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RANGJUNG YESHE BOOKS
Padmasambhava
Dakini Teachings +Advice from the Lotus-Born
Padmasambhava and Jamgon Kongtriil
Light of Wisdom, Vol I+ Light ofW isdom, Vol II
Yeshe Tsogyal
The Lotus-Born (Shambhala Publ)
Gampopa
The Precious Garland oft he Sublime Path
Dakpo Tashi Namgyal
Clari!Jing the Natural State
Tsele Natsok Rangdrol
The Heart oft he Matter+ Mirror ofM indfulness
Empowerment+ Lamp ofM ahamudra
Chokgyur Lingpa
Ocean ofA mrita, Ngakso Drubchen
Mipham Rinpoche
Gateway to Knowledge, Vol I+ Vol ll
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
Vajra Speech + Rainbow Painting
As It Is, Vol I+ Vol II
Repeating the Words oft he Buddha
Ten Lamas
In Memory ofK yabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
Songs ofNaropa +King ofSamadhi
Buddha Nature
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche
Indisputable Truth
The Union ofMahamudra & Dzogchen
Bardo Guidebook +Song ofK armapa
Tulku Thondup
Enlightened Living
Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche
Lift & Teachings ofChokgyur Lingpa
Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Carifrtt Dignity
THE LIGHT OF WISDOM
VOL. IV
THE ROOT TEXT
Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo
BY PADMASAMBHAVA
as recorded by Ye she Tsogyal,
and revealed and decoded
by Chokgyur Lingpa andJamyang Khyentse Wangpo
THE COMMENTARY
The Light of Wisdom
by ]AMGON KoNGTRUL THE FIRST
THE NOTES
Entering The Path ofW isdom
by ]AMYANG DRAKPA
as recorded by Jokyab Rinpoche
Supplemented with clarifying remarks by
Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
of
Translated from the Tibetan according to the teachings
Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
by Erik Perna Kunsang
RANGJUNG YES HE PuBLICATIONS • Boudhanath, Hong Kong & Esby • :zoot
RANGJUNG YESHE PuBLICATIONS
FLAT SA, GREENVIEW GARDEN,
125 RoBINSON RoAD, HoNG KoNG
www.RANGJUNG.coM
[email protected]
Address letters to:
Rangjung Ye she Publications
P.O. Box 1200, Kathmandu, Nepal
Copyright© 2001 Erik Hein Schmidt
First edition 2001
Printed in the United States of America on recycled acid-free paper
135798642
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without
written permission from the publisher. This edition is for restricted
circulation and is not meant for public sale.
Publication Data:
The root text, Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, by Padmasambhava, as recorded by Yeshe
Tsogyal, and revealed and decoded by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Chok
gyur Lingpa. The commentary, TheLightofWisdom, by Jamgon Kongtriil the
First. The notes, Entering The Path of Wisdom, by Jamyang Drakpa, as recorded
by Jokyab Rinpoche. Supplemented with clarifying remarks by Kyabje Dilgo
Khyentse and Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. Translated from the Tibetan
according to the teachings ofKyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche by Erik Perna
Kunsang (Erik Hein Schmidt).
The Root Text: bla ma'i thugs sgrub rdo rje drag rtsal las zhal gdams lam rim ye shes
snying po pad ma sam bha'i snying thig go.
The Commentary: bla ma'i thugs sgrub rdo rje drag rtsal las, zhal gdams lam rim ye
shes snying po'i 'grel pa ye shes snang ba rab tu rgyas pa.
The Notes: blamed nang rgyud sde gsum gyi rgyab chos pad-ma'i zhal gdams lam rim
ye snying 'grel pa ye shes snang ba'i zur rgyan brgyud /dan bla ma'i zhal rgyun rnams
brjed byang gcig bsdus ye shes lam 'jug.
ISBN 962-7341-43-6 (PBK.)
1. THE LIGHT OF WISDOM, Vol. IV. 2. Eastern philosophy-Buddhism. 3. Vajra
yana-Tibet. I. Title.
Cover art courtesy ofOrgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche.
Line drawings courtesy of© Shcchen Archives, by artists Konchog Lhadripa,
Wangdu, and Oleshey.
