Approaching the Great Perfection

Approaching the Great Perfection
Simultaneous and Gradual Methods of Dzogchen Practice in the Longchen Nyingthig

An important new study that looks at one of the lineage's seminal figures, Jigme Lingpa, and makes an extensive analysis of a core tension within Buddhism: does enlightenment develop gradually, or can it come about suddenly?

Dzogchen is the highest meditative practice of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, and Jigme Lingpa was an eighteenth century scholar-yogi whose cycle of teachings, the Longchen Nyingthig, has been handed down through generations as a complete path to enlightenment. Ten of Jigme Lingpa's texts are presented here. Van Schaik shows that both the sudden and gradual approaches and positions on enlightenment are present within each of the Tibetan Buddhist schools, and he demonstrates that Jigme Lingpa is a great illustration of this balancing act, using the rhetoric of both sides to propel his students along the path of the Great Perfection.

"A stimulating contribution to the study of simultaneist and gradualist approaches in Buddhism by way of important new translations and lucid commentary. His insights into the philosophical content of Tibetan tantric literature, as well as into the boundaries between revelation and composition, illuminate the most significant tantric cycle in the Nyingma tradition of the last three centuries." David Germano.

http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1658059/16964946/

The practice of Dzogchen

The practice of Dzogchen
A compilation of the celebrated Nyingma master Longchenpa's work on Dzogchen. This anthology of writings by the great scholar-yogi reveals the innermost esoteric philosophy and meditation training of Dzogpa Chenpo (Dzogchen), which until recent decades was only whispered into the ears of heart-disciples by the learned masters.

Dzogchen employs a meditative technique which effortlessly uncovers the emotional and intellectual layers of the mind and instantly awakens its essential nature, which is Buddha mind or Buudhahood itself.

"This is one of the most significant works on Tibetan Buddhism to be published in recent years, treating with grace, beauty and depth a most important subject, namely the character of the Dzogchen tradition and its placement within the overall structure of the Nyingma doctrine and training. An understanding of Dzogchen will benefit any philosophical or religious study of Tibetan Buddhism. This is undoubtedly one of the most comprehensive works on the Nyingma to appear in English." Glenn Mullin.

"Tulku Thondup Rinpoche has performed a service of inestimable value for all serious students of Buddhist thought. One of Tibet's greatest philosphical-sages, Longchen Rabjampa, is here made accessible to the specialist and interested non-specialist in a manner that is authoritative, comprehensive and clear." Matthew Kapstein.

http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1649048/28754904/

Old Man Basking in the Sun - Longchenpa's Treasury of Natural Perfection

Old Man Basking in the Sun - Longchenpa's Treasury of Natural Perfection
Dzogchen is the apotheosis of Tibetan Buddhism and Longchenpa is the pre-eminent master of Dzogchen and one of Tibet's greatest mystical poets. The verses of his Treasury of Natural Perfection (Gnas lugs mdzod) written in the fourteenth century encompass and epitomize the radical precepts of Dzogchen while his auto-commentary elaborates their meaning through a concise prose paraphrase and with illustrative quotations from the Collection of Tantras of the Ancients (Rnying ma rgyud 'bum). Transcending the Tibetan context, Longchenpa delivers a manual of wisdom for all people at all times and shows why the western world has turned to Tibet for its mystical inspiration during the last half century. This transmission of timeless wisdom of the Ancients of Tibet should take its place amongst the world's religious classics. Through the precept 'nonaction' - which is savoured like 'an old man basking in the sun' - Dzogchen teaches the natural perfection of all our experience, and all our lives, just as it is, without need of any alteration. This discipline provides the key not only to our inner enlightenment but to the health and survival of our planet.

http://www.demonoid.com/files/download/HTTP/1649070/3594363

Eye of the Storm

The five texts translated from Tibetan in this book are considered the first transmission of Dzogchen Ati to Tibet. They constitute the root and essence of Dzogchen in Tibet - basic, raw Dzogchen precepts, appropriately styled "radical Dzogchen". Includes: the Cuckoo's Song of Gnosis, Radical Creativity, the Great Garuda in Flight, Pure Golden Ore, and the Eternal Victory Banner.

" This is the special, extraordinary teaching of our Nyingma lineage. The great masters have all attained realization through Dzogchen, contemporary masters all owe their status to Dzogchen, and any attainment in the future will be based on the precepts of Dzogchen Ati." Bhakha Tulku Pema Rigdzin.

TPB

The Precious Treasury of the Way of Abiding

The Precious Treasury of the Way of Abiding
(Naylug Rinpochei Dzöd)
Longchen Rabjam

The Precious Treasury of the Way of Abiding, the first volume to be released in Longchen Rabjam's The Seven Treasuries series, is a treatise on the "four great samayas" of Dzogchen- ineffability, openness, spontaneous presence, and oneness.

In support of his presentation, Longchenpa quotes extensively from the Dzogchen Tantras, as well as from Garab Dorje, Nagarjuna, Shri Singha, Padmasambhava, and other great masters of the early Buddhist tradition.

The volume contains an introduction by the Venerable Tulku Thondup Rinpoche and a forward by His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. Chagdud Rinpoche, who has overseen the translation, underscores the importance of this work, saying it is truly a relic of the Dharmakaya. Hardcover.

TPB

The Oral Tradition from Zhang-Zhung

The Oral Tradition from Zhang-Zhung
An Introduction to the Bonpo Dzogchen Teachings of the Oral Tradition of Zhang Zhung known as the Zhang-zhung snyan rgyud..
The original Dzogchen teachings are found equally in the old, unreformed Tibetan schools of the Buddhist Nyingmapas and the pre- Buddhist Bonpos. These teachings are substantially the same in both schools in terms of meaning, terminology, and practice, both traditions justly claiming unbroken lineages of transmission coming down to the present day from the 8th century, and even before. Moreover, both schools assert that Dzogchen did not originate in Tibet itself, or even in India, but in Central Asia, variously known as Tazik and Uddiyana. From there it was brought to India and Central Tibet by certain Mahasiddhas, or great adepts, where it represented an Upadesha, or secret oral instruction, concerning an unconditioned state of being and awareness beyond the Tantric process of transformation. This refers to the Natural State of the Nature of Mind, one's own innate Buddha-nature, that is beyond all time, conditioning, and causality. In both traditions, the Nyingmapa and the Bonpo, Dzogchen is regarded as the ultimate teaching of the Buddhas of the three times and it is classified as the ninth or highest vehicle to enlightenment.

TPB