Translations by Laura Swan

Translators › Laura Swan

English (68)

Laura Swan began her study of Tibetan and Buddhadharma in 2005 at Rangjung Yeshe Institute and continued her studies at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling’s monastic shedra. She has translated for Samye Translations, 84000, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, and more recently for the Khyentse Vision Project.



Texts translated into English by Laura Swan

Atiśa Dīpaṃkara

Atiśa Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna imparted this advice to his disciples at the request of Lha Changchub Ö as he was preparing to return to India. In it, he offers basic guidance on how to lead a spiritual life, escape "the swamp of saṃsāra" and reach "the dry shores of liberation."

Buddhagupta

A brief guide to cultivating immeasurable loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity; it is attributed to the Indian master Buddhagupta and included within the Tengyur (Toh 3914).

Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa

A brief offering to the treasure guardians (gter srung mchod pa) for The Guru’s Heart Practice, Wish-Fulfilling Jewel (thugs sgrub yid bzhin nor bu) revelation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa.

This prayer invoking the blessing of the buddhas, bodhisattvas and accomplished practitioners (vidyādharas) of Tibet is taken from the compilation A Shower of Precious Blessings: A Garland of Supplications to Guru Rinpoche, Embodiment of All Refuge Objects, and to the Three Roots and Lineage Masters.

In an address to disciples, Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa sets out a vision of nonsectarianism, in which he emphasizes the commonality of traditions and decries the divisiveness that periodically plagues Tibet and constitutes an act of forsaking the Dharma.

A short prayer to Guru Rinpoche as the source and embodiment of all tantric lineages in Tibet, composed at the request of Riwoche Jedrung.

Chokgyur Lingpa revealed this Gesar practice on the 25th day of the Monkey month in the Fire Rabbit year (1867) following a pure vision. The Second Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche, Könchok Gyurme Tenpé Gyaltsen (1871–1939), later compiled and arranged the treasure text as a sādhana.

Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa revealed this concise smoke offering practice (bsang mchod) as part of the famous cycle known as The Guru's Heart Practice: Dispelling All Obstacles on the Path (bla ma'i thugs sgrub bar chad kun sel).

Chokgyur Lingpa revealed this brief Red Hayagrīva sādhana in 1856. It is part of the Magnetizing Profundity of Hayagrīva, which, in turn, belongs to The Sevenfold Profundity (zab pa skor bdun) collection within the Chokling Tersar.

This treasure text invoking the Thirty-Five Buddhas of Confession was revealed by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa as part of the cycle of The Great Compassionate One, Lotus Uṣṇīṣa (thugs rje chen po pad+ma gtsug gtor). It presents a concise version of the famous Bodhisattva’s Confession of Downfalls (byang chub sems dpa'i ltung ba bshags pa).

Chokgyur Lingpa revealed the secret cycle of The Heart Practice of Mighty Vajra Wrath (Tukdrup Dorjé Draktsal) from Yegyal Namkha Dzö. This particular Guru Draktsal sādhana is regarded as the auxiliary practice to Chokgyur Lingpa’s The Gradual Path of Wisdom Essence (lam rim ye shes snying po).

This concise practice of Guru Dewa Chenpo (gu ru bde ba chen po), the Guru of Great Bliss, was revealed as a terma by Chokgyur Lingpa and transcribed by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye at Tsurpu Monastery.

A simple text to accompany the offering of fragrant incense smoke (bsang) to Gesar Sengchen Norbu Dradül, Great Lion Jewel, Tamer of Foes.

A practice of white and red Sur (gsur), or 'burnt offering', revealed by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa.

Chokling Tersé Tulku

This short feast-offering liturgy incorporates the Prayer in Six Vajra Lines (Dü Sum Sangyé) and can be used in connection with any guru sādhana.

Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche

Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche (b.1951) composed this short biography of his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche (1920–1996), following repeated requests from the khenpos, tulkus, vajra masters, and senior monks of Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling, as well as from disciples at Nagi Gompa, Asura Cave retreat centre, and other Dharma centres.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche adapted this teaching on śamatha and vipaśyanā from The White Lotus, Mipham Rinpoche's supportive teaching (rgyab chos) for the Treasury of Blessings sādhana of Buddha Śākyamuni. The text explains how to accomplish both śamatha and vipaśyanā in the context of that practice and clarifies the relationship between Buddha Śākyamuni, the yidam deity and the guru.

