Traleg Kyabgon - King Doha: Saraha’s Advice to a King

Integral Buddhism: Developing All Aspects of Ones Personhood, Shogam Publications, 2018

Letter to a Frienda: Nagarjunas Classic Text, Shogam Publications, 2018

Song of Karmapa: The Aspiration of the Mahamudra of True Meaning by Lord Rangjung Dorje, Shogam Publications, 2018

Moonbeams of Mahamudra: The Classic Meditation Manual, Shogam Publications, 2015

Karma: What it is, What it isnt, and Why it matters, Shambhala Publications, 2015

Four Dharmas of Gampopa, KTD Publications, 2013

Asangas Abhidharmasamuccaya, KTD Publications, 2013

Ninth Karmapa Wangchuk Dorjes Ocean Of Certainty, KTD Publications, 2011

Influence of Yogacara on Mahamudra, KTD Publications, 2010

The Practice of Lojong: Cultivating Compassion through Training the Mind, Shambhala Publications, 2007

Mind at Ease: Self-Liberation through Mahamudra Meditation, Shambhala Publications, 2004

Benevolent Mind: A Manual in Mind Training, Zhyisil Chokyi Ghatsal Publications, 2003

The Essence of Buddhism: An Introduction to Its Philosophy and Practice, Shambhala Publications, 2002 & 2014

Photo facing page: Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche the Ninth

Shogam Publications Pty Ltd

PO Box 239 Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 3353

www.shogam.org

Copyright 2018 Felicity Lodro commentary

Root verses translation 2018 by Lynette Hutchison

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Enquiries should be made to the publisher.

Shogam Publications Pty Ltd has made every effort to contact the copyright holder of all material not owned by the publisher reproduced herein, interested parties may contact the publisher for further information.

Printed in Australia and the United States of America

Edited by Lynette Hutchison

Designed by David Bennett

National Library of Australia

Kyabgon, Traleg, 1955

King Doha: Sarahas Advice to a King

Printed book ISBN: 978-0-6481148-6-4 (paperback)

E-book ISBN: 978-0-6481148-7-1

To the fulfillment of the aspirations of Traleg Kyabgon IXth and all those who manifest wisdom mind.

I had the good fortune to meet Traleg Rinpoche in 2009 when he was visiting the San Francisco Bay Area with our mutual friend Sam Bercholz. We had a very engaging and celebratory dinner the first night we met and proceeded to become very good friends over the next few years.

The more I got to know Traleg Rinpoche the more I realized what a special and unique master he was. Traleg Rinpoche had a truly deep and profound understanding of the enlightened wisdom of the Buddha as embodied in the Kagy and Nyingma traditions. One of Traleg Rinpoches many unique and special qualities was that he was able to skillfully combine his deep passion and understanding of western philosophy and psychology within his presentation of the Buddhadharma. As a result Traleg Rinpoche was able to present the timeless wisdom of the Buddhas teachings in a very modern and contemporary manner in order to benefit students all over the world.

Another special quality of Traleg Rinpoches was that he was fearless and often presented the teachings of the Buddha in a very unconventional manner. Traleg Rinpoches extraordinary and deep understanding of the Buddhas teachings allowed him to live and teach in a very creative and vibrant way.

This book is a great reminder of what a special teacher Traleg Rinpoche was as readers will be very inspired by his commentary on the great master Sarahas text King Doha on the ground, path and fruition of Mahamudra. By reading and contemplating the teachings found in this beautiful commentary you will also receive a taste of Traleg Rinpoches extraordinary realization.

Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche Author of Our Pristine Mind Founder & Spiritual Director of Pristine Mind Foundation San Francisco Bay Area 25th May 2018

Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche IX (1955-2012) was born in Nangchen in Kham, eastern Tibet. He was recognized by His Holiness XVI Gyalwang Karmapa as the ninth Traleg tulku and enthroned at the age of two as the supreme abbot of Thrangu Monastery. Rinpoche was taken to Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim at the age of four where he was educated with other young tulkus in exile by His Holiness Karmapa for the next five years.

Rinpoche began his studies under the auspices of His Eminence Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche at Sangngak Choling in Darjeeling. He also studied with a number of other eminent Tibetan teachers during that time and mastered the many Tibetan teachings with the Kagy and Nyingma traditions in particular including the Hevajra Tantra, Guhyasamaja Tantra, and the third Karmapas Zabmo Nangdon (The Profound Inner Meaning) under Khenpo Noryang (abbot of Sangngak Choling). Rinpoche studied the Abhidharmakosha, Pramanavarttika, Bodhisattvacharyavatara, Abhidharmasamuccaya, Six Treaties of Nagarjuna, the Madhyantavibhaga, and the Mahayanuttaratantra with Khenpo Sogyal. He also studied with Khenpo Sodar and was trained in tantric ritual practices by Lama Ganga, who had been specifically sent by His Holiness Karmapa for that purpose.

In 1967 Rinpoche moved to the Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath, and studied extensively for the next five years. He studied Buddhist history, Sanskrit, and Hindi, as well as Longchenpas Finding Comfort and Ease (Ngalso Korsum), Seven Treasuries (Longchen Dzod Dun), Three Cycles of Liberation (Rangdrol Korsum), and Longchen Nyingthig with Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsondru.

When Rinpoche had completed these studies at the age of sixteen, he was sent by His Holiness Karmapa to study under the auspices of the Venerable Khenpo Yeshe Chodar at Sanskrit University in Varanasi for three years. Rinpoche was also tutored by khenpos and geshes from all four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism during this time.

Rinpoche was subsequently put in charge of Zangdog Palri Monastery (the glorious copper colored mountain) in Eastern Bhutan and placed under the private tutelage of Dregung Khenpo Ngedon by His Holiness Karmapa to continue his studies of Sutra and Tantra. He ran this monastery for the next three years and began learning English during this time.

From 1977 to 1980, Rinpoche returned to Rumtek in Sikkim to fill the honored position of His Holiness translator, where he dealt with many English-speaking Western visitors.

Rinpoche moved to Melbourne, Australia in 1980 and commenced studies in religion and philosophy at LaTrobe University. Rinpoche established E-Vam Institute in Melbourne in 1982 and went on to establish further Centers in Australia, America and New Zealand. For the next 25 years Rinpoche gave weekly teachings, intensive weekend courses, and retreats on classic Kagyu and Nyingma texts. During this time Rinpoche also taught internationally travelling extensively through America, Europe, and South East Asia and was appointed the Spiritual Director of Kamalashila Institute in Germany for five years in the 1980s.