Menu Close Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Research Tool Privacy Policy & Terms of Use 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 Song Don’t Place Your Trust in… Sera Khandro 00:00 / 02:35 A mgur of direct “pointing out” in which Sera Khandro dismantles every support of the path, revealing the already-complete unity of emptiness and luminosity. See Publication Song Ocean, Waves, and Wind: A Song on the Nature of Mind Tsangnyon Heruka 00:00 / 01:26 A song by Tsangnyön Heruka, using the imagery of ocean, waves, and wind to point directly at the nature of mind. See Publication Song A Madman’s Meditation Experiences: A Song from Labchi Tsangnyon Heruka 00:00 / 01:26 A Madman’s Meditation Experiences: A Song from Labchi, is a doha sung by Tsangnyön Heruka at the sacred hermitage of Labchi. See Publication 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 honouring the 2nd Dzogchen Drubwang Gyurme Thekchog Tenzin, the other celebrating the experience of unobstructed, effortless awareness. Both transmit direct spiritual realization 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 View More

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. 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. Watch Today's Picks Song Arousing Desire of the Beautiful One: Simile and Meaning in Union Śākya Śrī A spontaneous karmamudra song by the yogin Śākya Śrī, uniting longing for his consort Namkha Dronma with direct recognition of rigpa. 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. Advice Essential Advice in Three Sets of Three Butön Rinchen Drub Butön Rinchen Drup's concise text outlines ascending qualities for sages, bodhisattvas, and Mantrayāna practitioners, mirroring the progression through Buddhism's three vehicles. Supplication Prayer The Drop of Spring: A Spontaneous Vajra Song of Definitive Meaning That Supplicates the Great Charioteers of the Luminous Mahāmudrā Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo A vajra song supplicating the early Dagpo Kagyu masters while expressing aspirations for realization through the luminous Mahāmudrā path. Song Searching for Mind Tsangnyon Heruka This song points to the paradox that mind cannot find its own nature by searching for it, since seeker and sought are not separate. 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 The Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje A Dream Song Khenpo Shenga Types of Spiritual Songs Tsangnyon Heruka Searching for Mind Śākya Śrī A Song of the Great Perfection Śākya Śrī Arousing Desire of the Beautiful One: Simile and Meaning in Union Śākya Śrī Song of the Dharma Dance People 1871–1927 Khenpo Shenga View 1853–1919 Śākya Śrī View 1892-1940 Sera Khandro View 1813–1899 Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye View WEEKLY QUOTES བྱང་བསྟན་ཕུག་པར་རྟ་ལྗང་ཅན་གྱི་ཟེར། ། Sun rays do not enter a northern facing cave; མི་འཇུག་དངོས་པོའི་གཤིས་ལ་བཅོས་མེད་ཀྱང་། ། The nature of such things cannot be changed. ཕྱོགས་གཞན་བུག་པར་ཤར་བའི་སྣང་བ་ཡིས། ། However, light shining through the other opening འཐིབས་པོའི་སྨག་རུམ་སེལ་བ་འབྱུང་སྙམ་བགྱིད། ། Dispels the thick darkness One can contemplate this The 5th Dalai Lama – Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso (1617–1682) AUDIO NARRATION A Series of Spontaneous Spiritual Songs Lelung Zhepe Dorje Two spontaneous songs by Lelung Zhepe Dorje: one honouring the 2nd Dzogchen Drubwang Gyurme Thekchog Tenzin, the other celebrating the experience of unobstructed, effortless awareness. Both transmit direct spiritual realization through verse. 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 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 Research Tool Privacy Policy & Terms of Use Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate SUBSCRIBE Publications People Listen Watch

Menu Close Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Research Tool Privacy Policy & Terms of Use 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 Ocean, Waves, and Wind: A Song on the Nature of Mind Tsangnyon Heruka A song by Tsangnyön Heruka, using the imagery of ocean, waves, and wind to point directly at the nature of mind. See Publication Song A Madman’s Meditation Experiences: A Song from Labchi Tsangnyon Heruka A Madman’s Meditation Experiences: A Song from Labchi, is a doha sung by Tsangnyön Heruka at the sacred hermitage of Labchi. See Publication Song A Series of Spontaneous Spiritual Songs Lelung Zhepe Dorje Two spontaneous songs by Lelung Zhepe Dorje: one honouring the 2nd Dzogchen Drubwang Gyurme Thekchog Tenzin, the other celebrating the experience of unobstructed, effortless awareness. Both transmit direct spiritual realization 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 Advice Devotion is the Highest Practice Khenpo Ngawang Palzang Khenpo Ngawang Palzang's morning devotional rings clear and true with tantra's essential message: devotion stands as the highest practice. 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 View More

