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Book description

This selection features profound, provocative, and at times humorous texts from leading figures associated with the Rimé tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The emphasis of these works is on the esoteric path of Dzogchen, or the Great Perfection, through which the nature of reality is pointed out directly, just as it is.

Throughout the book the translator provides clear, succinct introductions to the individual translations, expertly setting the scene and guiding the reader through a world of intellectual renaissance, intersectarian debate, and the imparting of cherished insights. Through this, one truth above all becomes apparent: that genuine wisdom means transcending the limited confines of the ordinary mind.

Contributors include:

  • Patrul Rinpoche
  • Jamgön Mipham
  • Dongak Chökyi Gyatso
  • Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol
  • Amdo Geshe Jampal Rolwe Lodrö
  • Jigme Tenpe Nyima
  • Khenpo Pema Vajra
Patrul Rinpoche

Patrul Rinpoche

Author Bio

Patrul Rinpoche (1808–1887) was one of the greatest Tibetan teachers of the nineteenth century. Famous for his precise and direct style, he shunned high monastic office and lived the life of a homeless wanderer, writing his book in a rustic hermitage under an overhanging rock.

Jamgon Mipham

Jamgon Mipham

Author Bio

Jamgon Mipham (1846–1912), one of the great luminaries of Tibetan Buddhism in modern times, has had a dominant and vitalizing influence on the Nyingma School and beyond. He was an important member of the Rimé, or nonsectarian movement, which did much to strengthen and preserve the entire tradition. A scholar of outstanding brilliance and versatility, his translated works are eagerly anticipated by English-language readers.

Adam Pearcey, Translator

Author Bio

Adam Pearcey is a full-time translator of Tibetan Buddhist texts. He is the founder of Lotsawa House, an online library featuring several hundred translations, and was formerly director of the Rigpa Shedra. His previous publications include (as cotranslator) Mind in Comfortand Ease by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ga Rabjampa’s To Dispel the Misery of the World, a work on mind training translated at the suggestion of the late Khenchen Appey Rinpoche.

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Praise for the book

Ringu Tulku

author of The Ri-me Philosophy of Jamgön Kongtrul the Great

“This anthology of some of the greatest scholar-saints of Tibet makes absolutely clear that Dzogchen, Mahamudra, and Madhyamaka practices come to the same point of realization. This is a great contribution to the understanding of Rimé and a wonderful translation.”

Matthieu Ricard

author of Enlightened Vagabond: The Life and Teachings of Patrul Rinpoche

“Among the wealth of precious texts translated from Tibetan, Adam Pearcey’s Beyond the Ordinary Mind stands out. Here is a wisely chosen collection of instructions from some of the most eminent masters of recent times, clarifying crucial points related to the nature of mind and the union of emptiness and appearances—a book to be cherished, especially by those who aspire to deepen their understanding of Buddhist practice.”

Anne C. Klein

translator of Khetsun Rinpoche’s Strand of Jewels: My Teachers’ Essential Guidance on Dzogchen

“Beautiful. Meaningful. A rich array of key texts that carry us past the limitations of ordinary mind. These works are clear portals to the Great Middle Way, to the heart of Dzogchen, touching also on Mahāmudrā, and displaying an open, non-biased perspective. This readable translation brings new access to some of the greatest and most original minds of the last two centuries in Tibet.”

Author: Patrul Rinpoche, Jamgon Mipham

Beyond the Ordinary Mind: Dzogchen, Rimé, and the Path of Perfect Wisdom

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