense of the dream but also his normative acknowledgment of not truly being the same Chöwang that existed in the dream, due to temporal-ontological concerns. It could also be stated that this device demonstrates his enlightened understanding that the personage that is “Chöwang” is merely an illusory and performative nirmāṇakāya functioning as enlightened activity. Nevertheless, it has been stated that this phrase means “me,” but that seems to be too banal to provoke any interest in the matter and disregards the literariness and function of ’dra (“like”). Published: May 2024 BIBLIOGRAPHY Guru Chöwang (gu ru chos dbang). 1979. gu ru chos dbang gis sne sngon du bu chung baM sgrub mdzad pa’i tshe gu ru dang mjal tshul lo . In gu ru chos dbang gi rang rnam dang zhal gdams . rin chen gter mdzod chen po’i rgyab chos , v. 8, 375–378. Paro: Ugyen Tempai Gyaltsen. BDRC MW23802 . Tertön Guru Chökyi Wangchuk (gter ston gu ru chos kyi dbang phyug). 2022. gu ru chos dbang gis sne sngon du bu chung baM sgrub mdzad pa’i tshe gu ru dang mjal tshul lo. In gter ston gu ru chos kyi dbang phyug gi ran rnam dang zhal gdams bzugs so , vol. 2, 53. Edited by Dungse Lama Pema Tsewang (gdung sras bla ma pad+ma tshe dbang). Lamagaun, Nepal: Tsum Library. Abstract At the crossroads of visions and reality—is it a dream, a vision, or real life? In this short narrative, Guru Chöwang encounters Master Padmasambhava, while undertaking an alchemical process called a “corpse ritual.” His usual lifelong spiritual companions also approach him, proffering symbolic gifts and teachings. Chöwang’s collected life writings are chock-full of dreams that bleed into reality. Yet, our protagonist was adamant that this truly happened. BDRC LINK MW23802 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 03:01 TRADITION Nyingma INCARNATION LINE Tri Songdetsen HISTORICAL PERIOD 13th Century TEACHERS Namkha Pal TRANSLATOR Tib Shelf INSTITUTIONS Layak Guru Lhakhang STUDENTS Gyalse Pema Wangchen Ma Dunpa Menlungpa Mikyö Dorje AUTHORS Guru Chökyi Wangchuk How Guru Chöwang Met the Guru at Ne Ngön VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Terms of Use Privacy Policy Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.
- Publications (All) | Tib Shelf
Discover all our translated Tibetan texts across a vast array of time periods and genres including: Buddhist, Biographical, Historical and more. BIOGRAPHICAL BUDDHIST CONTEMPORARY GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONAL MISCELLANEOUS Author Tradition Historical Period View All Reset Filters The Faults of Humanity: A Blessed Spiritual Song of Lord Milarepa | Milarepa Read Prayer The Outer, Inner, and Secret Practice Cycle of Zhepe Dorje Lelung Zhepe Dorje This text presents the outer, inner, and secret practice cycles of Zhepe Dorje, transmitted by Lhachik Nyima Zhönu—a protector deity revealed through pure vision—in 1730 and recorded in 1731. Read Prayer Opening the Door to Prosperity: A Praise to Invoke the Sacred Commitment of the Great Shanglön Dorje Dudul Lelung Zhepe Dorje Devotional praises invoking Shanglön Dorje Dudul, composed by Lelung Zhepe Dorje, describe him in great detail as a dark blue yakṣa figure adorned with jewels, holding a wish-fulfilling jewel and nectar vase, and capable of transforming into various wrathful forms. Read Biography A Biography of Chöje Lingpa Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye A Biography of Chöje Lingpa by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye, detailing the life of Chöje Lingpa (Rogje Lingpa), a seventeenth- to eighteenth-century Tibetan treasure revealer (tertön) known for discovering and transmitting profound spiritual treasures (terma), including teachings on Guru Padmasambhava, Mahāmudrā, and Dzogchen. Read Song A Series of Spontaneous Spiritual Songs Lelung Zhepe Dorje Two spontaneous songs by Lelung Zhepe Dorje: one honoring the mysterious Je Traktung Pawo, another celebrating unobstructed awareness - both transmitting direct spiritual experience through verse. Read Biography The Great Symbolic Vision at Palpuk Ring: A Dream of Guru Chökyi Wangchuk Guru Chökyi Wangchuk In this 1245 dream vision at Palpuk Ring, Guru Chöwang encounters his recurring guide, a ḍākinī named Yeshe Gyen, at his childhood home - sparking profound symbolic revelations of dharmic truth. Read Biography Namkechenma: A Dream of Guru Chökyi Wangchuk Guru Chökyi Wangchuk Armed with the 'scroll of devastation' from his father, Guru Chöwang's first treasure excavation leads to a terrifying encounter with the Nine-Headed Nāga Demon, guardian of hidden teachings. Read Biography How Guru Chöwang Met the Guru at Ne Ngön Guru Chökyi Wangchuk During an alchemical corpse ritual, Guru Chöwang meets Padmasambhava in a profound encounter that defies categorization as dream, vision, or reality - an event he insisted truly occurred. Read Biography An Extraordinary Pure Vision at Kharchu's Nectar Cave: A Dream of Guru Chöwang Guru Chökyi Wangchuk After five days of Guru Pema practice, Chöwang's pure vision atop Mt Meru reveals worldly omens and a profound teaching: all phenomena, even demons, arise from mind itself. Read Biography A Brief Biography: The Successive Incarnations of Tsoknyi Özer Önpo Gelek The reincarnation lineage of Tsoknyi Özer exemplified supreme devotion - illustrated by the Third Tsoknyi's offering of his burning finger as a lamp to fulfill his guru's wishes. Read Biography The Biography of Ḍākki Losal Drölma Tubten Chödar A realized female master, Ḍākki Losal Drölma served as custodian of her half-brother Do Khyentse's treasure teachings while deepening her own spiritual attainments in Tibet's sacred sites Read Biography The Biography of Gyalse Rigpe Raltri Tubten Chödar Son of Do Khyentse and recognized as Jigme Lingpa's son's reincarnation, Rigpe Raltri became a revered Minyak guru, transmitting the Yangsang Khandro Tugtik treasures to his own son. Read View More Publications A unique window into Tibet's literary treasures spanning many genres and time-periods. Menu Close Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Terms of Use Privacy Policy Donate SUBSCRIBE Publications Watch People Listen
- Publications (List) | Tib Shelf
Menu Close Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Terms of Use Privacy Policy Donate SUBSCRIBE Publications Watch People Listen Watch Explore the stories and culture of Tibet through immersive videos. BIOGRAPHICAL BUDDHIST GOVERNMENTAL MISCELLANEOUS Author Tradition Historical Period View All Reset Filters Song A Series of Spontaneous Spiritual Songs Lelung Zhepe Dorje Two spontaneous songs by Lelung Zhepe Dorje: one honoring the mysterious Je Traktung Pawo, another celebrating unobstructed awareness - both transmitting direct spiritual experience through verse. See Publication Biography How Guru Chöwang Met the Guru at Ne Ngön Guru Chökyi Wangchuk During an alchemical corpse ritual, Guru Chöwang meets Padmasambhava in a profound encounter that defies categorization as dream, vision, or reality - an event he insisted truly occurred. See Publication Biography An Extraordinary Pure Vision at Kharchu's Nectar Cave: A Dream of Guru Chöwang Guru Chökyi Wangchuk After five days of Guru Pema practice, Chöwang's pure vision atop Mt Meru reveals worldly omens and a profound teaching: all phenomena, even demons, arise from mind itself. See Publication Praises In Praise of the Goddess Sarasvatī Tsongkhapa Lobzang Dragpa Tsongkhapa's celebrated ode to Sarasvatī resonates beyond monastery walls into Tibet's artistic and literary spheres, becoming a cultural touchstone of devotional poetry. See Publication Song A Song on the Merits of Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong Milarepa Milarepa's poetic ode to Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong exalts nature itself as the source of this retreat site's blessing power, departing from traditional focus on Buddhist masters. See Publication Aspirational Prayer The Magical Lasso: A Prayer of Aspiration to Accomplish Khecara Lelung Zhepe Dorje A heartfelt prayer to the ḍākinīs of three worlds, composed at Pemokö's Dudul Dewa Chenpo, seeking blessings to master the Vajrayāna path for all beings' benefit. See Publication Prayer The Vajra Verses: A Prayer of the Fierce Inner Heat Jigme Lingpa Jigme Lingpa's Longchen Nyingtik instruction on fierce inner heat practice, composed as a supplication to be sung between lineage prayers and practice commencement. See Publication Guidebook Hidden Sacred Land of Pemakö Dudjom Lingpa Dudjom Lingpa maps Pemakö's sacred geography, revealing its power spots, deity abodes, and purifying landscapes through traditional guidebook wisdom and spiritual insight. See Publication Declaration Sixteen Self-Assertions Drugpa Zhabdrung, Ngawang Namgyal, Lopön Nadok The First Drugpa Zhabdrung's victory declaration of 1619, composed after defeating Tsang's ruler through ritual sorcery, helped establish Bhutan's identity while asserting his talismanic power. See Publication Cosmogony The Formation of the Outer Container Drigung Konchok Tendzin Chokyi Lodro Ancient Buddhist scriptures from the Collection of Precious Qualities reveal how collective karma shapes our universe's formation and every world system within it. See Publication Aspirational Prayer For the Long Life of Ḍākki Losal Drölma Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje Do Khyentse, writing as Tragtung Dorje, crafts a long-life prayer for Ḍākki Losal Drölma that playfully incorporates her lesser-known name Drön while praising her spiritual attainments. See Publication View More
- A Series of Spontaneous Spiritual Songs
Two spontaneous songs by Lelung Zhepe Dorje: one honoring the mysterious Je Traktung Pawo, another celebrating unobstructed awareness - both transmitting direct spiritual experience through verse. A Series of Spontaneous Spiritual Songs Song One Aho mahāsukha ye! I bow at the feet of the benevolent, paternal lama! Akaniṣṭha, the celestial realm of lotus light, Is where the peaceful and wrathful victorious protectors reside. As foretold by the oath-bound mother ḍākinīs, Je Traktung Pawo (“Lord Heroic Blood-Drinker”), set foot here— In this supreme, protected holy abode where spiritual experiences naturally arise, I offer these spontaneous spiritual songs. Here today the assembly of vajra brothers and sisters, Due to previously accumulated karmic fortune, which is not lacking, Have met you, the essence of all refuge. Now, having gained this feast of good fortune, Vajra blessings permeate our three doors: We’re ablaze with spontaneous visions in every way. Our bodies, maṇḍalas of the major and minor marks, shimmer like a rainbow. We’ve received the essential nectar of vajra speech. The great joyful awakened mind embraces us. [183] What auspicious fortune—an excellent, blissful experience! Yet, we were born at the end of this degenerate age, Where stainless Dharma conduct has nearly declined— All paternal siddhas have passed into the realm of space. Those who boast of being doctrine holders Only ever pass their time in attachment and aversion. In the glorious Vajrayāna tradition, Sincere devotion is extraordinarily rare. The life stories of the great, holy noble lords— They have sullied them with their misconceptions, Creating all sorts of entrances to negative deeds. Even righteous deeds they view as wrong. In these times when whatever one does becomes flawed, Thinking of this stirs up anguish within. Peerless precious father, Infallible refuge, When I recall how you care for me, My anguish is quashed. We, brothers and sisters, gathered here, With minds of unwavering faith, At this time we make this supplication: Glorious Traktung Wangpo, our lord lama, Atop the unchanging vajra throne, May the prints of your vajra feet ever remain! With the magnificent maṇḍala [184] of your three secrets, In the hidden grove where the mother ḍākinīs assemble, May you open gateways to hundreds of pure lands And ever turn the wheel of the profound and vast Dharma! With your limitless enlightened activity that tames beings, O Protector, may you illuminate The essential meaning of the glorious, indestructible luminosity In all directions, times, and circumstances! Those gathered together in this sacred abode, All the devoted, fortunate men and women, In the self-appearing Akaniṣṭha pure land, With the lord lama, King of Self-Awareness, [1] Amidst a retinue of one hundred thousand drops of self-luminous wisdom, In a feast gathering of inseparable union, In times that never shift, change, or wane, May we enjoy it as one taste! Root and lineage gurus of the three transmissions And the assembly of heroes and ḍākinīs of the three places, Through your unified unwavering enlightened intent, May our hopes and aspirations be fulfilled! Aho ye sarva maṅgalaṃ! COLOPHON Thus, when Dzogchen Tulku Rinpoche, the blood-drinking accomplished hero and crown jewel of all holders of the knowledge mantras, journeyed from Ölga in the east to the supreme place of the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain, those gathered there offered elaborate long-life prayers along with a feast offering, during which this melodious song, blazing with spiritual insight and faith, was spontaneously offered. Later on, Rabten, the venerable manager of that holy one’s enlightened