A song remembered from a dream in which Marpa Lotsāwa and other gurus discuss the Dharma, pointing to the innate state beyond conceptual thought. A Dream Song Again, while residing at the great palace of Taitu, on the night of the ninth day of the first month of the Tiger year, I had a dream. In it, the master Pawo Dorje [ 1] appeared, along with Marpa Lotsāwa and other gurus. They were engaging in extensive discussions and debates on the Dharma. In the midst of that, these are the verses that I recall: When concepts get in the way, The samādhi of joy and bliss fades. So however long one meditates, It is of no use. What arises clear, free from concepts, Is the innate nature itself. No need to search for signs and such. Whatever the mind rests upon Is the very nature of that, Like a jewel Displaying myriad forms. COLOPHON Having heard these words, Marpa said, keep these in your mind. May glory and auspiciousness blaze as an ornament for the world! NOTES [1] The identity of "Pawo Dorje" (དཔའ་བོ་རྡོ་རྗེ, "Vajra-hero") is uncertain. The source text places the first-person pronoun ངས ("I") directly after this name, which could suggest Rangjung Dorje applying the name to himself within the dream—though this is grammatically unusual, since no other source identifies "Pawo Dorje" as an established name or epithet of his. It is equally possible he is a separate figure appearing alongside Marpa and the other gurus. The present translation preserves the name as it stands, without resolving the ambiguity. Published August 2026 BIBLIOGRAPHY Rang byung rdo rje. 2006. gSung mgur thor bu. In Gsung 'bum/ rang byung rdo rje. 16 vols. Zi ling: mTshur phu mkhan po lo yag bkra shis, vol. 5, p. 416. BDRC MW30541_D310C9 Abstract While staying at the imperial palace in Dadu, the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, dreamed of Marpa Lotsāwa and other gurus engaged in Dharma discussion. From the dream, a few verses remained vividly in his mind. They point to the innate state beyond conceptual thought, where clarity arises free from contrivance and whatever the mind rests upon is recognised as inseparable from its own nature. BDRC MW30541 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 00:27 TRADITION Karma Kagyu Nyingma Zhije and Chod INCARNATION LINE Karmapa HISTORICAL PERIOD 13th Century 14th Century TEACHERS Orgyenpa Rinchen Pel shes rab gzhon nu 'byung ba shes rab dpal kun dga' don grub ye shes Kumāradza Meban Rinchen Lingpa TRANSLATOR Tib Shelf Edited by Libby Hogg INSTITUTIONS Tsel Gungtang Sangpu Neutok Tsurpu Monastery Karma Gon Dechen Teng Wutai Shan Lhateng STUDENTS Yungton Dorje Pel kun dga' rgyal mtshan Longchenpa The Second Gangkar Lama, Rinchen Zangpo Zhangton Gyawo Sonam Drakpa Kumāradza Puntsok Pelzang rgyal ba dpal Yakde Paṇchen Tsondru Dargye kun dga' rdo rje dar ma rgyal mtshan The First Zhamarpa, Drakpa Sengge Gyelse Lekpa rgya ston kun dga' brtson 'grus 'jam dbyangs grags pa Barawa Gyeltsen Pelzang Meban Rinchen Lingpa AUTHOR The Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje A Dream Song VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators 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.

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 Song A Dream Song The Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje A song remembered from a dream in which Marpa Lotsāwa and other gurus discuss the Dharma, pointing to the innate state beyond conceptual thought. Read Miscellaneous Types of Spiritual Songs Khenpo Shenga A brief and vivid account of the different kinds of spiritual songs and the experiences from which they arise. Read Song Searching for Mind Tsangnyon Heruka This song points to the paradox that mind cannot find its own nature by searching for it, since seeker and sought are not separate. Read Song A Song of the Great Perfection Śākya Śrī A short Dzogchen song of realization by Śākya Śrī, in which the master points to the natural liberation of all experience within the expanse of dharmatā. Read Song Arousing Desire of the Beautiful One: Simile and Meaning in Union Śākya Śrī A spontaneous karmamudra song by the yogin Śākya Śrī, uniting longing for his consort Namkha Dronma with direct recognition of rigpa. Read Song Song of the Dharma Dance Śākya Śrī Song of the Dharma Dance draws on the imagery of Tibetan ritual cham dance to guide an assembly of vajra siblings through successive Dzogchen contemplative instructions toward the recognition of great awareness-emptiness. Read Song Don’t Place Your Trust in… Sera Khandro A mgur of direct “pointing out” in which Sera Khandro dismantles every support of the path, revealing the already-complete unity of emptiness and luminosity. Read Song Five Aphoristic Couplets Nyagla Pema Dudul These five aphoristic couplets by Nyagla Pema Dundul use vivid images of natural impossibility to show that pride, confusion, and distraction obstruct liberation, emphasising that knowledge must be integrated into lived experience. Read Song Ocean, Waves, and Wind: A Song on the Nature of Mind Tsangnyon Heruka A song by Tsangnyön Heruka, using the imagery of ocean, waves, and wind to point directly at the nature of mind. Read Song Song of the Vulture Sera Khandro Sera Khandro sang this song at the age of eleven, a month after her mother’s death, following an encounter with a white vulture she recognised as the soul-bird of a ḍākinī. Read Prayer A Prayer to the Three Roots Khenpo Ngawang Palzang An opening homage to the Three Roots, invoking the full refuge assembly, gurus, deities, ḍākinīs, and protectors—as they arise from the expanse of the dharmadhātu and carry out enlightened activity. Read Song A Madman’s Meditation Experiences: A Song from Labchi Tsangnyon Heruka A Madman’s Meditation Experiences: A Song from Labchi, is a doha sung by Tsangnyön Heruka at the sacred hermitage of Labchi. 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 Donate Research Tool Privacy Policy & Terms of Use SUBSCRIBE Publications Watch People Listen

This song points to the paradox that mind cannot find its own nature by searching for it, since seeker and sought are not separate. Searching for Mind Homage to the Guru. You who wish to see the very nature of mind, listen here! Just as a blade, however sharp, cannot cut itself, And an eye, however clear, cannot see itself; Just as fire cannot scorch itself, nor water drench itself, Just so, mind cannot find its own nature by seeking it, As both finder and seeker are none other than mind itself. Yet describing its characteristics in this way Is like claiming to have seen the sky And then describing its edge and centre, its shape and colour. The natural state of mind is beyond thought, expression, and example. Through the power of the blessings of the lineage, And through the fruition of meditation, The true nature of primordial wisdom Will certainly dawn from within. Without entertaining conceptual judgements Concerning saṃsāra and nirvāṇa, Rest in the state in which There is neither coming nor going. Evaṃ. COLOPHON None NOTES * “Searching For Mind” is a title supplied by the translators since this song is untitled in the Collected Songs of Tsangnyön Heruka. BIBLIOGRAPHY Tsangnyön Heruka (gtsang smyon he ru ka rus paʼi rgyan can). rje btsun gtsang smyon he ru kas la phyi nas blangs pa’i nyams mgur . In gtsang smyon he ru kaʼi mgur ʼbum , 1 vol., 1, compiled by Godtsangpa Natsok Rangdröl (rgod tshang pa sna tshogs rang grol). BDRC MW4CZ1248 . Abstract Tsangnyön Heruka, the famed “Madman of Tsang,” sings here of the paradox of seeking the nature of mind: the seeker and what is sought are not separate. Beyond thought and description, mind’s true nature is revealed through meditation and simply resting as it is. BDRC LINK MW4CZ1248 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 00:27 TRADITION Marpa Kagyu CLAN Nyang HISTORICAL PERIOD 14th Century 15th Century TEACHERS sangs rgyas seng+ge kun dga' sangs rgyas yon tan rgya mtsho kun dga' nyi ma don grub grags pa The Second Drukchen, Kunga Peljor TRANSLATOR Tib Shelf Edited by Libby Hogg INSTITUTIONS Pelkhor Chode Swayambhunath Rechung Puk Kailash Tsāri Labchi STUDENTS sna tshogs rang grol rdo rje seng+ge rin chen rnam rgyal dngos grub dpal 'bar AUTHOR Tsangnyon Heruka Searching for Mind VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators 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.

