Distinguishing Phenomena and Pure Being was composed by Maitreya during the golden age of Indian Buddhism. Mipham's commentary supports Maitreya's text in a detailed analysis of how ordinary confused consciousness can be transformed into wisdom. Easy-to-follow instructions guide the reader through the profound meditation that gradually brings about this transformation. This important and comprehensive work belongs on the bookshelf of any serious Buddhist practitioner--and, indeed, of anyone interested in realizing their full potential as a human being.

"Mipham's commentary cogently supports Maitreya's text in a detailed analysis of how ordinary confused consciousness can be transformed into wisdom. Precise and detailed instructions guide the reader through the incredibly profound meditation that gradually brings about this transformation."--Buddhism Now

Ju Mipham Rinpoche(1846-1912) was a great master of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan buddhism and one of the leading figures in the Ri-me (non-sectarian) movement in Tibet.

This text, along with Ju Mipham Rinpoche's commentary, is taught extensively throughout the world by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, who considers this text to be of pivotal importance.

Jim Scott, a long-time student of Khenpo Ts'ltrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, translated this work at his request and under his guidance. Mr. Scott lives in Denmark.

Contents
Translator's Preface
The Root Text
The Commentary
The Authors' Introduction

The explication of the treatise
I. The meaning of the title
II. The translators' homage
III. The main body of the text
A. The verse introducing the author's intention
B. The actual body of the treatise
a) The brief presentation
1. The points comprising the essential subject matter
2. The defining traits of each of these
a) The definition of phenomena
b) The definition of pure being
3. The rationale underlying these traits
4. Examining both for sameness and difference
b) The expanded explanation
1. The expanded explanation of phenomena
a) A presentation of the headings
b) An explanation of each of these
(1) A passing reference to the first three points
(2) An explanation of the last three points
(a) The explanation of the two types of ground
(i) A brief presentation of both in common
(ii) An expanded explanation of the meaning of each
(a) Experience comprising a common ground
(b) Experience not shared in common
(b) How to approach reality; which is free of perceived and perceiver
(c) The tenet stating that there is no outer referent, only image-awareness
(i) The lack of a perceived object discrete from the perceiver
(ii) The elimination of any farther uncertainty
(d) The resultant procedure for approaching reality, the freedom from perceived and perceiver

2. The expanded explanation of pure being
a) A brief presentation of the headings
b) The expanded explanation of these six
(1) The defining characteristics
(2) The ground
(3) Definitive verification
(4) Encounter
(5) Recollection
(6) Complete immersion into its core
(a) The character of ultimate transformation
(b) The expanded explanation of its distinctive features
(i) The brief presentation of the headings
(ii) The expansion on these ten
(a) The essence
(b) The ingredients
(c) The individuals
(d) The special traits
(e) The requirements
(f) The ground
(i) The brief presentation
(ii) The expansion on these six points
i) The focal requirement
ii) Surrendering attributes
iii) How to apply the mind correctly in practice
iv) The defining characteristics of wisdom in terms
of its effects-the sphere of experience it opens
v) The benefits
vi) The introduction to full understanding
(a) The brief presentation
(b) The expansion on that
(i) Fully understanding the remedy
(ii) Fully understanding the concrete characteristic
(iii) Fully understanding the distinctive marks
(iv) Fully understanding the five effects
(g) Mental cultivation
(h) Application
(i) The disadvantages
(j) The benefits
c) The concluding summary employing examples to illustrate the point

IV. The concluding statement

The Author's Colophon
Dedication
Bibliography
Notes

The Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism began in the eleventh century with such renowned figures as Marpa and Milarepa and continues today. Mahamudra, the "Great Seal," is a central teaching of the Kagyu school. Formulated as a systematic practice by Gampopa (1079-1153), the mahamudra teachings trace their source to earlier Indian materials and focus on the cultivation of profound insight into the nature of the mind. Mahamudra texts in this volume include a lucid work by the celebrated master Tsele Natsok Rangdrol (b. 1608) and works by the twelfth-century master Shang Rinpoche, the great Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339), the Eighth Situ Chokyi Jungne (1700-1774), and Drukpa Pema Karpo (1527-1592). The volume also contains an inspirational work by Gampopa, the Drigung Kagyu root text One Viewpoint by Sherap Jungne (1187-1241), the Sixth Shamar Chokyi Wangchuk's (1584-1630) guide to the six dharmas of Naropa, and finally an overview of tantric practice by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal (1512-1587), author of the famous Moonlight of Mahamudra. The eleven texts in this volume were selected for inclusion in the Library of Tibetan Classics by the preeminent scholar of the Kagyu school, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche.

Peter Alan Roberts obtained a B.A. in Sanskrit and Pali and a D.Phil. in Tibetan Studies from Oxford University. For more than twenty years he has been working as an interpreter for Tibetan lamas and as a translator of Tibetan texts. He lives in Hollywood, California.

This books is in four parts.

The first part consists of Introduction by H.S. Prasad. He argues for sempiternal, dynamic and substantive reality underlying all appearances. He shows that as one rises to a higher level of consciousness, the various Yanas, like Sravakayana, Pratyekabuddhayana, Bodhi-sattvayana and Mahayana, all merge into ekayana; for each contributes to the gradual realisation of the oneness of ultimate reality, thus paving the way for the emergence of universal culture. On Prasad's view the much talked-about negativism of the Madhyamika-Sarvadrstisunyata is not an end in it self, rather it is a basis for the realisation of the essential unity of all beings, sentient as well as insentient, leading to the cultivation and promotion of universal good, compassion and friendliness.

In the second part is reprinted the Sanskrit text of Maitreya's Uttaratantra (Ratnagotravibhaga).

The third part includes correction and emendation suggested by Jikido Takasaki in the Sanskrit text in the light of Tibetan and Chinese versions.

The fourth part is an English translation of the text from its Tibetan version by E. Obermiller.

This book is a radical departure from the traditional interpretations of Buddhism and Madhyamika philosophy in particular. It aims at reviving philosophy as cultural activity, a path to enlightenment as spiritual discipline.

In this uniquely insightful overview and practice guide, Traleg Rinpoche presents a thorough introduction to the Kagyu Lineage's Mahamudra tradition. The author's approach is straightforward - he presents the Mahamudra teachings as a means of seeing things in, as he says, "a positive open light. Even things we might normally regard as bad and undesirable can be interpreted in a more uplifting way due to the expansiveness of the Mahamudra vision.

The Samadhi Raja Sutra forms the perfect link between the Mahayana training of a bodhisattva and the most profound tradition of Buddhist meditation practice known as Mahamudra

Practical Advice for Mahamudra Meditators.
Crystal Clear by the learned and realized Tibetan Master Thrangu Rinpoche, is a companion volume to the classic meditation manual - Clarifying the Natural State. In his straightforward and lucid style Rinpoche gives us an indispensable guidebook for insight practice (vipashyana).

For people who want more than just theory, this is a handbook that begins with watching the breath and leads practitioners through stages of realization, all the way to complete enlightenment.

Opens the way to a deeper knowledge of mahamudra, a Buddhist system of meditation on the nature of the mind. The author provides a detailed commentary on the Vajra Song of the first Jamgon Kongtrul (1813-1899), elucidating the stages of ground, path, and fruition for those who wish to meditate according to this system.

Buddhist Cosmology in Abhidarma, Kalachakra and Dzog-chen Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye ( 1813-99), a pivotal figure in eastem Tibet's nonsectarian movement, was one of the most outstanding writers and teachers of his time. In his monumental Encyclopedia of Buddhism he presents a complete account of the major lines of thought and practice that comprise Tibetart Buddhism. Myriad Worlds is the first part of that work.

As a prelude to Kongtrul's survey of the entire range of Buddhist teachings, Myriad Worlds describes four major cosmological systems found in the Tibetan tradition-those associated with the Hinayana, Mahayana, Kalacakra and Dzog-chen teachings. To suit the capacities of different grades of beings, Buddha taught four levels of cosmology: the numerically definite cosmology of the individual way; the cosmology of infinite buddhafields of the universal way; the special cosmological system of the Kalacakra Tantra; and the dazzling non-cosmology of the Dzog-chen system, which dispenses with the dualistic perspectives revealing the creative principle to be awareness alone.
Each of these cosmologies shows how the world arises from mind, whether through the accumulated results of past actions or from the constant striving of awareness to know itself.

This detailed and thorough account of worldviews that present conceptions of space and time which differ significantly from Western ideas is at once illuminating and challenging.

An introduction to Dzogchen.
To realise the beginningless purity and perfection of all reality as an indivisible unity of Voidness and appearance is to realise Dzog-ch'en, the Great Completeness. The lineage of this Mahayana system of meditation traces from Shakyamuni Buddha and was taken from India to Tibet by such masters as Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava and Vimalamitra.

Ces textes traditionnels de l'Ordre ancien non réformé Nyingmapa (dont l'un sur la Sagesse primordiale de S. S. Dudjom R.) ont été sélectionnés par le Vénérable Gyatrul Rimpoché en raison de leur pertinence vis à vis du mode de vie actuel de l'aspirant à la spiritualité qui doit combiner et équilibrer qualitativement le temps pour pratiquer, travailler et se reposer tout au long d'une journée occupée.