Chenrezig Sadhana and Commentary


Book Description

This book includes "The Practice Text Extending Throughout Space for the Benefit of Beings" by Tangtong Gyalpo and "The Commentary Continual Rain for the Benefit of Beings" by the 15th Karmapa, Khakhyab Dorjé. The Practice Text is presented in Tibetan, English Transliteration and in English. The Commentary is presented in English. Translation was done by Pamela Gayle White under the guidance of the 14th Shamar Rinpoche. The meditation-recitation of four-armed Chenrezig given here is a particularly effective practice method for human beings. Its lineage originates with the 15th century Tibetan mahasiddha Tangtong Gyalpo, who was Chenrezig himself in human form. It belongs to the "gom-loung" class, meaning that we may engage in the practice without having first received an empowerment. Though it is quite accessible and easy to follow, this concise form of the Chenrezig meditation-recitation can ultimately lead to the same deep realization and results as far more elaborate Chenrezig practices.




Cultivating a Compassionate Heart


Book Description

An outstanding and engaging introduction to the most widely known Buddhist deity, Chenrezig also known as Avalokiteshvara or Kuan Yin written by a popular Western Buddhist teacher.




Buddhist Fasting Practice


Book Description

The Tibetan Buddhist practice of Nyungne (“nyoong-nay”) has been gaining increased attention in Buddhist centers across North America. Participants say the practice purifies them both physically and spiritually. This volume is the only comprehensive treatment in English of these powerful teachings. Nyungne is a profound, two-and-a-half-day practice, a length of time especially helpful for people whose schedules cannot accommodate long-term retreat. It involves the keeping of strict vows; the second day is devoted to complete silence and fasting. The meditation centers on the recitations, mantras, and guided visualizations of the Thousand-Armed Chenrezig, the embodiment of all the buddhas’ loving-kindness and compassion. Translated as “abiding in the fast,” Nyungne is said to be effective in the healing of illness, the nurturing of compassion, and the purification of negative karma.




Buddhism for Beginners


Book Description

This easy-to-understand introduction to Buddhism is “written for people wanting to understand basic Buddhist principles and how to integrate them into their lives” (H.H. the Dalai Lama) This user’s guide to Buddhist basics takes the most commonly asked questions—beginning with “What is the essence of the Buddha’s teachings?”—and provides simple answers in plain English. Thubten Chodron’s responses to the questions that always seem to arise among people approaching Buddhism make this an exceptionally complete and accessible introduction—as well as a manual for living a more peaceful, mindful, and satisfying Life. Buddhism for Beginners is an ideal first book on the subject for anyone, but it’s also a wonderful resource for seasoned students, since the question-and-answer format makes it easy to find just the topic you’re looking for, such as: • What is the goal of the Buddhist path? • What is karma? • If all phenomena are empty, does that mean nothing exists? • How can we deal with fear? • How do I establish a regular meditation practice? • What are the qualities I should look for in a teacher? • What is Buddha-nature? • Why can't we remember our past lives?




The Nectar of Bodhicitta


Book Description

LYWA director Nick Ribush writes: The story behind this book is that in the early Kopan Monastery courses, Lama Zopa Rinpoche would start his day’s teachings by quoting a verse from Shantideva’s or Khunu Lama Rinpoche’s seminal texts, giving a short teaching on it and then suggesting that students use it to generate a bodhicitta motivation for the day’s activities (mainly teachings, meditations and discussion groups but also ordinary activities such as eating, talking, walking around and so forth). Since those days I’ve always thought that a compilation of these short teachings would make a great book, and finally, here it is. Editor Gordon McDougall has assembled Rinpoche's teachings into two parts, sorted by author of the verses and arranged thematically. In Part One, Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches on selected verses from Khunu Lama Rinpoche's Jewel Lamp, now published as Vast as the Heavens, Deep as the Sea. Lama Zopa Rinpoche advises, "Understanding and constantly reminding ourselves of the skies of benefits that bodhicitta brings is unbelievably worthwhile. This is the overall purpose of Khunu Lama Rinpoche’s book, to cause us to feel inspired and joyful that such a mind is possible." In Part Two, Rinpoche teaches on verses from the first chapter of Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life. These verses describe the amazing benefits of developing the precious mind of bodhicitta, the supreme cause of happiness for all sentient beings.




Tantra


Book Description

In this sixth and final volume in the Foundation of Buddhist Thought series, Geshe Tashi Tsering brings his familiar, helpful approach to the esoteric practices of Buddhist tantra. Anticipating the many questions Westerners have upon first encountering tantra's colorful imagery and veiled language, Tantra uses straight talk to explain deities, initiations, mandalas, and the body's subtle physiology of channels and chakras. Tantric Buddhism provides a quick avenue to buddhahood by means of dissolving the body's wind energies into the central channel at the heart, mimicking the transformations of consciousness that occur at the time of death. Guiding readers systematically from tantra's generation stage through to the full enlightenment of the completion stage, Geshe Tashi Tsering even unpacks a simple compassion practice composed by the Dalai Lama, using it to illustrate the building blocks common to all such visualization techniques. Tantra is a fitting conclusion to this accessible and practical series.




