Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche: A Reader's Guide

A reader’s guide to Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche (1846–1912), the great Nyingma scholar and yogi, and his works in English, from Madhyamaka to Gesar and Dzogchen.

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About Kazuaki Tanahashi: An Interview with Roshi Joan Halifax

Read Roshi Joan Halifax’s interview about Kazuaki Tanahashi’s Zen Buddhist teachings, calligraphy, translation of Dogen, the Heart Sutra, and commitment to peace.

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The Five Maitreya Texts: The "Zip Files" of the Mahāyāna

by Karl Brunnhölzl Ornament of Clear Realization The five works that the Tibetan tradition ascribes to Maitreya resemble zip files that contain all the profound and vast topics of the Buddhist teachings. In their traditional order: The Ornament of Clear Realization comments on the emptiness taught in the Prajnaparamita Sutras and on what happens in the minds of bodhisattvas familiarizing themselves with emptiness on the paths and bhumis. See Product See Product See Product Ornament of the Mahayana Sutras The Ornament of Mahayana Sutras is a synopsis of all topics of those mahayana sutras that are not covered by The Ornament of Clear Realization and The Ultimate Continuum of the Mahayana. See Product See Product The Distinction Between Middle and Extremes The Distinction between the Middle and Extremes explains the vast paths of all three yanas, emphasizing the view of Yogācāra (including the Yogācāra Middle Way) and the distinctive features of the mahāyāna. See Product The Distinction Between Phenomena and Their Nature The Distinction Between Phenomena and Their Nature discusses the difference between samsaric confusion and the liberating power of nonconceptual wisdom-the heart essence of all profound sutras. See Product See Product See Product The Ultimate Continuum  of the Mahayana Finally, The Ultimate Continuum of the Mahāyāna is a general commentary on buddha nature and represents a bridge between sutra and tantra. See Product See Product Thus, these five texts are mainly based on prajnaparamita, the classical teachings of Yogācāra (which are not identical with what is called "the Mind-Only School"), and the instructions on “Buddha nature” (tathāgatagarbha). Different Tibetan masters have voiced all kinds of opinions about the Maitreya texts representing the views of certain Buddhist schools, such as “Mind Only” (cittamātra), Yogācāra, Madhyamaka, or Shentong. However, as far as one's practice goes, says Thrangu Rinpoche, the tutor of the seventeenth Karmapa, it is necessary to determine-even in the Madhyamaka view - that appearances are nothing but mind, to resolve that mind is empty, and to realize mind's emptiness in meditation. According to the so-called "Mind-Only School," that mind is ultimately existent, but nothing like that is said anywhere in the Maitreya texts. So from that point of view, it can be said that all five texts belong to Madhyamaka in general. In particular, The Distinction Between Phenomena and Their Nature and The Ultimate Continuum present the view of the Shentong Madhyamaka School and are also considered to be foundations for Mahamudra. In any case, Maitreya's works are crucial and celebrated because they provide a comprehensive overview of all the essential elements of mahāyāna motivation, view, meditation, conduct, and fruition. Being classical Indian works, they are not exactly light bedtime reading, but together with their commentaries (the extractors of the zip files) they paint a complete and detailed picture of mahāyāna Buddhism. Now, different from the above traditional order of these five texts, a more accessible way for contemporary dharma students to study them is to begin with The Ultimate Continuum since it is the easiest one and discusses the nature of our mind as the very basis of everything on the Buddhist path. Next, The Distinction Between Phenomena and Their Nature enables us to discriminate ignorance and its manifestations from wisdom as the motor of the path to liberation. The Distinction between the Middle and Extremes explains the profound Middle Way and the basic principles of all three yanas. The Ornament of the Mahayana Sutras fills in the details of bodhisattva motivation, meditation, conduct, and fruition. Finally, The Ornament of Clear Realization as the most complex text combines the profundity of emptiness with the vastness of all paths and bhumis. About the Author: Karl Brunnhölzl, MD, was trained as a physician and also studied Tibetology. He received his systematic training in Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy and practice at the Marpa Institute for Translators, founded by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. Since 1989 he has been a translator and interpreter from Tibetan and English.

