Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa Series

• Advice on Nonsectarianism (from Radiant Sunlight of the Victorious Ones' Teachings: A Brief, First-Hand Account of the Liberating Life-Story of the Great Emanated Treasure Revealer) | Nonsectarianism

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.

• Four Pieces of Advice | Advice

In these four short lines, Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa encapsulates, as the colophon reveals, the four qualities that all contemporary tantric practitioners should have.

• Pithy Advice on Checking One's Progress on the Path | Advice

Composed for the sixth Drikung Chungtsang, Könchok Tenzin Chökyi Lodrö (1801–1859), this short text offers straightforward advice on measuring one's progress on the Dharma path.

• A Prayer of Aspiration for the Copper-Coloured Mountain of Glory | Copper-Coloured Mountain

A four-line prayer to be reborn on the Copper-Coloured Mountain of Glory, or Zangdok Palri, in the company of Guru Padmasambhava and his retinue.

• The Aspiration of the Vajradhātu Maṇḍala revealed by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa | Aspiration Prayers

This aspiration prayer is said to have been spoken by Guru Padmasambhava when revealing the Vajradhātu maṇḍala in the temple of Samye. The text was revealed by Chokgyur Lingpa and transcribed by Jamgön Kongtrul. Generally, it is known as Mönlam Chokchu Düzhima (Aspiration of the Ten Directions and Four Times), a name which derives from the prayer's first four syllables.

• Threefold Aspiration for Rebirth in Zangdok Palri | Copper-Coloured Mountain

Three interrelated aspirations for rebirth in Zangdok Palri, the Copper-Colored Mountain pureland of Guru Rinpoche, from the perspectives of the cause (or ground), path, and fruition.

• Radiant Sunlight of the Victors’ Teachings: A Brief, First-Hand Account of the Liberating Life-Story of the Great Emanated Treasure Revealer | Biography

This short autobiography, composed in verse, covers the main events in the great treasure-revealer’s life from 1829, the year of his birth, until 1865, which was five years before he passed away at the age of 42.

• The Breeze That Carries the Auspicious Melody: Replies to Questions Arising from the Life Story of the Great Treasure-Revealer, Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo | Biography

This commentary to Jamgön Kongtrul’s biographical prayer to Chokgyur Lingpa, The Melody of the Auspicious Spiralled Conch, discusses the great tertön's life and legacy, celebrating, in particular, his terma revelations and accomplishments.

• The Wish-Fulfilling Tree: The Life Story of the Master of Uḍḍiyāna as found in Padmasambhava’s Sevenfold Cycle of Profundity | Biography

This concise biography of the eighth-century master from Uḍḍīyana, Guru Padmasambhava, who established Buddhism in Tibet, was revealed in 1856 by the great treasure-revealer Chokgyur Lingpa as part of the Sevenfold Cycle of Profundity (zab pa skor bdun). The text consists of ten short chapters, each related to a different aspect of the master’s life and activities.

• Concise Offering of the Body from the Root Text of the Heart Accomplishment of the Guru Tukdrup, The Essential Manual of Oral Instructions (Shaldam Nyingjang) by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche | Chöd

A simple practice of Chöd ('severance') extracted from the Essential Manual of Oral Instructions (zhal gdams snying byang), which is part of the Chokling Tersar, and supplemented by verses of introduction and conclusion composed by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

• The Confession of Downfalls from the Great Compassionate One’s Lotus Uṣṇīṣa | Confession

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).

• The Inexpressible, Ultimate Confession (Yeshe Kuchokma) | Confession

This version of the Yeshe Kuchokma (ye shes sku mchog ma) was arranged by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa (1829–1870) for recitation during the Ngakso Drupchen (sngags gso sgrub chen) and the Khorwa Dongdruk (‘khor ba dong sprug) practice. Chokgyur Lingpa has added an additional line as well as the syllables oṃ, āḥ and hūṃ to the root text.

• The Lament of Rudra | Confession

This version of the famous confession, revealed as part of the Tukdrup Barché Kunsel (thugs sgrub bar chad kun sel) cycle, differs slightly from the eleventh chapter of the Immaculate Confession Tantra, with minor variations throughout and an additional two lines at the very end.

• Pearl Droplets of Blessings: A Prayer to the Guru Who Embodies All | Guru Rinpoche Prayers

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

• The Prayer Which Removes All Obstacles from the Path (Barché Lamsel) | Guru Rinpoche Prayers

This famous prayer to Guru Padmasambhava for the elimination of all obstacles on the spiritual path is the outer practice of The Guru's Heart Practice: Dispelling All Obstacles on the Path (bla ma'i thugs sgrub bar chad kun sel), a joint revelation of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.

• The Prayer in Six Vajra Lines | Guru Rinpoche Prayers

Popularly known as Dü Sum Sangye (Dus gsum sangs rgyas), this short prayer to Guru Padmasambhava was discovered as a treasure (gter ma) by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa. As indicated in the colophon, it was—and still is—regarded as especially pertinent for the current time.

• The Prayer to Guru Rinpoche that Spontaneously Fulfils All Wishes (Sampa Lhundrupma) from The Guru’s Heart Practice: The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel | Guru Rinpoche Prayers

Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa’s revelation of the Sampa Lhundrupma (bsam pa lhun grub ma), a famous prayer to Guru Padmasambhava for the spontaneous fulfilment of wishes, forms the outer section of The Guru’s Heart Practice: The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel (thugs sgrub yid bzhin nor bu). The prayer is very similar to Tulku Zangpo Drakpa’s Sampa Lhundrupma prayer, which is counted as the final chapter of the Le’u Dünma or Prayer in Seven Chapters.

