Songs Series

• A Yogi’s Song of Happiness: The Melody that Brings Universal Auspiciousness and Fulfilment by Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok

Written in 1999, this short spontaneous song expresses the joy of living the fortunate life of a Dzogchen yogi.

• The Sound of the Divine Drum: Advice at a Time of Victory by Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok

Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok sang this doha spontaneously in 1996 at a time when various outer, inner and secret obstacles had been overcome. It stresses the importance of meditating on Dzogchen, cultivating bodhicitta, maintaining ethical discipline, and having a positive basic character.

• The Spontaneous Sound of Uncontrived Song: A Lament Recalling the Great Guru of Oḍḍiyāna by Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok

A spontaneous song of lamentation composed at Tso Pema, India, in 1990 and later transcribed from an audio recording.

• Upon Arriving at Yangleshö by Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok

Composed at the cave of Yangleshö in Nepal, this spontaneous song praises the power of this sacred site, a place where Guru Padmasambhava once meditated and gained accomplishment, while also attesting to Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok's own poetic mastery and realization.

• Jangphen Namkha Dzong by Milarepa

In this spiritual song (mgur), the great yogi Milarepa praises the qualities of Kyangpen Namkha Dzong or Jangphen Namkha Dzong (rkyang phan nam mkha' rdzong), which he likens to a palace, and explains why it is so conducive to meditative retreat. The place is listed among the six well-known outer 'fortresses' associated with Milarepa.

• A Song of Amazement Inspired by Practice Experience by Sera Khandro

This song of amazement originates in a vision that Sera Khandro had while staying in retreat at Nyimalung in Amdo at the age of twenty-nine. The text is her response to the spirits and demons who appeared to her, asking what she was doing.

• Rain of Accomplishments: A Song that Incorporates the Four Mindfulnesses from an Instruction on the View of the Middle Way by Seventh Dalai Lama

This famous song summarizes four forms of mindfulness, which Mañjuśrī taught to Tsongkhapa: 1) mindfulness of the guru; 2) mindfulness of bodhicitta; 3) mindfulness of the body as a divine body; and 4) mindfulness of the view of emptiness.

• A Short Song of Practice by Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol

In this short song the famous yogi Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol explains the essence of all practices, from the contemplations of the outer preliminaries to the practices of the inner preliminaries, and the main practices of the generation and perfection stages.

• A Song of Compassion by Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol

The great yogi Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol is, like Milarepa, famous for the songs of realization through which he communicated the teachings. In this song, inspired by the repeated appearance of some beggars at his door, he expresses his compassion for all beings—his very own mothers from previous lives—who are now suffering in saṃsāra's various realms.

• When Remembering My Mother by Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol

Inspired by a thought of his mother, Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol sang these verses to himself, as a reminder of the importance of recognising all beings as one's mother and remembering their kindness.

• A Song of Advice for Gok Zangden by Khenpo Gangshar

A simple Dzogchen instruction written in verse.

• A Song to Introduce the Unmistaken View of the Great Perfection by Khenpo Gangshar

In this short yet powerful song, Khenpo Gangshar Wangpo points out the unmistaken view of the Great Perfection through a series of pithy instructions, which are rich in imagery and direct in tone.

• Mindfulness: The Mirror of the Mind by Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche

With a characteristic blend of bluntness and humility, Nyoshul Khenpo explains the importance of mindfulness (smṛti; dran pa) and exhorts his followers to rely upon it at all times.

• Natural Great Peace by Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche

In this short poem of just five lines, the great Dzogchen master Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche evocatively conveys the healing power of meditation.