activities, requested these be put into writing. Although the words may not be an exact match, I, Zhepe Dorje, the one who [185] practices according to his own spontaneous nature, arranged whatever I could recall. Song Two Aho ye! I’ve realized my mind to be the dharmakāya! Even what is called “Buddha” is nothing other than this. In the state of the astonishing, unobstructed view, Let whatever appearances arise be free and unfettered, Undistracted presence in the continuity of non-meditation. Though there is nothing to abandon like dullness, agitation, and other afflictions, Rest the thoughts that grasp the objects of the six senses Completely in the meditative equipoise where they naturally dissolve. All appearing sense pleasures are for the enjoyment of one’s own mind. Joyfully relaxing in a continuity free from grasping, Rest in just this uncontrived yoga. Through the kindness of the authentic guru, my sole father, By making devoted prayers from the very depths of my heart, Blessings have pervaded the wheel of phenomenal existence And there is no distinction between the guru and my mind. How joyful is the way I, the yogin, nurture good experiences! There is no difference between the six classes of beings and buddhas. Everything is the great dharmadhātu’s festive display. By understanding this very nature of the fundamental state, May everything be liberated effortlessly into the body of light! COLOPHON I, Zhepe Dorje, composed this following the wishes of Chö Samdrub the Scholar of Letters. NOTES [1] “King of Self-Awareness” ( rang rig gi rgyal po ) is one appellation for the personification of the primordial ground ( gzhi ) in the Dzogchen view. This figure, who resides in the keep of Dzogchen thought, is generally referred to by various epithets, including All-Creating King ( kun byed rgyal po ), All-Knowing King ( kun rig rgyal po ), King of Awareness ( rig pa rgyal po ), King of Cognizant Awareness ( shes rig gi rgyal po ), Purifying King of Self-Cognizant Awareness ( sbyong byed rang shes rig pa’i rgyal po ), and Purifying King of Awareness ( sbyong byed rig pa rgyal po ), amongst others. Also see Karmay 2007, 52, n. 45. Photo credit: Lelung Dharma Centre Published: November 2024 BIBLIOGRAPHY Primary: Zhepe Dorje (bzhad pa’i rdo rje). 1983–1985. mgur gyi rim pa thol byung rdo rjeʼi glu . In gsung ’bum/_bzhad pa’i rdo rje , vol. 6, 181–185. Leh: T. Sonam & D.L. Tashigang. BDRC MW22130_9A3DB8 . Secondary: Karmay, Samten Gyaltsen. 2007. The Great Perfection (rDzogs Chen): A Philosophical and Meditative Teaching of Tibetan Buddhism . 2nd ed. Leiden: Brill. Abstract In this publication, we are introduced to two spontaneous spiritual songs by Lelung Zhepe Dorje. The first reverently focuses on a figure named Je Traktung Pawo, though his exact identity remains elusive. The second shifts to a more introspective theme, emphasizing the experience of unobstructed, spontaneous presence—a state free from rigid meditation or effort, embodying the natural flow of awareness. These spontaneous songs, or gur ( mgur ), are composed without premeditation and serve as a profound means for both the singer and the listener to connect with the essence of the teachings. Through these verses, we are invited to experience a direct and heartfelt transmission of the subject being sung, bridging the inner realization of the practitioner with the audience’s understanding. Please note video narration is only 2nd song at the present time. BDRC MW22130_ 9A3DB8 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 06:03 TRADITION Geluk | Nyingma INCARNATION LINE Lelung Jedrung HISTORICAL PERIOD 18th Century TEACHERS The Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso The Fifth Panchen Lama, Lobzang Yesh e Damchö Zangpo Mingyur Paldrön Chöje Lingpa Dönyö Khedrup The First Purchok, Ngawang Jampa Ngawang Chödrak Yeshe Gyatso Damchö Gyatso Losal Gyatso Lhundrub Gyatso Dungkar Tsangyang Drukdrak TRANSLATOR Tib Shelf INSTITUTION Lelung Monastery Mindröling Ngari Dratsang Chökhor Gyal Trandruk Potala Tsāri STUDENTS Kunga Mingyur Dorj e Dorje Yom e Kunga Paldzom Lobzang Lhachok Dönyö Khedrub Polhane Sönam Tobgy e Ngawang Jampa Mingyur Paldrön The Fifth Dorje Drak Rigdzin, Kalzang Pema Wangchuk Lhasang Khan AUTHOR Lelung Zhepe Dorje A Series of Spontaneous Spiritual Songs VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Terms of Use Privacy Policy Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.
