Luminous Heart: Essential Writings of Rangjung Dorje, the Third Karmapa

Description

A superb collection of writings on buddha nature by the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339) focusing on the transition from ordinary deluded consciousness to enlightened wisdom, the characteristics of buddhahood, and a buddha's enlightened activity--now in paperback. The Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, propounded a unique synthesis of Yogacara, Madhyamaka, and the classical teachings on buddha nature. His work occupies an important position between its Indian predecessors and the later, often highly charged, debates in Tibet about rangtong ("self-emptiness") and shentong ("other-emptiness"). The Third Karmapa is widely renowned as one of the major proponents of the Tibetan shentong tradition. This book contains a collection of some of his main writings on buddha nature; the transition of ordinary deluded consciousness to enlightened wisdom; and the characteristics of buddhahood. Though relying strictly on classical Indian sources, the Karmapa's texts are not mere scholarly documents. Their topics and styles bear great significance for practicing the Sutrayana and the Vajrayana as understood in the Kagy tradition to the present day, thus making what is described in these texts a living experience.

THE THIRD KARMAPA, RANGJUNG DORJE (1284-1339) was a scholar of fabled erudition. He mastered texts and teachings across sectarian boundaries, wrote treatises on medicine and astrology, built monasteries, and was spiritual advisor to the last Yuan emperor. JAMG N KONGTR L (1813-1899) was a versatile and prolific scholar. He has been characterized as a "Tibetan Leonardo" because of his significant contributions to religion, education, medicine, and politics. KARL BRUNNH LZL was trained as a physician and presently works as a Tibetan translator and Buddhist teacher. He studied Tibetology, Buddhology, and Sanskrit at Hamburg University and Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy and practice at the Marpa Institute for Translators in Kathmandu. Currently he works as a translator and interpreter for Nalandabodhi and the Nitartha Institute. He is the author and translator of over 10 volumes on Buddhist philosophy.