Zurchung Sherab Trakpa - Zurchungpa’s Testament: A Commentary on Zurchung Sherab Trakpa’s Eighty Chapters of Personal Advice by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Based on Shechen Gyaltsap’s Annotated Edition

Title; homage; different teachings to match different capacities; Deshek Gyawopa; the Tibetan translators; the defects of samsara; the importance of Zurchungpas advice; a summary of the five sections

Definition of Dharma; faith; faults of not having faith

Advantages of having faith the story of Lilavajra

Ones present life and circle of friends; the karmic law of cause of effect Ravi and his black and white pebbles the hunter Gonpo Dorje the story of Lopn Pawo; death and impermanence the story of King Mandhata; karma and rebirth; making the best use of ones human existence; the sufferings of samsara; the Three Jewels; teachers and holy beings; spiritual companions

Giving up attachment to ones home country; giving up household distractions; practicing when one has the opportunity Gonpo Dorjes meeting with Milarepa; pure perception; wealth, contentment, and the seven noble riches the boy who offered seven peas; not being distracted by ones relatives; the importance of practicing while one has the chance; using ones wealth for the right purposes the story of Anathapindaka Milarepas offering to Marpa; renunciation; keeping death in mind

Realization, experiences, and compassion; the importance of the teacher; suitable disciples; giving up attachment; long-term vision examples of Asanga and Ananda; devotion to the yidam and the Three Jewels Songtsen Gampo, Lama Mipham; diligence; avoiding negative actions; dealing with discursive thoughts; compassion and bodhichitta; faith in the teachings; keeping ones vows and commitments; the unborn nature of the mind; secrecy in preserving the profound instructions

Taking advantage of the continued presence of the Buddhas doctrine; the exceptional chance of coming across the teachings; the chance of having the right qualities for practice; an exhortation to practice dont listen to your relatives; generosity; dealing with difficulties in the practice; patience the example of Jigme Lingpa the rishi Patient Words; the point of practicing correctly; remembering death and countering attachment; demons obstacles to practice

Remembering death as a spur to diligence how precious the Dharma is a kings offering in order to receive teaching; avoid seeing faults in the teacher King Trisong Detsens doubts; keeping harmony with other practitioners practicing the teachings best suited to one avoiding sectarianism; pleasing the teacher and avoiding upsetting him; keeping the precepts; the unborn nature of the ground-of-all; obstacles and distractions; the four boundless qualities; avoiding negative actions mindfulness and vigilance; cultivating positive actions; understanding suffering the value of hardships; diligence until enlightenment is reached; uniting the two accumulations

The importance of practicing correctly renunciation, getting rid of attachment and desire, integrating the practice, devotion

Devotion, merit, a fit mind, concentration, freedom from afflictive emotions

Making sure that you are following the genuine path renunciation, refuge, meditation, the view, and understanding karma

Buddhahood is up to you King Trisong Detsens daughter; the importance of the samaya and devotion Gampopas swineherd disciple, Jigme Gyalwai Nyugus hunter disciple; combining skillful means and wisdom; uniting view and conduct; the nature of mind

Wrong teachers; wrong disciples Sunakshatra; samaya breakers; mixing positive and negative actions; knowing the teachings but not putting them into practice Devadatta

Diligence, forbearance, contentment, following a master of the profound teachings, courage, dealing with attachment and anger, maintaining the essential practice

Avoiding distractions, preparing for death, the right conditions for practice, maintaining the correct view, diligence, renunciation, contentment, making offerings to the teacher and receiving his instructions, humility, mindfulness, confidence, avoiding hypocrisy, generosity, patience, hardship, avoiding obstacles

Metaphors for avoiding errors Milarepas mistake

The experienced practitioners approach to different situations

Eight things that help avoid mistakes in the practice; eighteen statements on how things can go wrong with ones faith, the teacher, the practice, ones experience, the view, and the result

With regard to the view, meditation, action, samaya, master, disciple, practice, experiences, result, instructions, human body, death, ones name, conceit, and ones final fate

Metaphors for not practicing in the correct manner

How to put negative traits to good use

Pith instructions on the essence of the practice

The blessings of being able to practice correctly

Specific situations in which the samaya gets broken

Four ways, illustrated by similes, in which realization of the absolute nature leads to liberation

Four ways of cutting concepts, with similes

Ten ways in which one breaks ones commitment to practice

Pith instructions, with similes, on how to meditate

Instructions on how to rest naturally in meditation

Illustrations with regard to relaxation; freedom from concerns, hesitation, expectation and apprehension, and fear; clarity and absence of thoughts