- The Faults of Humanity: A Blessed Spiritual Song of Lord Milarepa |
The Faults of Humanity: A Blessed Spiritual Song of Lord Milarepa | ༄༅། ། འགྲོ་བ་མིའི་རང་མཚང་། རྗེ་མི་ལའི་གསུང་མགུར་བྱིན་ཅན། The Faults of Humanity: A Blessed Spiritual Song of Lord Milarepa བུ་དང་པོ་ལྷ་བུ་ཡིད་འོང་པོ། ། སྙིང་བརྩེ་བའི་སེམས་ལ་བཟོད་བླག་མེད། ། བར་དུ་བུ་ལོན་འདེད་དྲགས་པོ། ། ཐམས་ཅད་བྱིན་ཀྱང་མགུ་དུས་མེད། ། At first, a god-like son so fair, The deep love in the heart is beyond measure, In between, a fierce collector of debt, Though all is given, no satisfaction is met. མི་ཡི་བུ་མོ་ནང་དུ་བཅུག ། དྲིན་ཆེན་ཕ་མ་ཕྱི་རུ་ཕུད། ། ཕ་ཡིས་བོས་ཀྱང་ལན་མི་སྟེར། ། མ་ཡིས་བོས་ཀྱང་ཨང་མི་ཁུག ། A daughter of others is brought inside, Kind parents are kicked to the world outside. The father calls, but no answer is returned, The mother calls, but her voice is spurned. ཐ་མ་ཁྱིམ་མཚེས་སྙིང་རིང་པོ། ། ཁྲམ་པའི་ཁ་ཚིས་བྱས་པས་ཕུང༌། ། རང་སྐྱེས་ཀྱི་དགྲ་བོ་སེམས་ལ་གཟན། ། འཁོར་བའི་བཤལ་ཐག་སྤངས་པ་ཡིན། ། འཇིག་རྟེན་གྱི་བུ་ཚ་ང་མི་འདོད། ། At last, a neighbour with a distant heart, Ruined by deceit, they drift apart. A foe of one's own making, a sting in the heart, I have abandoned the bonds of Samsara, For worldly sons, I have no desire. ནོ ར་དང་པོ་བདག་སྐྱིད་གཞན་སྨོན་པོ། ། ཅི་ཙམ་ཡོད་ཀྱང་ཆོག་ཤེས་མེད། ། At first, wealth makes you happy and others envious, Yet no matter how much you have, there is no contentment. བར་དུ་སེར་སྣའི་མདུད་པས་བཅིངས། ། དགེ་བའི་ཕྱོགས་སུ་གཏོང་མི་ཕོད། དགྲ་འདྲེ་གཉིས་ཀྱི་གཡབ་མོ་ཡིན། ། རང་གིས་བསགས་པ་མི་ཡིས་སྤྱོད། ། In the middle, you are bound by the knot of miserliness, And cannot bear to give it away for virtuous deeds. It acts as a beckoning hand for both enemies and demons; What you have accumulated yourself is ultimately spent by others. ཐ་མ་སྲོག་གི་བདུད་དུ་འོང༌། ། དགྲ་བོའི་ནོར་གཉེར་སེམས་ལ་གཟན། ། འཁོར་བའི་བསླུ་རྡོ་སྤངས་པ་ཡིན། ། བདུད་ཀྱི་མགོ་སྐོར་དེ་ང་མི་འདོད། ། In the end, it becomes the demon that destroys your life. Chasing after wealth, which is like an enemy, only torments the mind. I have abandoned this deceptive trap of samsara, I do not desire that demonic deception! བདག་འཛིན་སྤངས་པའི་ཕ་རོལ་ན། ། སྦྱིན་པ་བྱ་བ་ལོགས་ན་མེད། གཡོ་སྒྱུ་སྤངས་པའི་ཕ་རོལ་ན། ། ཚུལ་ཁྲིམས་བྱ་བ་ལོགས་ན་མེད། དོན་ལ་མི་སྐྲག་ཕ་རོལ་ན། ། བཟོད་པ་བྱ་བ་ལོགས་ན་མེད། ཉམས་ལེན་འབྲལ་མེད་ཕ་རོལ་ན། ། བརྩོན་འགྲུས་བྱ་བ་ལོགས་ན་མེད། ། ངང་ལ་གནས་པའི་ཕ་རོལ་ན། ། བསམ་གཏན་བྱ་བ་ལོགས་ན་མེད། གནས་ལུགས་རྟོགས་པའི་ཕ་རོལ་ན། ། ཤེས་རབ་བྱ་བ་ལོ གས་ན་མེད། ། Beyond the release of grasping to "I," No separate Generosity is found. Beyond the abandonment of deceit and lie, No separate Discipline is found. Beyond the mind that fears no truth, No separate Patience remains. Beyond the practice that knows no break, No separate Diligence sustains. Beyond the rest in the natural state, No separate Concentration exists. Beyond the realisation of how things are, No separate Wisdom is known. བྱས་ཚད་ཆོས་ཀྱི་ཕ་རོལ་ན། ། ཐབས་ཤེས་བྱ་བ་ལོགས་ན་མེད། ། བདུད་བཞི་བཅོམ་པའི་ཕ་རོལ་ན། ། སྟོབས་ཞེས་བྱ་བ་ལོགས་ན་མེད། དོན་གཉིས་འགྲུབ་པའི་ཕ་རོལ་ན། ། སྨོན་ལམ་བྱ་བ་ལོགས་ན་མེད། ། ཉོན་མོངས་རང་མཚང་རིག་པ་ན། ། ཡེ་ཤེས་བྱ་བ་ལོགས་ན་མེད། ། Beyond the point where all one does is Dharma, No separate Method and Wisdom are found. Beyond the defeat of the four-fold Maras, No separate Power is found. Beyond the fulfilment of the two-fold aim, No separate Aspiration is found. When the true face of one’s own afflictions is seen, No separate Primal Awareness exists. Abstract "The Faults of Humanity" is a spiritual song ( mgur ) composed by Jetsun Milarepa, drawn from The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa . It unfolds in two movements: the first exposes the suffering inherent in worldly attachments — ungrateful children, estranged parents, and the corrupting influence of wealth; the second argues that virtues such as the six perfections ( pāramitās ) are not disciplines to be externally acquired, but arise naturally once their underlying obstacles are overcome. Together, they form a cohesive teaching that disillusionment with the world is not an end in itself, but the ground from which authentic liberation emerges. DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION 00:00 / 01:04 Tib Shelf Milarepa The Faults of Humanity: A Blessed Spiritual Song of Lord Milarepa | VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Terms of Use Privacy Policy Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.
- Persons (List) | Tib Shelf
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- For the Long Life of Ḍākki Losal Drölma
Do Khyentse, writing as Tragtung Dorje, crafts a long-life prayer for Ḍākki Losal Drölma that playfully incorporates her lesser-known name Drön while praising her spiritual attainments. For the Long Life of Ḍākki Losal Drölma འོད་མཚར་སྟོང་འབར་འཆི་མེད་མགོན་པོ་དང་། ། མཁའ་ཁྱབ་རྒྱལ་བའི་ཡབ་གཅིག་འཇམ་པའི་དབྱངས། ། ö tsar tong bar chi mé gön po dang kha khyab gyal wé yab chik jam pé yang Deathless Protector, blazing with a thousand wondrous lights, Mañjughoṣa, sole father of the victorious ones who pervade space, ཚད་མེད་ཐུགས་རྗེའི་གཏེར་མཛོད་པད་དཀར་འཆང་། ། མཐུ་རྩལ་སྒྱུ་འཕྲུལ་མངའ་བརྙེས་གསང་བའི་བདག ། tsé mé tuk jé ter dzö pé kar chang tu tsel gyun trül nga nyé sang wé dak Holder of the White Lotus, treasury of immeasurable compassion, Lord of Secrets, master of powerful wizardry— སྐུ་གསུམ་རིགས་འདུས་རྒྱལ་བའི་བྱིན་ནུས་མཐུས། ། བློ་གྲོས་ཟབ་དང་རྒྱ་ཆེའི་གསང་ཆེན་གནད། ། ku sum rik dü gyal wé jin nü tü lo drö zab dang gya ché sang chen né Through their potent blessings and those of the victors who embody the three-kāya families, The profound and vast secret points of the intellect (“Lo”), གསལ་བ་ཐབས་མཁས་ཚུལ་གྱིས་ལེགས་སྟོན་ཞིང་། ། སྒྲོན་མེ་ཇི་བཞིན་སྙིགས་མའི་སྡུག་བསྔལ་སྨག ། salwa tab khé tsül gyi lek tön zhing drön mé ji zhin nyik mé duk ngal mak You present, clearly (“Sal”) and skillfully, and Like a lamp (“Drön”), the dark suffering of the degenerate age, མ་ལུས་འཇོམས་མཛད་གདུལ་བྱའི་རེ་སྐོང་མ། ། འགྱུར་བ་མེད་པ་མི་ཤིགས་རྡོ་རྗེའི་ཁྲིར། ། ma lü jom dzé dül jé ré kong ma gyur wa mé pa mi shik dor jé trir You overcome without (“Ma”) exception — she who fulfills the hopes of disciples! Upon the immutable and indestructible vajra throne, ཇི་སྲིད་བསྐལ་བ་རྒྱ་མཚོར་ཞབས་བརྟན་ནས། ། གསང་ཆེན་ཆོས་ཀྱི་དགའ་སྟོན་འགྱེད་པར་ཤོག ། ji si kal wa gya tsor zhab ten né sang chen chö kyi ga tön gyé par shok May your life remain secure in this [saṃsāric] ocean, for as long as an eon, and May you distribute great secret feasts of the Dharma! COLOPHON ཅེས་པའང་དཔལ་ལྡན་རིག་འཛིན་ཆོས་བསྟན་ངོར་ཁྲག་འཐུང་རྡོ་རྗེས་སོ། ། ཞུས་སོ། ། Thus, this was made by Tragtung Dorje in response to Palden Rigzin Chöten. ཨོཾཨཱཿ ཧཱུྃབཛྲགུརུཔདྨསིདྡྷིཧཱུྃཿ ཨོཾཝཱགཱིཤྭརིམུཾཿ ཨོཾམཎིཔདྨེཧཱུྃཧྲཱིཿ ཨོཾབཛྲཔཱཎིཧཱུྃཕཊཿ ཨོཾཧཱུཏྲཱཾཧྲཱིཨཱ། སྭཱཧཱ། མངྒལཾ། ཤུབྷཾ། པདམམུསུགུསརྦཏཐཱ OṂ ĀḤ HŪṂ VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HŪṂ: OṂ VĀGĪŚVARIMUṂ: OṂ MAṆI PADME HŪṂ HRĪḤ OṂ VAJRAPĀṆI HŪṂ PHAṬ: OṂ HŪ TRĀṂ HRĪḤ Ā | SVĀHĀ | MAṄGALAṂ | ŚUBHAṂ | PADAMAMUSUGUSARVATATHĀ NOTES N/A Photo credit: Himalayan Art Resources Published: January 2024 BIBLIOGRAPHY Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje. 2009. Ḍākki blo gsal sgrol maʼi zhabs brtan . In gter chos mdo mkhyen brtse ye shes rdo rje , vol. 5, 479–80. Chengdu: Dzogchen Pönlop Rinpoche. BDRC MW1PD89990_8428BE . Abstract Composed by Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje under the not-well-known moniker of Tragtung Dorje, this tract of a text lauds her blessed abilities and creates the conditions for her long life, all the while playing off her name, one that is also less known, incorporating Drön over Dröl. BDRC LINK MW1PD89990_ 8428BE DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 01:40 TRADITION Nyingma INCARNATION LINE Jigme Lingpa HISTORICAL PERIOD 19th Century TEACHERS The Fourth Dzogchen Drubwang, Mingyur Namkhe Dorje The First Dodrubchen, Jigme Trinle Özer Gyurme Tsewang Chokdrub Dola Jigme Kalzang Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu TRANSLATOR Tib Shelf INSTITUTIONS Mahā Kyilung Monastery Katok Monastery Dzogchen Monastery Tseringjong STUDENTS Losal Drölma Tsewang Rabten Nyala Pema Dudul The Second Dodrubchen, Jigme Puntsok Jungne Patrul Orgyen Jigme Chökyi Wangpo The First Dodrubchen, Jigme Trinle Özer Ranyak Gyalse Nyoshul Luntok Tenpe Gyaltsen Özer Taye Kalzang Döndrub Pema Sheja Drime Drakpa Kunzang Tobden Wangpo Gyalse Zhenpen Taye Özer Chöying Tobden Dorje Rigpe Raltri AUTHOR Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje For the Long Life of Ḍākki Losal Drölma VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Terms of Use Privacy Policy Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.