Dudjom Lingpa

General advice on how to apply the teachings and gain liberation in a single lifetime through recognising the nature of mind.

Dudjom Rinpoche

Dudjom Rinpoche wrote this short prayer when he was engaged in long-life practice at Māratika cave in Nepal, the sacred site where Guru Rinpoche achieved immortality with his consort, Mandāravā.

Eighth Karmapa

A short practice of the lion-faced ḍākinī, Siṃhamukhā (seng gdong ma), who is associated with the elimination of adversity, threats and danger.

Fifteenth Karmapa

A brief rite of amṛta or 'medicinal nectar' offering (sman mchod) to accompany The Guru’s Heart Practice, Wish-Fulfilling Jewel (thugs sgrub yid bzhin nor bu) revelation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa.

Guru Chökyi Wangchuk

A collection of brief ḍhāraṇīs that are said to encapsulate the essence of the entire Kangyur (bka' 'gyur), or Collected Words of the Buddha, and serve as a powerful means of purification when recited.

Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye

This popular song of devotion composed by the celebrated Rimé (ecumenical) master Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé has two parts: the first an invocation of the great holders of various lineages, and the second a declaration of one's own faults and a request for the guru's aid in overcoming them and attaining realization.

This practice of smoke (bsang) offering to supplement The Excellent Vase of Jewels Wealth Practice (nor sgrub rin chen bum bzang) from the Chokling Tersar was composed at Chokgyur Lingpa's request.

Jamgön Kongtrul supplemented the root treasure text and arranged it into this elaborate sādhana of Guru Dewa Chenpo, which belongs to the Three Roots sub-cycle within the larger cycle of Sevenfold Profundity.

This concise ritual for cultivating the pure realm of Amitābha was arranged by Jamgön Kongtrul based on Chokgyur Lingpa’s Amitābha sādhana from the Essence Manual of Oral Instructions (zhal gdams snying byang). The practice forms the sixth of eleven modes of liberation in Kongtrul's Wondrous Ocean: An Elucidation of the Application of the Eleven Modes of Liberation of the Sambhogakāya, Tamer of Beings (longs sku 'gro 'dul gyi las rim grol ba bcu gcig gi lag len gsal byed ngo mtshar rgya mtsho).

This description of gaṇacakra, preserved in The Treasury of Extensive Teachings (rgya chen bka’ mdzod), presents a clear Nyingma perspective on the practice of gaṇacakra. The text does not refer to any particular sādhana, but offers a generic explanation that is remarkable for its clarity and detail.

Supplication to the lineage of Tsokyé Nyingtik, the secret practice among the Chokling Tersar’s Four Cycles of Guru Yoga (bla sgrub skor bzhi).

Jamgön Kongtrul composed this lineage prayer for The Guru’s Heart Practice, Wish-Fulfilling Jewel (thugs sgrub yid bzhin nor bu) while residing at his famous retreat centre of Tsadra Rinchen Drak.

This simple practice of 'freeing lives' (tshe thar), which is included in the Rinchen Terdzö, was arranged by Jamgön Kongtrul Rinpoche, who drew mainly upon The Innermost Secret, Unsurpassed Longevity Practice (tshe sgrub yang gsang bla med) of Longsal Nyingpo (1625–1692).

A guru yoga featuring the three great nonsectarian masters Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, and Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thayé as embodiments of the Lords of the Three Families—Avalokiteśvara, Mañjuśrī and Vajrapāṇi.

Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

A concise ritual invoking the Four Great Kings (rgyal chen sde bzhi), who are the guardians of the four directions, when establishing and dissolving retreat boundaries.

This short Tārā feast-offering was composed for practitioners who wish to offer a simple gaṇacakra feast within a Tārā sādhana, such as the Zabtik Drolchok.

Verses in praise of the eighth-century princess and ḍākinī Mandāravā, one of the principal consorts of Guru Padmasambhava.

In 1848, at the age of twenty-eight, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo had a vision in which he was blessed by Guru Rinpoche, who then dissolved into his heart. As a result, the root practice of Guru Tsokyé Nyingtik, the Heart-Essence of the Lake-Born Guru, arose in Khyentse Wangpo’s mind, and he immediately wrote down its activity manual.

According to the colophon, this elaborate ritual for cultivating the pure realm of Amitābha was compiled by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo at the passing of Chokgyur Lingpa’s mother, Tsering Yangtso. Taking Chokgyur Lingpa’s treasure Amitābha sādhana from the Essence Manual of Oral Instructions (zhal gdams snying byang) as a basis, Khyentse Wangpo added further instructions and verses, primarily from The Array of Amitābha Sūtra (Toh 49, 'od dpag med kyi bkod pa) and The King of Aspiration Prayers (bzang spyod smon lam).

A daily practice of the Great Compassionate One, Wish-fulfilling Wheel (thugs rje chen po yid bzhin 'khor lo), a yidam practice which Chokgyur Lingpa revealed at Yegyel Namkha Dzö in 1856.

The longer sādhana, or ritual manual (las byang), for the The Guru’s Heart-Practice, Wish-Fulfilling Jewel (thugs sgrub yid bzhin nor bu), which was jointly revealed by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa at Drak Rinchen Barwa on November 16, 1858.

Jamyang Khyentse says that he wrote this four-verse prayer to the founders of the practice lineage, i.e., Marpa Lotsāwa, Milarepa and Gampopa, in the first month of the Wood Ox year (1865) following a dream.

Jedrung Jampa Jungné

A brief Taklung Kagyü preliminary, or ngöndro, that focuses on Vajradhara, the great Indian siddhas, and the masters of the Taklung Kagyü tradition.

Jedrung Jampa Jungné composed this guru sādhana following a vision of the ḍākinī Kadalī. It involves a self-visualisation of Cakrasaṃvara and a front-visualisation of Vajradhara surrounded by the Eighty-Four Mahāsiddhas.

Following a vision of the ḍākinī Kadalī, Jedrung Jampa Jungné composed this prayer that invokes all eighty-four Mahāsiddhas and accompanies the guru yoga sādhana known as Luminous Bindu.

Jokyab Pema Trinlé Nyingpo

This simple guru yoga for Gampopa Sonam Rinchen (1079–1153) is part of a series of three guru yoga practices focussing on foundational figures of the Kagyü school: Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa.

This guru yoga for Jetsün Milarepa (1040–1123), Tibet's most celebrated yogin and poet, is part of a series of three guru yoga practices focussing on Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa.

This guru yoga for Lord Marpa Chökyi Lodrö (c.1012–1097), together with his four main disciples (Tsurtön Wanggi Dorje, Ngok Chöku Dorje, Metön Tsönpo and Milarepa), is part of a series of three guru yoga practices focussing on Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa.

Additional liturgies to accompany the same author's three guru yoga practices dedicated to Marpa Lotsāwa, Milarepa and Gampopa—A Drop of Sunshine, A Drop of Moonlight, and A Drop of Jewels.

Karma Chakme

This famous commentary on the 'transference of consciousness' ('pho ba; Skt. saṃkrānti/utkrānti) describes the various forms of the practice in general and the specific details of the Namchö (gnam chos) transference in particular. It offers instructions on how to perform the transference both for oneself and others.

To practise this short sādhana of the deity Sitātapatrā (gdugs dkar, “White Parasol”) is, in the words of the text itself, "to hold aloft an indestructible vajra sword that can avert disease, obstacles, black magic, evil spells and all oppressing forces." The sādhana is also said to be a swift means of travelling to Sukhāvatī, akin to flying on the back of a garuḍa.

Karme Khenpo Rinchen Dargye

A fulfilment offering (skong ba) liturgy for the Chokling Tersar cycle of Lama Norlha known as The Excellent Vase of Jewels Wealth Practice (nor sgrub rin chen bum bzang).

A lineage supplication for the Chokling Tersar cycle focusing on Lama Norlha known as The Excellent Vase of Jewels Wealth Practice (nor sgrub rin chen bum bzang).

Neten Chokling Ngedön Drubpe Dorje

A ritual for paying homage to the Buddha and eight main bodhisattvas as a means of generating bodhicitta. The text belongs to The Great Compassionate One, Lotus Uṣṇīṣa (thugs rje chen po pad+ma gtsug gtor) cycle within the Chokling Tersar.

Nyala Pema Dündul

This practice of invoking and paying homage to various buddhas is said to be a powerful means of purifying obscurations and accumulating merit, tantamount to reciting the Kangyur in its entirety. It belongs to the Profound Secret Teachings of The Natural Liberation Pervading Space (mkha' khyab rang grol) revelation.

Pema Rigtsal Rinpoche

Extracted from A Garland of White Lotuses: An Account of the Teaching and Teaching Holders of the Pal Drakmar Namkha Khyungdzong Tradition, this brief autobiographical sketch describes the master's own family background, training and activity.

Extracted from A Garland of White Lotuses: An Account of the Teaching and Teaching Holders of the Pal Drakmar Namkha Khyungdzong Tradition, this biography provides details of the master's early life and training under Dudjom Lingpa, and, later, his own extensive teaching activity.

Extracted from A Garland of White Lotuses: An Account of the Teaching and Teaching Holders of the Pal Drakmar Namkha Khyungdzong Tradition, this biography provides details of the master's early life, training and meditative retreats under the guidance of his root teacher, Degyal Rinpoche, and teaching activity and final years in India.

Extracted from A Garland of White Lotuses: An Account of the Teaching and Teaching Holders of the Pal Drakmar Namkha Khyungdzong Tradition, this brief biography concerns the author's own uncle, Tsokhang Choktrul Tsewang Dorje Rinpoche (1928–1994), who was the son of Golok Serta Rinpoche (1891–1964) and elder brother of the Second Degyal Rinpoche (1937–1985).

Extracted from A Garland of White Lotuses: An Account of the Teaching and Teaching Holders of the Pal Drakmar Namkha Khyungdzong Tradition, this brief texts cites the master's own autobiographical accounts of the visionary experiences that led to some of his most important revelations.

Extracted from A Garland of White Lotuses: An Account of the Teaching and Teaching Holders of the Pal Drakmar Namkha Khyungdzong Tradition, this biography describes the master's recognition and training as the tulku of Pema Dechen Gyalpo (1873–1933) and a heart-disciple of Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche (1904–1987).

This word-by-word commentary on Dudjom Rinpoche's famous song of calling the guru from afar (bla ma rgyang 'bod), Spontaneous Song of the Genuine Nature, includes a discussion of the ultimate three-kāya guru and an explanation of how to practice the path of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection.

Extracted from A Garland of White Lotuses: An Account of the Teaching and Teaching Holders of the Pal Drakmar Namkha Khyungdzong Tradition, this is a brief historical overview of the Chöd practice of Tröma Nakmo (khros ma nag mo) that was received by Dudjom Lingpa (1835–1904) in visionary encounters with Machik Labdrön and Padampa Sangye.

Shechen Gyaltsab Gyurme Pema Namgyal

This pithy text provides beginners with a clear, comprehensible explanation of kyerim (bskyed rim), or the generation stage, including all the most important points of practice, such as the three samādhis, four aspects of recitation, and four stakes that secure the life-force (srog sdom gzer bzhi).

Situ Pema Nyinjé Wangpo

A simple practice of guru yoga focussing on three central figures of the Kagyü tradition: Marpa Lotsāwa, Milarepa and Gampopa.

Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

This five-verse supplication for the longevity of Tulku Pema Rigtsal Rinpoche (b. 1963) was written in January 2011.

A five-verse prayer for Tulku Pema Rigtsal Rinpoche's (b. 1963) long life, composed before the Jarung Khashor stūpa, Nepal, on the day of Chökhor Düchen, 1987.

Tsewang Drakpa

A brief prayer invoking Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa, composed by the great tertön's eldest son, Tersé Gyurme Tsewang Drakpa.

A simple feast-offering liturgy to facilitate the accumulation of tsok offerings by means of The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Guru Heart-Practice, Spontaneous Fulfillment of Wishes (bla ma’i thugs sgrub yid bzhin nor bu bsam pa lhun grub ma).

Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche

A concise guru yoga focusing on Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and composed by his son, the Fourth Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche.

This practice invokes Lama Norlha as Kyechok Tsülzang (skyes mchog tshul bzang), the third of Guru Padmasambhava’s twelve emanations according to the Tukdrup Barché Kunsel (thugs sgrub bar chad kun sel) maṇḍala. Jamgön Kongtrul created a sādhana from Chokgyur Lingpa's original revelation, which Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche here abbreviates and, in places, augments.
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