Wisdom Publications,U.S.

Explore the guru yoga practice of Je Tsongkhapa with a legendary meditation master.The Hundreds of Deities of Tusita is an inspiring and well-loved guru yoga practice that originated from Je Tsongkhapa himself and was disseminated by the First Dalai Lama. In this book, Choden Rinpoche—a celebrated scholar who was chosen as a debate partner for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as well as an accomplished yogi who spent nineteen years in solitary retreat—offers two different commentaries to guide the reader’s understanding. Rinpoche’s first commentary is based on the tantric oral tradition as presented by the great lama and scholar Pabongkha Dechen Nyingpo in his own inspired commentary on The Hundreds of Deities of Tusita, called A Treasury of Precious Jewels, which is presented here in full. Rinpoche adds clarifying instruction to Pabongkha Rinpoche''s work, bringing out the deeper meaning of the text and revealing how ordinary practitioners may understand and apply the instructions. The second commentary from Rinpoche is a condensed commentary based on the sutra tradition. Thus, the reader is treated to two different perspectives of the guru yoga practice of Je Tsongkhapa. Previously published as Opening the Door of Blessings, this edition has been revised and updated, and is an essential addition to any practitioner’s library.

In this authoritative account of one of the most important practices in Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Zopa shows us how facing the reality of death and impermanence can transform and enrich our life.What death is, how we die, what minds we need at death and what happens after death—only by knowing about death and rebirth can we actually fully understand what life is and so learn how to live fully. —Lama Zopa Rinpoche There is arguably no truth more foundational to Buddhism than this: everything is impermanent. We can see this in the world all around us; old systems break down, relationships change. Death comes for those we love and, inevitably, for us. In this book, the late, beloved teacher Lama Zopa Rinpoche walks us through the traditional, revelatory practices of meditating on the fact of impermanence and even—especially—on death itself. Rather than shy away from this reality, we look straight at it, and thus we learn not only how to not fear death, but how to live.

Tibet’s philosophical tradition is on brilliant display in this anthology of works exploring the means to finding certainty in an impermanent and interdependent world. Here, descendants of the great Tsongkhapa plumb the nature of knowing to harness it in the service of awakening.This volume includes translations of three separate Tibetan works by iconic figures in the Geluk school of Buddhism. The first work, Banisher of Ignorance, is by Khedrup Gelek Palsang (1385–1438), and the second, On Preclusion and Relationship, is by Gyaltsab Darma Rinchen (1364–1432). The authors—popularly known as Khedrup Je and Gyaltsab Je—were the foremost disciples of the Geluk-school founder, Tsongkhapa Losang Drakpa (1357–1419). The third text, Mighty Pramana Sun, is a commentary on the first chapter of Candrakirti’s Clear Words (Prasannapada) by Jamyang Shepa (1648–1721). These works concern themselves primarily with the Buddhist theory of knowledge—the means by which we are able to know things and how we can be certain of that knowledge. Encapsulating this theory is the notion of pramana, the Buddhist understanding of which was shaped most significantly by the Indian masters Dignaga (fifth to sixth century) and Dharmakirti (seventh century). Based on their explanation, pramana is often translated as “valid cognition,” a literal reference to the kind of cognition that they proposed could be relied upon to supply indisputable knowledge. In the Buddhist Pramana tradition, rigorous reasoning is held to play a crucial role in gaining such knowledge, and there is no better exemplar of the sophistication this endeavor achieved in Tibet than Khedrup Je’s work here. He systematically catalogs and rebuts a host of views with unmatched acumen and flair. All three works illustrate how those who follow the tradition have viewed the systematic approach as necessary not only for textual analysis—for those seeking to unravel the complexities of the Indian Buddhist scriptures and treatises—but also for practitioners aiming to progress along the spiritual path and achieve the highest Buddhist goals.

Immerse yourself in the extraordinarily transcendent practice of the yoga of Niguma.The yoga of Niguma comes to us from a secret tradition passed down over hundreds of years by Buddhist yogis in Tibet. The practice originated with the eleventh-century female yogini Niguma, who mastered and transmitted a tradition of remarkable practices that culminate in physical, spiritual, and emotional wellness. In this book, His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche, a Tibetan master who holds this lineage for today’s generation, is now opening up the practice to make its extraordinary benefits accessible to the modern yogi. The yoga of Niguma consists of twenty-five sets of yogic exercises. Some are physically challenging while others are quite subtle in nature; all are grounded in meditation on the breath. Kalu Rinpoche illuminates the practice by sharing his own personal journey with the yoga of Niguma and how the lineage came to be. He also teaches us how we can prepare the mind for this practice with meditation and how to balance our emotions. Then, Rinpoche takes us step-by-step through the twenty-five illustrated sequences of Niguma yoga. Coauthor Michele Loew, an international yoga teacher, shares supportive Hatha yoga techniques that will bolster your Niguma yoga practice. The yoga of Niguma is a revered method that integrates body, mind, and breath. Dive in to discover for yourself a gradual, profound groundswell of subtle awakening.

Dive into an ocean of Buddhist wisdom with this masterful immersion in Shantideva’s well-known guide to the boundless spirit of the bodhisattva.Shantideva’s Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicaryavatara) is without a doubt one of the greatest masterpieces of Indian Buddhism and the single most influential text on Mahayana ethical theory. Since it was composed in the eighth century, it has continuously animated the living tradition—especially in Tibet, but now in the West as well—as more translations have become available. Its poetic evocations of the spirit of awakening allow readers to enter the mind of the bodhisattva. Nineteenth-century master Minyak Kunzang Sonam composed what came to be the most extensive commentary in any language on Shantideva''s masterpiece. This commentary came to be known as the Great Hum because it fills the entirety of the third or hum volume of the author’s collected works. Citing hundreds of sutras, he shows how Shantideva’s verses are beautifully integrated within, and express, the Buddhist textual universe. In particular he ties Shantideva’s verses with the Anthology of Training, the thematic collection of scriptural citations also compiled by Shantideva, creating a detailed tapestry of Mahayana thought and practice. Kunzang Sonam’s commentary on the philosophically rich ninth “Wisdom” chapter was published previously as The Profound Reality of Interdependence, and this volume presents his commentary on the first eight chapters, detailing the generation of the spirit of awakening, the cultivation of positive qualities, and the practice of meditation. Embedded in the commentary is a fresh translation of Shantideva’s verses, making this an unparalleled guide to appreciating their layers of meaning and applying them in one’s practice and life.

A Zen Buddhist priest paints a picture of Zen in Ireland in this collection of short essays.In this personal and enlightening collection of short essays, Irish Soto Zen priest Myozan Ian Kilroy describes how he came to practice Zen, introduces the basics of Zen philosophy, and recalls the challenges of establishing a Zen Buddhist community in Catholic-dominated Ireland. Along the way, he explores the rituals and practices that Zen brings to everyday life, from holidays to weddings to birth ceremonies to funerals. A former journalist, Rev. Myozan’s lucid and entertaining storytelling style paints a clear picture of how Zen has adapted to the culture and traditions of Ireland.