Mahasiddha Practice: From Mitrayogin and Other Masters, Volume 16

Description

In this volume of The Treasury of Precious Instructions, Jamg n Kongtrul Lodr Taye compiles teachings and practices by and about the renowned Indian Buddhist masters known as mahasiddhas, recognized in all eight practice lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. The Treasury of Precious Instructions by Jamg n Kongtrul Lodr Taye, one of Tibet's greatest Buddhist masters, is a shining jewel of Tibetan literature, presenting essential teachings from the entire spectrum of practice lineages that existed in Tibet. In its eighteen volumes, Kongtrul brings together some of the most important texts on key topics of Buddhist thought and practice while also authoring significant new sections of his own. This volume presents a selection of teachings and practices centered on the mahasiddhas, Indian masters of tantric Buddhism, some of whom were of vital importance in transmitting the Vajrayana teachings to Tibet. The mahasiddha Mitrayogin, whose work forms the majority of this volume, visited Tibet in the late twelfth century. His ritual texts and instructions are translated from Tibetan, including sadhanas, empowerments, guru yogas, authorization rituals for protector deities, and detailed compositions on Mahamudra practice, or resting in the nature of mind. In addition to instructions given by mahasiddhas, this volume includes ritual practices to visualize them and transmit their blessings, including a devotional text composed by Jamg n Kongtrul himself. This translation, which may be engaged as a practice manual, preserves ancient teachings significant to the literature and history of world religions.

Jamgon Kongtrul 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. The Padmakara Translation Group, based in France, has a distinguished reputation for its translations of Tibetan texts and teachings. Its work has been published in several languages and renowned for its clear and accurate literary style.

"In his vast work The Treasury of Precious Instructions, Jamgoen Kongtrul Lodroe Taye, that most eminent of Tibetan Buddhist masters, collected together all the empowerments, instructions, and practices of the eight great chariots of the practice lineages. Not only that, but he himself received the complete transmissions for all the practices, accomplished them including the retreats, and preserved them in his own mindstream. He then passed on the transmissions to his own students and all who requested them. The Treasury of Precious Instructions exemplifies how Jamgoen Kongtrul Lodroe Taye's whole life was dedicated to teaching and spreading the Dharma, whether it be sutra or mantra, kama or terma, old or new translation school, free of sectarian bias. Without his supreme efforts, many traditions of Tibetan Buddhism would have been lost."-from the foreword by His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje