Padmasambhava - The Light of Wisdom, Vol. III: Teachings on the Secret Empowerment

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PADMASAMBHAVA Treasures from Juniper Ridge Advice from the Lotus-Born, Dakini Teachings

PADMASAMBHAVA AND JAMGN KONGTRUL The Light of Wisdom, Vol. 1, & Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Secret, Vol. 4 & Vol. 5

PADMASAMBHAVA, CHOKGYUR LINGPA, JAMYANG KHYENTSE WANGPO, TULKU URGYEN RINPOCHE, ORGYEN TOBGYAL RINPOCHE , & OTHERS Dispeller of Obstacles The Tara Compendium Powerful Transformation Dakini Activity

YESHE TSOGYAL The Lotus-Born

DAKPO TASHI NAMGYAL Clarifying the Natural State

TSELE NATSOK RANGDRL Mirror of Mindfulness Heart Lamp

CHOKGYUR LINGPA Ocean of Amrita The Great Gate Skillful Grace Great Accomplishment Guru Heart Practices

TRAKTUNG DUDJOM LINGPA A Clear Mirror

JAMGN MIPHAM RINPOCHE Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, & Vol. 4

TULKU URGYEN RINPOCHE Blazing Splendor Rainbow Painting As It Is, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 Vajra Speech Repeating the Words of the Buddha, Dzogchen Deity Practice

ADEU RINPOCHE Freedom in Bondage

KHENCHEN THRANGU RINPOCHE King of Samadhi Crystal Clear

CHKYI NYIMA RINPOCHE Present Fresh Wakefulness Bardo Guidebook

TULKU THONDUP Enlightened Living

ORGYEN TOBGYAL RINPOCHE Life & Teachings of Chokgyur Lingpa

DZIGAR KONGTRUL RINPOCHE Uncommon Happiness

TSOKNYI RINPOCHE Fearless Simplicity Carefree Dignity

MARCIA BINDER SCHMIDT Dzogchen Primer Dzogchen Essentials Quintessential Dzogchen Confessions of a Gypsy Yogini Precious Songs of Awakening Compilation

ERIK PEMA KUNSANG Wellsprings of the Great Perfection A Tibetan Buddhist Companion The Rangjung Yeshe Tibetan-English Dictionary of Buddhist Culture & Perfect Clarity

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Copyright 19862017 Erik Hein Schmidt & Rangjung Yeshe Publications

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First published edition 2012

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Publication Data:

The root text, Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, by Padmasambhava, as recorded by Yeshe Tsogyal, and revealed and decoded by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Chokgyur Lingpa. The commentary, The Light of Wisdom, by Jamgn Kongtrl the First. The notes, Entering The Path of Wisdom, by Jamyang Drakpa, as recorded by Jokyab Rinpoche. Translated from the Tibetan by Erik Pema Kunsang (Erik Hein Schmidt), Gyurme Avertin, Lopon Damchoe Wangmo, and Marcia Binder Schmidt.

The Root Text: bla mai thugs sgrub rdo rje drag rtsal las zhal gdams lam rim ye shes snying po pad ma sam bhai snying thig go.

The Commentary: bla mai thugs sgrub rdo rje drag rtsal las, zhal gdams lam rim ye shes snying poi grel pa ye shes snang ba rab tu rgyas pa.

The Notes: bla med nang rgyud sde gsum gyi rgyab chos pad-mai zhal gdams lam rim ye snying grel pa ye shes snang bai zur rgyan brgyud ldan bla mai zhal rgyun rnams brjed byang gcig bsdus ye shes lam jug.

ISBN 978-0-9909978-6-3 (ebook)

1. The Light of Wisdom, Vol. III. 2. Eastern philosophy Buddhism. 3. Vajrayana Tibet. I. Title.

CONTENTS

EDITORS PREFACE

This final, public section of The Light of Wisdom, Volume III: Teachings on the Secret Empowerment, is once again a compilation of three texts: (1) Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo (The Gradual Path of the Wisdom Essence), a terma root text recorded by Yeshe Tsogyal and revealed in unison by Chokgyur Lingpa and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo; (2) The Light of Wisdom, a commentary on the Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo by Jamgn Kongtrl the Great; (3) Entering the Path of Wisdom, notes on these teachings collected by Jokyab Rinpoche.

This material was not included in the previous book, The Light of Wisdom: The Conclusion, due to uncertainty and hesitation on my part because such teachings on tsa lung practice, channels, wind-energies, and essences (bindus) is kept secret, like the name of the empowerment itself that authorizes the practitioner to engage in these trainings. After reviewing the material and discussing with one of my teachers, both of us fully aware of the constraints, I felt it best to share this volume with sincere Western practitioners who will need and benefit from these teachings.

There are still restricted sections of these three works that are available with a lot of effort. However, it is my wish to fulfill the vajra command of Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche to Erik Pema Kunsang to translate the entire thing. So, here you have almost all of it.

As with all Rangjung Yeshe publications, this is a group effort: Sincere thanks go to all the translatorsErik Pema Kunsang, Gyurme Avertin, and Lopon Damchoe Wangmo; Meghan Howard, who agreed to edit even in the midst of motherhood and preparing her thesis; the proofreaders, Lynn Schroeder and Michael Yockey; the typesetter, Joan Olson; the beautiful cover designer, Kelly Roberts, for the beautiful cover; and any and all sponsors who patiently awaited and supported this project. As an aside, please understand that the notes by Jokyab Rinpoche were an unusual challenge, some were out of place, others incomplete, and one in particular, was extremely difficult to read. I am amazed at the perseverance of our team for completing them at all!

Finally, I am still in awe of this sublime material and the responsibility to offer it, which I take very seriously. Please forgive any errors and hold this volume with joy and love. To connect with these teachings is an accumulation of incredible merit from the past and positive aspirations. May it be a vibrant support for realization and accomplishment!

INTRODUCTION

ORGYEN TOBGYAL RINPOCHE

The path of the vase empowerment is for the practice of the development stage. The path of the secret empowerment is for the practices of channels, winds, and essences and mantra recitation. The path of the wisdom-knowledge empowerment is the practice of the emptiness of the example wisdom that leads the ultimate wisdom being to arise in your experience. The secret empowerment and the wisdom-knowledge empowerments are the completion stage with and without characteristics. The precious word empowerment authorizes you to practice Dzogchen, primordially pure trekch and spontaneously present tgal.

The secret empowerment concerns practices for gaining control over the empty aspect. The key point for this is familiarity with the practices of channels, winds, and essences. If you are completely untrained with tsa lung, you will not be able to do vase breathing. Generally, the main point of development Mahayoga practice, the instructions connected to the vase empowerment, is visualizing the deity. The second empowerment, the secret empowerment, is Anu Yoga practice, the instructions connected to tsa lung. From the first, you need to know how to do the vase breathing. Of this there are three types: superior vase breathing; middling vase breathing; and the lowest form of vase breathing, the lesser. Setting aside the first two, if you cannot even do the lesser form of vase breathing, there is no way you will be able to do this practice.