• The Testament Prayer to Orgyen Rinpoche | Guru Rinpoche Prayers

As stated in the colophon this prayer to the Guru of Oḍḍiyāna is extracted from a biography which Chokgyur Lingpa revealed as a treasure (gter ma) at Karmé Damchen Drak (karma'i dam can brag).

• A Concise Guru Yoga | Guru Yoga

This concise guru yoga centres around the famous prayer to Guru Padmasambhava known as The Prayer in Six Vajra Lines, or Dü Sum Sangye, Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa's own terma revelation. To this is added a simple visualization and a prayer to reach the Copper-coloured Mountain of Glory.

• Treasury of Supreme Blessings: A Guru Yoga by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö | Guru Yoga

This guru yoga features the Fifteenth Karmapa, Khakhyab Dorje (1871–1922), as the main figure, around whom are three other masters: Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye (1813–1899), Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820–1892) and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa (1829–1870).

• Wellspring of Bounty for the Fortunate: A Guru Yoga of the Three Family Lords by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye | Guru Yoga

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.

• Exquisite Melody of the Auspicious Tamboura: A Depiction of the Profound Treasure Revelations at Chimé Karmo Taktsang Rockface and Yumtso Lake with Brief Captions | History

Chokgyur Lingpa's first-hand account of the treasure revelations of The Essential Sacred Dharma in Five Cycles (dam chos snying po skor lnga), The Gradual Path of Wisdom Essence (lam rim ye shes snying po), and The Magical Net of the Three Roots (rtsa gsum sgyu ’phrul drva ba) at Chimé Karmo Taktsang and Sengé Yumtsho in Kham in 1866. The account was inscribed on the back of a thangka depicting the revelation scene.

• Melody to Delight the Fortunate: A Brief History of the Treasure Revelations of the Awakened Emanation, the Great Tertön Chokgyur Lingpa | History

A brief history of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa's treasure (gter ma) revelations from when he was thirteen until he was thirty-three years old as recounted by the tertön himself in either 1860 or 1861.

• Youthfulness Gained in Vajra-like Immortality: Verses of Truth for the Long Life of the Perfect Masters | Long-Life Prayers

The author mentions that he wrote this general long-life prayer with teachers such as the Karmapa and Shamarpa particularly in mind, and that he was instructed to compose a practice incorporating both Guru Padmasambhava and Vajrakīla—although several other long-life deities are also invoked, including Tārā.

• The Summoning of Longevity from Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo | Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik

This practice for invoking longevity is extracted from The Heart-Essence of Perfect Immortality (yongs rdzogs 'chi med snying thig), which belongs to the Chokling Tersar.

• White and Red Sur Offerings That Are Very Easy to Apply | Offering

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

• The Excellent Bilva Tree of Auspiciousness: Praise and Prayer to Terchen Chokgyur Lingpa by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö | Praise

Jamyang Khyentse composed these verses in praise of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa (1829–1870) while at Tsikey Norbu Ling Monastery, in the presence of the stūpa commemorating the great tertön.

• A Prayer to the Vidyādhara Gurus | Prayers

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.

• Prayer to Khyentse Wangpo, Kongtrul and Chokgyur Lingpa by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo | Nonsectarianism

Verses of supplication to Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thayé, Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa, and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, which Khyentse Wangpo composed at Jamgön Kongtrul's behest.

• Prayer to Khyentse Wangpo, Kongtrul and Chokgyur Lingpa by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö | Nonsectarianism

A four-line prayer to invoke the blessings of the three great masters Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa.

• The Melody of the Auspicious Spiralled Conch: A Prayer Based on the Liberation Life of the Great Emanated Tertön Chokgyur Lingpa by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye | Prayers

Jamgön Kongtrul’s biographical prayer to Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa (1829–1870) details the master's life and legacy, especially his terma revelations and accomplishments. The text is included within the Rinchen Terdzö collection.

• Three-Name Prayer to Chokgyur Lingpa | Prayers

This short prayer to Chokgyur Lingpa invokes the great tertön by means of three different names: Chokgyur Lingpa, Dechen Lingpa, and Zhikpo Lingpa.

• Concise Daily Practice of Vajrasattva by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche | Sādhanas

Khyentse Rinpoche composed this simple sādhana of Vajrasattva by adapting a section of the Tukdrup Sheldam Nyingjang (thugs sgrub zhal gdams snying byang), the root text of the Barche Kunsel revelation of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa.

• Liberation Through Training in the Realm of Amitābha, Boundless Light by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye | Amitābha

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).

• The Chariot Bound for Sukhāvatī, the Blissful Realm: The Liturgy for Cultivating Buddha Amitābha’s Pure Realm by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo | Amitābha

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).

• The Secret Practice of Dorjé Draktsal According to the Trio of the Guru’s Heart Practices | Chokling Tersar

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).

• The Single-Page Practice of the Guru of Great Bliss | Sādhanas

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.

• The Concise Cleansing Offering from The Guru’s Heart Practice: Dispelling All Obstacles on the Path | Sang Offering

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).

• The Smoke Offering for Sengchen Norbu Dradül | Gesar

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

• The Twenty-Eight Commitments from the Words of the Buddha | Samaya

These commonly cited verses of commitment (dam bca' ba) occur several times in the Precious Treasury of Revelations (rin chen gter mdzod) and are also to be found in the collected writings of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Chokgyur Lingpa and Tertön Sogyal. The translation here is based on the commentary by Ju Mipham (1846–1912).

• Vajrakīla Tsok Prayer from Sangtik Korsum | Vajrakīla

This prayer, to be recited when accumulating tsok offerings on a large scale, is extracted from 'The Essential Drop of Enlightened Activity: A Tsok Offering for the Single Mudrā Form of Vajrakumāra', which is itself part from the Sangtik Korsum cycle, a joint revelation of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa and Jamgön Kongtrul.