- The Seventh Dzogchen Tenzin Lungtok Nyima Rinpoche | Tib Shelf
Teacher The Seventh Dzogchen Tenzin Lungtok Nyima Rinpoche b. 1974– BDRC P8686 PHOTO CREDIT Tenzin Lungtok Nyima Rinpoche was born in 1974 in the Baré region of lower Amdo. At the age of seven, he chose to pursue monastic life at Dzogchen Monastery. There, he was raised and educated by senior figures, including his uncle Dzogchen Pema Kalzang Rinpoche. At fifteen, he joined Śrī Siṃha College, where he formally took ordination and began advanced studies in Tibetan grammar, poetry, and Buddhism. By eighteen, he was appointed assistant professor. At twenty-seven, he took full ordination and was formally recognized with the title of Khenpo, becoming an established academic and educator within the Nyingma tradition. Tenzin Lungtok Nyima was formally recognized as the Seventh Dzogchen Rinpoche by Dogden Lama, who publicly acknowledged him during a teaching session by placing a ceremonial scarf around his neck and presenting a handwritten prophecy. Biography Mura Pema Dechen Zangpo Tenzin Lungtok Nyima A genealogy of the Mura lineage through its incarnations, focusing on the Third Mura Pema Dechen's life, teachings, and key relationships, penned by Tenzin Lungtok Nyima. Read Biography Biography Of Getse Lama Jigme Ngotsar Gyatso Tenzin Lungtok Nyima Getse Lama Jigme Ngotsar Gyatso, disciple of Jigme Lingpa and founder of Kilung Monastery, spread the Longchen Nyingtik teachings while establishing his own enduring legacy. Read Translated Works Mentioned In Menu Close Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Terms of Use Privacy Policy Donate SUBSCRIBE Publications Watch People Listen
- Milarepa | Tib Shelf
Yogi Milarepa 1040–1123 BDRC P1853 TREASURY OF LIVES LOTSAWA HOUSE Milarepa, one of the most revered figures in Tibetan Buddhism, lived during the eleventh and twelfth centuries and is celebrated as a great yogi, poet, and teacher of the Kagyu lineage. Born into a family that later fell into hardship, his early life was marked by tragedy and the pursuit of vengeance through black magic, leading to devastating karmic consequences. Seeking redemption, he turned to Buddhism and became a disciple of the great master Marpa Chökyi Lodrö. Enduring severe trials under Marpa’s guidance, Milarepa purified his past deeds and mastered profound tantric practices, including inner heat (tummo) and Mahāmudrā meditation. Renowned for his solitary retreats in Himalayan caves, he sustained himself on nettles and composed spontaneous songs of realization, inspiring countless practitioners. Milarepa's life exemplifies the transformative power of dedication, meditation, and the pursuit of enlightenment. His teachings and songs continue to resonate deeply within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Song A Song on the Merits of Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong Milarepa Milarepa's poetic ode to Kyangpen Namkhe Dzong exalts nature itself as the source of this retreat site's blessing power, departing from traditional focus on Buddhist masters. Read Translated Works Mentioned In Menu Close Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Terms of Use Privacy Policy Donate SUBSCRIBE Publications Watch People Listen
- An Account of Muni Tsenpo and Mutik Tsenpo
