The Treasury of Knowledge: Book Five: Buddhist Ethics

Description

In Tibetan religious literature, Jamg n Kongtr l's Treasury of Knowledge in ten books stands out as a unique, encyclopedic masterpiece embodying the entire range of Buddhist teachings as it was preserved in Tibet. This volume is the fifth book of that work and is considered by many scholars to be its heart. Jamg n Kongtr l explains the complete code of personal liberation as it applies to both monastic and lay persons, the precepts for those aspiring to the life of a bodhisattva, and the exceptional pledges for practitioners on the tantric path of pure perception.

Jamg n Kongtr l (1813_x0096_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.

"The Treasury of Knowledge excellently presents the entire corpus of the sutra and mantra traditions from the paths of the common sciences all the way up to the uncommon Great Perfection or Atiyoga, which is the culmination of the nine vehicles."-H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche "Jamgoen Kongtrul Lodroe Taye was one of the leading scholars of the nineteenth century. He broke through sectarian constraints and achieved a deep understanding of the the different philosophical approaches in Tibet. I have no doubt that by studying Kongtrul's works readers will be inspired to emulate his great qualities of humility, dedication, patience, and nonsectarianism."-H.H. the Dalai Lama "Jamgoen Kongtrul was a true saint, a great scholar, an exemplary teacher, a renowned physician, a peacemaker, and one of the most prolific writers of Tibet."-Ringu Tulku "Jamgoen Kongtrul is considered to be one of the great leaders of the nonsectarian movement in Tibetan Buddhism and his Treasury of Knowledge is considered to be one of the most important texts for reference and study in Tibetan Buddhism. Many Tibetan teachers have a compact edition of this monumental work in their travel bags in order to consult it again and again for detailed questions of all types, and not infrequently whole chapters serve as the basis for courses."-Cornelia Weishaar-Gunter "These three vows or systems of ethics are essentially identical to the three forms of training on the Buddhist path: the development of morality, meditation, and wisdom, and embrace all forms of spiritual practice set forth in the Buddhist doctrine."-His Holiness Sakya Trizin "A clearly structured and lucid exposition of the qualities of spiritual teachers and their students as well as of the ethical systems of Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism."-Choice "This eminently accessible book is recommended to comparative ethicists as well as to a general audience."-Religious Studies Review "Upon seeing the Treasury of Knowledge, the first Khyentse Rinpoche (a contemporary of Lodroe Thaye) said that it was so inclusive of all knowledge that it did not seem to be composed by a human being but must have been written through the blessing of the dakinis."-Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche "In his monumental Treasury of Knowledge, [Jamgoen Kongtrul] presents a complete account of the major lines of thought and practice that comprise Tibetan Buddhism. . . . By studying Kongtrul's works, readers will be inspired to emulate his great qualities of humility, dedication, patience, and nonsectarianism."-The Indian International Journal of Buddhist Studies "Both the Tibetan original and the English translation are exemplary in their lucidity. . . . An incredible resource for all serious students of Tibetan Buddhism."-Georg Feuerstein, PhD, author of The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra