Erik Pema Kunsang - Perfect Clarity: A Tibetan Buddhist Anthology of Mahamudra and Dzogchen

PADMASAMBHAVA Dakini Teachings

Advice from the Lotus-Born Treasures From Juniper Ridge

PADMASAMBHAVA AND JAMGN KONGTRL

The Light of Wisdom, Vol. 1 The Light of Wisdom, Vol. 2

YESHE TSOGYAL The Lotus-Born

GAMPOPA The Precious Garland of the Sublime Path

DAKPO TASHI NAMGYAL Clarifying the Natural State

TSELE NATSOK RANGDRL Mirror of Mindfulness Empowerment Heart Lamp

CHOKGYUR LINGPA Ocean of Amrita The Great Gate

JAMGN MIPHAM RINPOCHE Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 1

Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 2Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 3 Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 4

TULKU URGYEN RINPOCHE Blazing Splendor

Rainbow Painting As It Is, Vol. 1As It Is, Vol. 2Vajra Speech Repeating the Words of the Buddha

ADEU RINPOCHE & TULKU URGYEN RINPOCHE Skillful Grace

KHENCHEN THRANGU RINPOCHE Crystal Clear

Songs of Naropa King of Samadhi Buddha Nature

CHKYI NYIMA RINPOCHE Present Fresh Wakefulness

Indisputable Truth Union of Mahamudra & Dzogchen

Bardo Guidebook Song of Karmapa

TSIKEY CHOKLING RINPOCHE Lotus Ocean

TULKU THONDUP Enlightened Living

ORGYEN TOBGYAL RINPOCHE Life & Teachings of Chokgyur Lingpa

TSOKNYI RINPOCHE Fearless Simplicity Carefree Dignity

DZOGCHEN TRILOGY COMPILED BY MARCIA BINDER SCHMIDT

Dzogchen Primer Dzogchen Essentials Quintessential Dzogchen

ERIK PEMA KUNSANG Wellsprings of the Great Perfection

A Tibetan Buddhist Companion The Rangjung Yeshe Tibetan-English

Dictionary of Buddhist Culture Perfect Clarity

MARCIA DECHEN WANGMO Confessions of a Gypsy Yogini

ADEU RINPOCHE Freedom in Bondage

TRAKTUNG DUDJOM LINGPA Clear Mirror

eISBN: 978-962-7341-80-2

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Copyright 2012 Rangjung Yeshe Publications

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Publication Data:
Perfect Clarity: A Tibetan Buddhist Anthology of
Mahamudra and Dzogchen.
Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang (Erik Hein Schmidt).
Compiled and Edited by Marcia B. Schmidt with Michael Tweed.

Eastern PhilosophyBuddhism. 2. BuddhismDoctrines.
3. VajrayanaTibet.

Cover Design: Maryann Lipaj
Cover Photo: Courtesy of Mani Lama

v3.1

Mahamudra and dzogchen
Differ in words but not in meaning.
The only difference is that mahamudra stresses mindfulness,
While dzogchen relaxes within awareness.

Tsele Natsok Rangdrol

For practitioners on the paths of dzogchen and mahamudra, one of the greatest joys is to personally receive oral instructions from a realized teacher. The excitement of being able to train based on that advice is further enhanced by the stimulation and support that guidance manuals provide. The pith teachings contained in these texts are so simple and direct that once we have received personal instructions, we can easily apply them without fear of mistakes. All of the selections presented in this book offer incredible knowledge that is inspiring and vital.

In collecting these pieces, I sensed the irony that even though most of these masters were the greatest scholars of their time, they were also renowned for their spiritual accomplishment, and although erudite, they wrote pithy, practical advice as well. Drawing on their combined learning and accomplishment, the likes of Gampopa, Longchenpa, and Jamgon Kongtrulto mention just a fewcomposed user-friendly guidance manuals distilling and refining the instructions to their quintessential points. For us ordinary beings, these essential, condensed points need to once again be unpacked by our teachers instructions. It is never enough to merely read texts like this and think that we can totally understand them without relying on a masters explanation. Even though full comprehension and assimilation results from practice, we need to be nurtured and guided. Only then are the three perfect measures complete, namely, taking the support of the words of the Buddha and realized masters, taking the support of our teachers oral instructions, and taking the support of our own pure experience and intelligence.

Perfect Clarity begins with supplications that are intended as a prelude to the book, as well as prayers for practitioners to use when meditating at home. Next are teachings presented from the mahamudra perspective, followed by those of the dzogchen viewpont. The unity section combines both the mahamudra and dzogchen approaches. To be able to offer this anthology is the result of the work of many dedicated people. Sincere thanks go to the translator, Erik Pema Kunsang, who makes these pith instructions come alive; to his primary editor, Michael Tweed, who works tirelessly on language and connotation; to Meghan Howard, a most trusted and gifted copy editor who does not let the meaning slip away; to Dr. Lynn Schroeder and Michael Yockey, the constant and careful proofreaders; to Joan Olson, whose elegance in design is uplifting; and to Maryann Lipaj, the artist who creates inspirational covers.

As usual sincere expressions of gratitude go to Richard Gere and Mollie Rodriguez of the Gere Foundation for their continual support and belief in our work. In these difficult times such generosity for production and translation offers light on the treacherous path of originality and tradition combined.

In the end the most sincere appreciation goes to the various authors, the realized beings who never give up on us hopeless beings and who offer us guidance on every aspect of the path. May we somehow repay a fraction of their kindness by accomplishing the advice herein, producing unexcelled benefit for countless other lost sentient beings.

When taking this picture of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Erik requested a photograph that upon being seen would resultin a special connection with the dzogchen teachings.
Rinpoche replied, Like this?Click!

A N I NTRODUCTION TO G UIDANCE M ANUALS

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Apply the three degrees of knowledge resulting from study, reflection, and meditation practice, as well as your theoretical understanding, experience, and realization, to the mahamudra and dzogchen teachings and you will possess everything necessary to reach the state of complete enlightenment in this very life.

In this dark age, the most effective style of teaching is not lengthy scholarly explanations but rather direct guidance manuals (