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A Lojong Reader's Guide: The Works of Mind Training

A reader’s guide to lojong, Tibetan Buddhist mind training, from Atisha and the Seven Points to books by Pema Chödrön, Chögyam Trungpa, and Dilgo Khyentse.

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A Reader's Guide on Tibetan Buddhist Essentials: An Exploration of the Nyingma Lineage with Tulku Thondup

Tulku Thondup Rinpoche's Tibetan Buddhist Essentials A recommendation list for the essential teachings of the tradition. Tulku Thondup Rinpoche was born in East Tibet and was recognized to be a tulku at age five. He studied at Tibet’s famed Dodrupchen Monastery, settling in India in 1958, and teaching for many years in its universities. He came to the United States in 1980 as a visiting scholar at Harvard University.  For the past three decades he has lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he writes, translates, and teaches under the auspices of the Buddhayana Foundation. His numerous books include The Healing Power of Mind, which has now been published in eighteen languages, and Boundless Healing,  which has been published in eleven languages. In Rinpoche's own words... The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva This is a most renowned Buddhist text for all Tibetan Buddhist schools to study and train in. It teaches how to generate, preserve, and advance bodhicitta—the noble attitude and effort that brings happiness and enlightenment, or Buddhahood. This is a treatise of meticulously logical, thoroughly practical, mesmerizing poetry and heart-reaching counsel that stimulate unconditional love in our hearts and propel us to serve others selflessly. I myself started to study this nectar-like volume as a young novice and am still absorbing it as a prayer and meditation with earnest devotion. White Lotus An Explanation of the Seven-Line Prayer to Guru Padmasambhava by Jamgon Mipham, translated by the Padmakara Translation Group This is the most revered commentary on the sacred Seven Line Prayer of Guru Padmasambhava, who founded Buddhism in Tibet. You can say  it as a common prayer to the enlightened Guru with devotion for his blessings. Or you can pray by seeing the union of the ultimate sphere and intrinsic awareness as the Guru; your body as the sacred-body of blissful wisdom and wisdom-energies of the Guru; or the wisdom and wisdom-lights as the Guru, in order to attain primordial wisdom, the ultimate Guru. You train with this prayer according to your own spiritual ability. A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar by Thinley Norbu This scholarly exposition on Ngondro trainings of the Dudjom lineage examines the profound views and meditations of both sutra and tantra. The core of this sacred volume is the discourses on the primordial purity and spontaneously present wisdom light visions of Dzogchen.  During  the last number of years, Thinley Norbu Rinpoche wrote and translated every word of this book personally with greatest care and taught  it to his students before he returned to Guru Rinpoche’s Pure Land. This is one of the most precious relics of Rinpoche that represents his enlightened actions on this earth. The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel The Practice of Guru Yoga According to the Longchen Nyingthig Tradition by Dilgo Khyentse Explaining the meaning of Guru Yoga of Longchen Nyingthig, this teaching shares the profound meaning of devotional meditations and prayers. If your heart is open with the energy of devotion to trust and pray to Guru Rinpoche as the body of omniscient wisdom, unconditional love, and boundless power, then your mind will instantly transform into or reflect his enlightened qualities. If the thoughts and feelings of your mind are reflecting Guru Rinpoche’s blessings and qualities, then all that you see, hear, and feel will arise as his enlightened qualities for you. The Tibetan Book of the Dead The Great Liberation through Hearing in the Bardo by Chögyam Trungpa, Francesca Fremantle The Tibetan Book of the Dead by Karma Lingpa is a terma—mystical teachings concealed by Guru Padmasambhava (8th century A. D.) and discovered by Karma Lingpa in the 14th century. One of the well-known Tibetan books in the West, it reveals the profound teachings on the true characteristics of life, the stages of dying and the experiences of luminous nature at death. It details the arduous journey of  the transitional period between death and rebirth and the process of taking rebirth. It teaches how to transform life and death into a journey of happiness and enlightenment. The Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche I also recommend Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche. This book explains the Ngondro practice of the Nyingma tradition in great detail. It starts with how to turn your mind toward Dharma and goes up to how to realize the enlightened nature of the mind—Buddhahood. If you just skim it superficially or casually, you could just find it an ordinary book. But try it instead with an open mind, and read it thoroughly—taking a few days or a week to complete it. It is known that reading it alone has caused spiritual awakening because of the blessings of the teachings and of the author. Book by Tulku Thondup Rinpoche