A glimpse into Tibet's imperial era through the contested histories of Tri Songdetsen's sons, Muné Tsenpo and Mutik Tsenpo - their accounts remain historically ambiguous. An Account of Muni Tsenpo and Mutik Tsenpo Muni Tsenpo ruled for one year and seven months .[ 1 ] [During his reign], he established the basis for offerings at Samye Monastery and equalized [the wealth of] the rich and the poor of Tibet on three different occasions. [ 2 ] [In the end], his mother administered poison, resulting in his death. During the reign of his younger brother, Jingyön Mutik Tsenpo, [ 3 ] a Chinese-style fort with nine towers was constructed at the eastern gate of glorious Samye. Having built this, in addition to the Karchung Dorje Ying maṇḍala, [ 4 ] Mutik Tsenpo worshiped profusely at all the temples that his ancestors had erected. He led a lifestyle like that of a Dharma-protecting king while maintaining the dual system of religion and politics more effectively than before. Moreover, the king meditated, visualizing the master seated above his head, and clearly envisioned his own body as the meditational deity while he practiced the recitations of vajra speech. Furthermore, having founded the teachings of the monastic college and retreat centers, Mutik Tsenpo established the Dharma like the all-pervading sun. Once again, the great vajra master, Padmasambhava, and the great translator, Vairocana, among others, spread the teaching of the resultant, secret-mantra Vajrayāna and newly rendered the previously untranslated sūtras. Concerning the magnitude of his power as king, he brought approximately two-thirds of the world under his rule. The kings of India, China, Turkestan, and Mongolia, among others, had to obey the edicts of the Tibetan king. According to the resources of each of these lands, they were to provide various types of wealth, including fine silk brocades and exceptional foodstuffs, within a set time frame. He had a son named Dingtri, who was enthroned at the age of eleven upon his father's death. [ 5 ] Together with his first and second wife, they had five princesses in all. He established the saṃgha and rendered numerous services to the temples built by his ancestors. He ruled until he died at the age of fifty-five. COLOPHON None NOTES [1] mu ni/ne btsan po, BDRC P2MS13215 [2] bsam yas dgon pa, BDRC G287 [3] mjing yon mu tig btsan po, BDRC P2MS13217 [4] Karchung Vajradhātu Maṇḍala (skar chung rdo rjeʼi dbyings) [5] lding khri Photo Credit: Himalayan Art Resources Published: March 2022 BIBLIOGRAPHY Dragshö Puntsok Wangdu (drag shos phun tshogs dbang ʼdus). mu ni btsan po dang mjing yon mu tig btsan poʼi lo rgy us. In ʼ brug chos srid kyi rab s , 31–32. thim phug: ʼbrug rgyal yongs dpe mdzod, 2007. BDRC MW1KG1680 . Abstract Giving glimpses of the Tibetan imperial period, this concise text encapsulates historical highlights of the kings—Muné Tsenpo and Mutik Tsenpo. Sons of Tri Songdetsen, the period and accounts of these two rulers are nothing but muddled, and the historical veracity ought to be taken with a grain of salt. BDRC LINK MW1KG1680 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 02:39 INDIVIDUALS Mune Tsenpo Mutik Tsenpo PREDECESSORS Tri Songdetsen Mune Tsenpo SUCCESSORS Mutik Tsenpo Ralpachen HISTORICAL PERIOD 8th Century 9th Century TRANSLATOR Marlevis Robaina INSTITUTION N/A INSTITUTION Samye AUTHOR Dragsö Puntsok Wangdu An Account of Muni Tsenpo and Mutik Tsenpo VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Terms of Use Privacy Policy Donate Subscribe to our newsletter Support Tib Shelf's ongoing work & Subscribe Today! Name * Email* Submit Tib Shelf is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to translating, presenting and preserving primary source Tibetan texts across a vast array of genres and time periods. We make these literary treasures accessible to readers worldwide, offering a unique window into Tibet's rich history, culture and traditions. Tib Shelf has been accredited by the British Library with the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2754–1495 CONTACT US | SHELVES@TIBSHELF.ORG © 2024 Tib Shelf. All rights reserved.