Khenpo Shenga 1871–1927 View The Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje 1284–1339 View Śākya Śrī 1853–1919 View Nyagla Pema Dudul 1816-1872 View Sera Khandro 1892-1940 View Tsangnyön Heruka 1452 –1507 View The Second Dzogchen Drubwang, Gyurme Tekchok Tendzin 1699–1758 View Jetsunma Tamdrin Wangmo Kalzang Chokyi Nyima 1836-1896 View Kunga Palden 1878–1944/1950 View Dza Patrul Orgyen Jigme Chökyi Wangpo 1808–1887 View Chöje Lingpa 1682–1720 View The Seventh Dzogchen Tenzin Lungtok Nyima Rinpoche b. 1974– View Rigpe Raltri 1830–1896 View The First Dodrubchen, Jigme Trinle Özer 1745–1821 View Losal Drölma 1802–1861 View Pema Tegchok Loden 1879–1955 View Butön Rinchen Drub 1290–1364 View Dilgo Khyentse Tashi Paljor 1910–1991 View Dudjom Lingpa 1835–1903 View Dudul Dorje 1615–1672 View Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye 1813–1899 View Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo 1820–1892 View Khenpo Ngawang Palzang 1879–1941 View The Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tubten Gyatso 1856–1875 View Guru Chökyi Wangchuk 1200/1212–1270 View Jatsön Nyingpo 1585–1656 View Döndrub Gyal 1953–1985 View Milarepa 1040–1123 View Jigme Lingpa 1730–1798 View Tsongkhapa Lobzang Dragpa 1357–1419 View Tubten Chödar b. 1969 View Do Dasal Wangmo 1928–2018 View Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje 1800–1866 View The Fifth Lelung Zhepe Dorje 1697–1740 View People Tibet's influential figures including their works and mentions across translated texts. Search Person Menu Close Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Research Tool Privacy Policy & Terms of Use SUBSCRIBE Publications Watch People Listen

Karmapa The Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje 1284–1339 BDRC P66 TREASURY OF LIVES LOTSAWA HOUSE The Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, was one of the great scholars and meditation masters of the early Karma Kagyü tradition. Recognised as the successor to Karma Pakshi, he received an exceptionally broad education, studying Buddhist philosophy alongside Mahāmudrā, Kālacakra, Chöd, and Dzogchen. Rangjung Dorje travelled widely throughout Tibet and China, teaching, practising in retreat, establishing hermitages, and becoming an influential figure at the Yuan imperial court. His students included the First Shamarpa, Drakpa Sengge, and the renowned Nyingma master Longchenpa. A prolific writer and accomplished yogin, he composed works on Mahāmudrā, tantra, philosophy, astrology, Chöd, biography, and songs of realisation. Among his best-known writings are the Prayer to the Definitive Meaning of Mahāmudrā and the Profound Inner Meaning , both of which remain important works within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Song A Dream of Marpa Lotsāwa The Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje A dream-song attributed to the Third Karmapa on meditative experience and the innate nature of mind, framed by a vision of Marpa Lotsāwa. Read Translated Works Mentioned In Menu Close Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Research Tool Privacy Policy & Terms of Use SUBSCRIBE Publications Watch People Listen

A brief and vivid account of the different kinds of spiritual songs and the experiences from which they arise. Types of Spiritual Songs Generally speaking, there are many kinds of spiritual song. There are songs of spontaneously arisen herukas, which gladden the heroes and ḍākinīs. There are the dohās of the siddhas, which directly reveal the wisdom of realisation. There are songs of calling the guru from afar, which stir the guru’s mindstream when devotion and compassion effortlessly arise. There are yogins’ songs of experience, which freely express whatever arises once experience has truly taken hold. There are joyful songs of realisation, which emerge when the power of experience and realisation comes forth. There are songs of mastery over appearances, which arise when one knows no fear whatsoever. There are songs of a mind at ease, carefree and open, born of practice carried through without regret. There are contrived songs in which intellectual understanding and experience become intermingled. There are songs of the equality of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa, which arise upon realising all things to be equal. And there are many other kinds besides these. Among them, yours is a fine yogin’s song of experience. I rejoice in it. May virtue abound! COLOPHON None BIBLIOGRAPHY Gzhan phan chos kyi snang ba. 2004. mGur dbyangs kyi rnam grangs bstan pa. In gSung 'bum/ gzhan phan chos kyi snang ba. rDzong sar khams byeʼi slob gling, vol. 6, pp. 369–370. BDRC W1PD2074 Abstract Khenpo Shenga offers a lively overview of the many forms a spiritual song can take, from songs of devotion and realisation to spontaneous expressions of meditative experience and much more besides. At its heart, the passage shows how such songs arise directly from the changing inner life of the practitioner. BDRC LINK MW1PD2074 DOWNLOAD TRANSLATION GO TO TRANSLATION LISTEN TO AUDIO 00:00 / 00:27 TRADITION Nyingma Sakya OFFICES HELD Ninteenth Khenpo of Śrī Siṃha College First Abbot of Khamshe Dargye Ling HISTORICAL PERIOD 19th Century 20th Century TEACHERS Mipam Gyatso Orgyen Tendzin Norbu blo gter dbang po The Fifth Dzogchen Drubwang, Tubten Chokyi Dorje Gaton Ngawang Lekpa The Eleventh Tai Situ, Pema Wangchok Gyelpo The Second Dzongsar Khyentse, Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro The Fifth Shechen Rabjam, Pema Tekchok Tenpai Gyeltsen TRANSLATOR Tib Shelf INSTITUTIONS Dzogchen Monastery Shechen Dzongsar Lhundrubteng Śrī Siṃha College Khamshe Dargye Ling Pelpung Nyima Changra Gemang Ritro Mandal Gon STUDENTS Dilgo Khyentse Tashi Peljor Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang Rinchen Dorje thub bstan The Ninth Gangkar Lama, Karma Shedrub Chokyi Sengge chos grags, gser kha ngag dbang mkhyen brtse nor bu Ngawang Norbu ye shes rgya mtsho nor dbyangs a paN chos dpal chos 'phel kun dga' thub bstan byang chub zla gzhung khri tsho rin chen dam chos ba thur mkhan chen thub dga' gzhan phan legs grub blo bzang bstan 'dzin bstan pa rin chen bstan 'dzin rgyal mtshan pad+ma tshe ring rnam rgyal dpal bzang nyag rong gu ru lug ru cab ra mkhan chen sgrub rgyud rin po che Gyurme Wosel 'gyur med 'od gsal Pema Tsewang Gyatso Wozer Taye Konchok Yeshe Wozer pad+ma rnam rgyal blo gros rgyal mtshan tshe dbang rig 'dzin 'jigs med blo gros Yonten Gonpo Pema Vajra rwa hor chos grags Pema Tekchok Loden nor bu bstan 'dzin thub bstan chos 'phel Tubten Nyendrak Chime Yeshe Kunzang Pelden mu ra sprul sku 04 pad+ma nor bu The Second Dzongsar Khyentse, Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro bsod nams mgon po khams gsum zil gnon dgyes pa rdo rje tshul khrims bzang po The Eleventh Tai Situ, Pema Wangchok Gyelpo pad+ma tshe dbang 'jam dbyangs chos kyi rgyal mtshan The Sixty-Fifth Ngor Khenchen, Dampa Rinpoche Ngawang Lodro Zhenpen Nyingpo kun dga' bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan chos kyi seng ge dpal ldan chos kyi grags pa pad+ma 'phrin las snying po The Fourth Lingla, Tubten Trinle Gyatso The First Dzogchen Kongtrul, Konchok Tenpai Gyeltsen The Fifth Zimwok, Jampa Kunga Tenzin Druk Khenpo Ngawang Yonten Gyatso Chokyi Wozer The Third Dezhung, Kunga Tenpai Nyima Jigme Tsewang Dudul The First Dzigar Kongtrul, Lodro Rabpel Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Wangchuk Ngawang Nyima Ga Lama Gendun Zangpo Drayab Tubten Zangpo AUTHOR Khenpo Shenga Types of Spiritual Songs VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS NEXT PUBLICATION > < PREVIOUS PUBLICATION Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators 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.

Teacher Khenpo Shenga 1871–1927 BDRC P699 TREASURY OF LIVES LOTSAWA HOUSE PHOTO CREDIT Khenpo Shenga (1871–1927) was one of the great Buddhist scholars and teachers of eastern Tibet. A master of both the Nyingma and Sakya traditions, he became renowned for his deep knowledge of the Indian Buddhist classics and for his role in transforming monastic education. As the nineteenth abbot of Śrī Siṃha College at Dzogchen, he established the study of the thirteen great Indian texts as the foundation of the curriculum, and his commentaries on these works became influential textbooks in monasteries throughout Tibet. Khenpo Shenga taught widely across Tibet, Bhutan and Sikkim and is said to have helped establish or teach at nearly one hundred monastic colleges. His students included many of the most influential Buddhist teachers of the twentieth century, including Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro and the Eleventh Tai Situ Pema Wangchok Gyelpo. Alongside his scholarly work, he was an important teacher of Dzogchen and composed extensively on philosophy, tantra, biography and songs of spiritual experience. Miscellaneous Types of Spiritual Songs Khenpo Shenga A brief and vivid account of the different kinds of spiritual songs and the experiences from which they arise. Read Translated Works Mentioned In Menu Close Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Research Tool Privacy Policy & Terms of Use SUBSCRIBE Publications Watch People Listen

Teacher The First Dodrubchen, Jigme Trinle Özer 1745–1821 BDRC P293 TREASURY OF LIVES LOTSAWA HOUSE PHOTO CREDIT The First Dodrubchen Jigme Trinle Özer (1745–1821) was a prominent Tibetan Buddhist master and the principal heir to Jigme Lingpa's Longchen Nyingtik lineage. Born in Golok's Do valley, he trained under renowned teachers, including the Second Shechen Rabjam and other Dzogchen masters, and undertook extensive pilgrimages across Tibet, receiving key transmissions such as the Khandro Nyingtik. Known for his profound retreats and visionary experiences, he established significant religious centers, including Dodrubchen Monastery, and spread the Longchen Nyingtik teachings widely in Kham. As a trusted spiritual advisor to the Derge royal family and the Tibetan government, he performed pivotal rituals and contributed to regional stability. Revered as a treasure revealer and author, his disciples included luminaries like Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje and Dza Patrul Rinpoche, cementing his legacy as a cornerstone of the Nyingma tradition. Translated Works Song Passing Song of the First Dodrubchen, Jigme Trinle Özer Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje At the moment of his death, the First Dodrubchen Jigme Trinle Özer sings of his conscious dissolution into each of the five buddha wisdoms, before closing with final instructions to his heart student Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje. 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 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. 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 Biography The Hook Which Invokes Blessings: A Supplication to the Life and Liberation of Knowledge-Holder Jalu Dorje Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje A self-penned biographical prayer by Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje, composed at the request of Trokyab's king Namkha Lhündrub, invoking blessings through life stories. Read Biography Abridged Biographies: The Lineage of the Do Family Do Dasal Wangmo Chronicling Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje's lineage, with special attention to his half-sister Losal Drölma - an honored teacher whose story emerges from the margins of temple narratives. Read Mentioned In Menu Close Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Research Tool Privacy Policy & Terms of Use SUBSCRIBE Publications Watch People Listen

Treasure Revealer Sera Khandro 1892-1940 BDRC P742 TREASURY OF LIVES LOTSAWA HOUSE Sera Khandro Kunzang Dekyong Wangmo was one of the most remarkable female treasure revealers of twentieth-century Tibet. Born in Lhasa, she resisted an arranged marriage and, following profound visionary experiences, fled to Golok to pursue a life of Dharma. Enduring extreme hardship, social opposition, and periods of illness, she nevertheless became renowned for her devotion, eloquence, and spiritual attainment. As both a consort and an independent treasure revealer, she transmitted and uncovered major treasure cycles, including teachings connected to Dudjom Lingpa and Drime Özer, as well as her own visionary revelations. Her life and writings offer a rare and powerful account of female religious agency within the Nyingma tradition. She spent her later years teaching and travelling across eastern Tibet, gathering a wide circle of disciples, and is remembered as a central figure in the modern Tibetan treasure tradition. Song Don’t Place Your Trust in… Sera Khandro A mgur of direct “pointing out” in which Sera Khandro dismantles every support of the path, revealing the already-complete unity of emptiness and luminosity. Read Song Song of the Vulture Sera Khandro Sera Khandro sang this song at the age of eleven, a month after her mother’s death, following an encounter with a white vulture she recognised as the soul-bird of a ḍākinī. Read Translated Works Mentioned In Menu Close Home Publications Read Listen Watch People Information About Meet the Team Services Translators Donate Research Tool Privacy Policy & Terms of Use SUBSCRIBE Publications Watch People Listen