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Michael Stone: A Yogi's Reader's Guide for Beyond the Mat

Michael Stone (1974–2017) was a prominent and innovative Buddhist teacher, yogi, psychotherapist, and author. He was the founder and director of the Centre of Gravity Sangha, a community of yoga and Buddhist practitioners based in Toronto, and he taught widely and had a large international following. For more information visit michaelstoneteaching.com. In his own words... The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali A New Translation with Commentary translated by Chip Hartranft In 2003 when Chip Hartranft translated the Yoga-Sutra attributed to Patanjali, it was immediately apparent he had a deep practice. I e-mailed him, and within weeks I was sitting in his living room hearing his views on meditation, working with endless habits, yoga’s relationship to Buddhism, and how the mind and body are both the ground for awakening. We developed a friendship that continues today, and whenever I’m writing about Patanjali, the supposed author of the Yoga-Sutra, I’m always hearing Chip’s voice in the background. Meditation is tricky. Since the nature of the mind is to continually manufacture stories about our experience, we need some technique to see beneath narrative and drop into what the yogis call “samadhi.” On a practical level we need to learn how to work with inner beliefs and emotional grooves that keep us repeating stale ideas and actions. Each sentence in Chip’s concise translation of the Yoga-Sutra has everything to do with the intricacies of practice. His retranslation of key words like karma, samadhi, and purusha take yoga’s core concepts into the realm of practical technique. He reshapes Patanjali’s teaching to be less philosophical and more psychological. “Patanjali is not philosophy,” Chip told me in his living room after the book was published, “it’s not about grand ideas. Patanajli teaches how to work with suffering and bring it to an end. Patanjali is not a philosopher.” I agree. Patanjali is an exacting psychologist. If I had one translation of Patanjali’s Yoga-Sutra, this would be it. However, I have many. I have studied this text for years. But when I look on my shelf, this edition is the one with sticky notes, dog-ears, worn pages, pencil scribbles, and of course, Chip’s signature. The Mirror of Yoga Awakening the Intelligence of Body and Mind by Richard Freeman I admire Richard Freeman. I have studied with Richard for fifteen years, and I’ve learned more in his presence than I have in any class, workshop, or book. Richard has made an extraordinary teaching career of reading the breath for signals, the nervous system for unevenness, and the body for habits that are no longer efficient. And he is eccentric. Together, these qualities make Richard the most important yoga teacher of this century. His book, The Mirror of Yoga, draws out the inner dimension of yoga postures with the wit and gusto of someone proficient in both practice and philosophy. This book ranges from backbends to Sanskrit terminology, Samkya philosophy to tantric subtlety, Indian mythology to obvious ways of bringing practice into life. There is no area of inner depth that Richard misses. His intellect is as sharp as it is flexible. He is well-studied too. In these days when people manufacture their own brands of yoga, or oversimplify the inner work of mature practice, Richard’s guidance is essential. Rereading The Mirror of Yoga as I was preparing to write this article reminded me it’s time to go visit Richard again. This book will reshape your practice as it continually inspires mine. I’m on my fourth reading. Yoga for Body, Breath, and Mind A Guide to Personal Reintegration by A. G. Mohan I first learned of A. G. Mohan from Chip Hartranft, who himself studied with him. Mohan’s book Yoga for Body, Breath, and Mind arrived at my door while I was recovering from a flu. Every morning, I rolled out my yoga mat, lit a candle, and followed his course of attention to breathing. Following his instruction, even from underneath a fever and chills, I was able to find the part of the breath that was gentle and at ease. I’ve always translated the term yoga as “intimacy.” All healing comes through intimacy. As Mohan expertly describes the foundation of yoga practice as breathing, I can’t help but think he is teaching about the nature of intimacy and healing. If we become intimate with the breath, even in times of turbulence and pain, we can make contact with an inner peace that rides on the current of breathing. This kind of sage advice is something we hear often, but Mohan adds actual practices that we can undertake to settle the nervous system, regain strength in the immune system, and wake up the intelligence of the body. Mohan manages to make something as ordinary and taken-for-granted as the breath wholly new and fresh. This is also a good manual for yoga teachers who, in their continuing education, may forget that the breath is not just the foundation of yoga postures, but the intimate ground of our lives. Yoga for a World Out of Balance Teachings on Ethics and Social Action by Michael Stone After I published my first book, The Inner Tradition of Yoga, I felt something was missing. The book dealt thoroughly with the subtle working of the mind, the quiet caverns of our body, and the deep mechanisms of chit-chat that keep us distracted from what really matters. These inner teachings are important and under-articulated, but we also live in a world where suffering is not just inside us. Our rivers are suffering, and so are fish, forests, farmers, and economies. I was burning with the need to say something about the way yoga could be brought into our lives to heal the suffering in our relationships, economy, and environment. The first teachings of yoga are the foundations of ethics (yama) and nonviolence in particular. In Yoga for a World Out of Balance, I put yoga ethics to work on contemporary issues, from psychology to economics. I replace the old idea—that yoga is about transcendence—with the notion that yoga is a practice of intimacy with what’s actually going on here and now. And where there is suffering, yoga shows up. This means yoga practice can help us with social issues as well as our own personal imbalances. Awake in the World Teachings from Yoga and Buddhism for Living an Engaged Life by Michael Stone After Yoga for a World Out of Balance was released, I taught all over the world in yoga circles, universities, hospitals, activist communities, and monasteries. Five years of talks were transcribed and published as Awake in the World. Together with many students and friends, I began the work of planting the seeds of yoga in this culture, at this time.

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Ringu Tulku Discusses the Treasury of Precious Instructions

Ringu Tulku Discusses the Treasury of Precious Instructions Explore the Treasury of Precious Instructions Home Page of the Treasury History of the Collection The Books: Overviews of Each Volume Jamgön Kongtrul's Descriptive Catalog (Karchag) Video Series Audio Streaming and Podcast Matthew Kapstein's Paper on Dam Ngak based on the Treasury Tibetan Resources on the Treasury from the Tsadra Foundation Readers Guide to Jamgōn Kongtrul

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On Translation: Sarah Harding and Larry Mermelstein

In our second On Translation video series cosponsored with the Tsadra Foundation, we are pleased to share this recording of Sarah Harding (Naropa University and the Tsadra Foundation) & Larry Mermelstein (Nalanda Translation Committee). The Eight Practice Lineages: Part 1-Translation Process and Issues with Sarah Harding and Larry Mermelstein from Shambhala Publications on Vimeo. This session is for any student, practitioner, or translator of Tibetan Buddhism and is an opportunity to enter the world of translators of the Buddhadharma with two of the most experienced Tibetan translators. Most people encounter the Buddhist teachings through translations of texts, so like it or not, the translator is indispensible. However, translators are not always appreciated and many debates about style and approach still rage on. Students and practitioners engaging in the Tibetan language will be especially interested in this dialogue with Sarah and Larry as they discuss their lives as full-time translators and address three critical topics: literal versus creative translation (or “dharmanese” versus idiomatic); group translation under a lama or in relative isolation; target audience: restricted or scholarly translations. See also, On Translation with Wulstan Fletcher of the Padmakara Translation Group in conversation with Holly Gayley of the University of Colorado   Resources Guide to The Treasury of Precious Instructions Resource Guide: An Overview A History of the Collection High-Quality Recordings of the Video Workshop: A great way to really immerse yourself in this work! Download the catalog describing in great detail the 18 volumes A Reader’s Guide to the Works of Jamgön Kongtrul Translating the Tibetan While not focused exclusively on the Treasury, this session preceded the workshop and touches on the work repeatedly. This will be of interest for any practitioner, not just translators.

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