Teachers consultedf or transmission and clarifications
of
on the Light Wisdom series:
KYABJE DILGO KHYENTSE RINPOCHE
KYABJE TULKU URGYEN RINPOCHE
CHOKYI NYIMA RINPOCHE
TULKU PEMA WANGYAL RINPOCHE
CHAGDUD TULKU RINPOCHE
ORGYEN TOBGYAL RINPOCHE
LAMA PUTSE PEMA TASHI
KHENPO PEMA SHERAB
KHENPO TASHI PALDEN
KHENPO KONCHOK MONLAM
Prepared by Rangjung Yeshe Translations
Ka-Nying Shedruh Ling Monastery
Kathmandu, Nepal
Translator: Erik Perna Kunsang
Assistant translator and editor: Marcia Binder Schmidt
Associate editor: Michael Tweed
List ofi llustrations
Front cover: Padmasambhava, in the form of Guru Dorje Drakpo
Tsal, Powerful Vajra Wrath, one of the twelve manifestations in the
mandala of Tukdruh Barchey Kunsel
Courtesy ofOrgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche
Page IJ Padmasambhava
Page 29 Chokgyur Lingpa
Page SI Jamgon Kongtriil, Lodro Thaye
Page Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo
III
Courtesy ofS hechen Archi'lJes
CoNTENTs
Prejace9
Introductory Teaching 15
THE RooT TEXT
JI
THE CoMMENTARY
CHAPTER30
Ati Yoga.if
CHAPTER31
Instruction Section 65
CHAPTER32
Trekcho68
CHAPTER33
Togal9r
APPENDIX &. NOTES IIJ
Indexr53
Glossary I.if
PREFACE
The main focus of Light of Wisdom, Vol IV, is the practice of Ati
Yoga, the completion stage devoid of conceptual attributes. Here
Padmasambhava's precious pith instructions are clarified by Jamgan
Kongtriil, one of the greatest masters of Tibetan Buddhism. As previ
ously mentioned, with the consent of Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
I have structured the root text, commentary and notes to span several
volumes. Each of these texts are sequential continuations from the
previous volume.
Once, when asked about how to approach the many levels of
teachings contained in the Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, Tulku Urgyen Rin
poche said:
"It is correct that it is quite complex to practice the entire Lamrim
Yeshe Nyingpo. You can use whatever is directly appropriate. If you
practice development stage you should use the relevant instructions
according to the intent of the vase empowerment. When practicing
the secret empowerment you should use the instructions on the nadis
and pranas. When practicing the knowledge empowerment use the
teachings concerning the mental consort. When practicing the 'cut
ting through of primordial purity' you should use the teachings on
Dzogchen. This same principle goes for all other root texts. The
whole Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo is for you to use throughout your entire
life. It contains the complete path for different types of individuals,
including Hinayana, Mahayana and so forth. However, it's title Wis
dom Essence (Yeshe Nyingpo) means that its ultimate practice is Dzog
chen."
I was fortunate to receive detailed clarifications and invaluable oral
instructions from Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche on this particular
section. The introductory teachings and many of the endnotes were
9
extracted from explanations he gave that followed a similar outline as
the Lam rim Yeshe Nyingpo, Vol IV. To supplement the notes I have
used the Illuminating Sunlight by Khenpo Rinchen Namgyal, a close
disciple of Chokgyur Lingpa.
In 1988, I had the good fortune to stay at the same place in Hong
Kong as Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche who had just arrived back
from Eastern Tibet. One day he called me into his private room. He
asked me how far I had gotten in the translation of the Lamrim. Mter
I responded, he took both my hands in his and made me promise to
finish and publish the entire work. Honoring Rinpoche's vajra com
mand, we are printing and releasing this section of the text as well.
Another time Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche placed a draft of the
Lamrim on his head and said that it contained the essence of the path
of Vajrayana. I felt somewhat awkward that Rinpoche was putting my
English translation above his own head. It became apparent to me
later, however, that his sign of respect had nothing to do with lan
guage or our work. It was a way of venerating the teachings of Pad
masambhava and the revealed treasure of Chokgyur Lingpa. May this
work in some way be an extension of his vast aspirations. Over the
years, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, as well, has persistently ordered me
to complete the Lamrim and this section in particular. This publica
tion is a token to repay his kindness.
As a way to facilitate the authentic transmission of these teachings,
we have included the Tibetan verses of the root text. Please also use
them to ask your own Vajrayana master for clarifications.
The depth of this work is truly above my head and in no way do I
want to pretend being an expert Dzogchen translator. It has for some
incredible karmic reason been my fortune to translate for great Dzog
chen masters and what you see here is entirely their blessings - but
filtered through my limited understanding. As the faults and short
comings in the translation of the Lamrim become obvious, I invite
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