Traleg Kyabgon - Vajrayana: An Essential Guide To Practice

Books by Traleg Kyabgon

Actuality of Being: Dzogchen and Tantric Perspectives, Shogam Publications, 2020

Desire: Why It Matters, Shogam Publications, 2019

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

King Doha: Sarahas Advice to a King, Shogam Publications, 2018

Letter to a Friend: 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

Photo facing page: Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche the Ninth

Shogam Publications Pty Ltd

PO Box 239 Ballarat Central

Victoria, Australia, 3353

www.shogam.org

Copyright 2020 Felicity Lodro

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 when necessary to contact the copyright holder of all material not owned by the publisher reproduced herein, interested parties may contact the publisher for further information. The information contained within should be used for general purpose only.

Printed in Australia and the United States of America

Edited by Salvatore Celiento

Designed by David Bennett

Library Reference

Kyabgon, Traleg, 1955

Desire: Why It Matters

Printed book ISBN: 978-0-6483321-52 (Paperback)

E-book ISBN: 978-0-6483321-69

DEDICATION

Dedicated to all mother sentient beings

Through the ages masters of the Vajrayana lineage have secretly and profoundly kept the teachings alive and vibrant for those in future generations. This has allowed them to bestow empowerments, teachings, and pith instructions with the same vitality that they themselves received from their own masters. Now, even in the 21st century after many centuries and stretching over a millennia, we still have the profound opportunity to receive the blessings of and be greatly benefited by the initial teachings of Buddha Vajradhara.

Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche is one of these masters who kept the Vajrayana teachings vibrant and alive. With his immense wisdom and deep compassion for all living beings, his whole lifes legacy has been to transmit and transplant the dharma, particularly the Vajrayana lineage, into the new frontier of the western world. He has kindly given many teachings on the various Vajrayana subjects contained in this book in order to support and enhance our practice. These teachings illuminate the tantra and open up the meaning so we may access and fully appreciate what would otherwise remain hidden.

Felicity, Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoches Khandro, and all his students, have done an amazing job to keep Rinpoches teachings in the world by transcribing, editing, and publishing books like this. Their work is invaluable to all who have a connection to the Vajrayana dharma and especially to those connected to the Nyingma and Kagyu lineages. I therefore thank them and am immensely grateful for their dedication and devotion.

Dzigar Kongtrl Rinpoche

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 Kagyu and Nyingma traditions in particular, including the Havajra 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 Yesha 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 comparative 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.

Rinpoche established a retreat center, Maitripa Centre in Healesville, Australia in 1997 where he conducted two public retreats a year. Rinpoche founded E-Vam Buddhist Institute in the U.S in 2000, and Nyima Tashi Buddhist Centre in New Zealand in 2004. In 2010 Rinpoche established a Buddhist college called Shogam Vidhalaya at E-Vam Institute in Australia and instructed students on a weekly basis.