Wake Up to What Matters


Book Description

An introduction to the Dharma for millennials by a young Tibetan lama. This unique and fresh presentation of Tibetan Buddhism provides all the tools a millennial needs to navigate the Buddhist path in a modern world. The twenty-five-year-old lama, Avikrita Vajra Sakya, was born and raised in America and now lives in a monastery in India, training in and teaching meditation and Buddhist philosophy to hundreds of monks and nuns. He has thousands of students all over the world, with over 100,000 people following him on Facebook. His style of writing is frank and open, hitting straight to the heart of young people's concerns for why they should bother with a spiritual path in the age of cell phones and shopping malls. There is no other book like this available that makes such a direct argument for being a twenty-first century Buddhist, whether you are living in Seattle or in a Himalayan hermitage. Fundamentally, we all have the same hang-ups and all equally have the potential to become buddhas ourselves by cultivating loving-kindness, compassion, and wisdom. And this book teaches readers to do just that.




From the Heart of Chenrezig


Book Description

The lineage of the reincarnated line of Dalai Lamas has held primary spiritual authority and, until recently, temporal power in Tibet since the beginning of the fifteenth century. The translations in this book represent a curated set of their writings specifically on tantra, the advanced path of Tibetan Buddhism in which practitioners use a variety of methods and techniques to directly overcome delusion and conflicting emotions. If one has the proper training in sutra and tantra, it is said that the path to enlightenment can be traversed swiftly. Glenn H. Mullin, one of the foremost translators of the Dalai Lamas, has selected key texts from eight of the Dalai Lamas that clearly elucidate the proper understanding and context of the tantric system in this lineage.




The Preliminary Practice of Dorje Khadro eBook


Book Description

Making burning offerings to Dorje Khadro (Vajradaka) is considered to be "a golden Dharma" passed directly from Manjushri to Lama Tsongkhapa. It was one of Lama Tsongkhapa's heart practices and, as such, has a special connection with the Gelug lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The practice of Dorje Khadro comes highly praised for its power to purify negative karma in general, but especially for its ability to purify obstacles caused by broken vows and samaya related to highest yoga tantra. It also assists us in assembling the most conducive conditions for success in long retreats. This practice is encouraged as a powerful way to help those who are sick or dying and as a method to readily clear the mind of challenging disturbing emotions. The collection provides everything one needs to be able to do the complete ngöndro of Dorje Khadro, the recitation of the principal mantra 100,000 times coupled with extensive visualization and prayers. The book's practice section includes the Dorje Khadro practice text, Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga and lam-rim and dedication prayers. In addition, the book contains teachings that contribute to a student's understanding of how to best engage in this practice. A precise commentary from Geshe Lama Konchog, an inspiring teaching from Lama Zopa Rinpoche based on a commentary written by Panchen Losang Chökyi Gyältsen, and a unique teaching from Lama Yeshe comprise the commentary section. The book's advice section includes guidelines for how to use the materials to complete the preliminary practice, either as a full-time retreat or as a daily practice. "Offering the burning puja to Dorje Khadro is one of the very profound practices for purification, regarded as a golden Dharma, a precious one. It is Lama Tsongkhapa's heart practice, and his followers practice it knowing it to be extremely beneficial." – Lama Zopa Rinpoche 148 pages, 2012 edition.




Six-Session Guru Yoga Commentary eBook


Book Description

This practice is restricted to only those with the appropriate tantric initiation. If you are unsure whether you are qualified or not, please email us at [email protected]. By purchasing this text, you confirm you have received the appropriate initiation. You need to have received an initiation (wang) of the yoga tantra or highest yoga tantra class in order to read these commentaries of the six-session guru yoga. Within the Gelug tradition, practicing the six-session guru yoga is a daily commitment for anyone who has received a highest yoga tantra initiation. This text provides the commentary from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the benefits of the practice, how to meditate on each verse of the sadhana, and the samayas of the five buddha families. The commentary uses the extension version of Phabongkha Dechen Nyingpo’s Six-Session Guru Yoga as its basis. Contents Include: - The Benefits of Six-Session Guru Yoga - How to Practice Six-Session Guru Yoga - The Samayas of the Five Buddha Families “Phabongkha Dechen Nyingpo said Six-Session Guru Yoga is much more precious than three galaxies filled with gold,” Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches in Six-Session Guru Yoga Commentary. “Why? Because the practice of Six-Session Guru Yoga has unbelievable benefits. It gives incredible protection. This practice eliminates so much heavy negative karma and purifies all ten nonvirtuous actions. It purifies broken pratimoksha vows, bodhisattva vows, and tantric vows. It allows us to practice the general tantric vows, the samayas of the five buddha families, and the particular tantric root vows. By doing Six-Session Guru Yoga, we practice all the samayas and are reminded of the fourteen root downfalls and eight bompos of mother tantra samaya. We accumulate unbelievable merit by keeping the samayas and vows of tantra. According to the root tantra of Manjughosha, without practicing the pure morality of these vows, we have no basis for tantric realization and no way to achieve enlightenment. Even if we don’t do many other practices, living purely in the samaya vows is enough. Therefore, this practice gives incredible protection.” 76 pages, 2020 edition.