Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye Series

• Advice to Lhawang Tashi | Advice

This general advice from the great Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé covers every level of the spiritual path. Drawing upon famous statements by Atiśa and Śāntideva, he offers ethical guidance and practical instructions for watching the mind, cultivating renunciation, compassion and devotion, and realising the nature of all phenomena.

• Mahāmudrā Preliminaries, Main Part & Conclusion | Advice

Drawn from the collection of advice called Ambrosia of the Heart (snying gi bdud rtsi) this brief text offers a very simple guide to practising Mahāmudrā.

• Mahāmudrā: the Swift Way to Become a Lord of Realization | Advice

This brief explanation of how to meditate on the Mahāmudrā of the innate (lhan skyes phyag chen) on the path of liberation (grol lam) is taken from the Ambrosia of the Heart collection of advice.

• The Kusāli's Instruction on the Nature of Mind | Advice

In this text Jamgön Kongtrul, referring to himself as a "kusāli"—a virtuous beggar—offers instruction on how to sustain an experience of the essential nature of mind in meditation.

• Prayer for Peace and Stability in Tibet | Aspiration Prayers

Jamgön Kongtrul wrote this for his own practice during a time of great turmoil and upheaval, after Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo advised him of the importance of regular prayer for peace and stability. It has been popular ever since, especially when Tibet faces challenging times.

• 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.

• The Indestructible Vajra Garland, An Aspiration Prayer for the Lives of the Supreme Holders of the Non-Sectarian Teachings | Aspiration Prayers

Kongtrul wrote this prayer while at the site of Yamalung, sacred for its connection with Guru Padmasambhava. In a series of verses aspiring for the longevity of all non-sectarian teachers, he offers not only a powerful practice text, but also a concise statement of his celebrated Rimé ideals.

• A Garland of Vajra Gems: The Life and Liberation of the Guru | Biography

This epic of Guru Padmasambhava, as recorded by Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal, was revealed by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye as a “siddhi”. The text consists of ten short chapters, each related to a different aspect of the master’s life and activities.

• Biography of Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye by Alak Zenkar Rinpoche | Biography

Alak Zenkar's brief biography of Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye (1813–1899) summarizes the great master's extraordinary education and activity, especially his remarkable literary output, which resulted in the so-called 'Five Great Treasuries' (mdzod chen lnga).

• The Life and Liberation of Padmākara, the Second Buddha from A Precious Garland of Lapis Lazuli | Biography

Extracted from the famous collection of the life stories of 108 treasure revealers called A Precious Garland of Lapis Lazuli, this account of Guru Padmasambhava's life and liberation synthesises and even comments upon earlier sources.

• Calling the Guru From Afar: A Prayer to Pierce the Heart with Devotion | Calling the Guru from Afar

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.

• The Hook of Compassion: Calling the Guru from Afar by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö | Calling the Guru from Afar

A devotional song for invoking the inspiration and blessings of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thayé and Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö himself.

• Ārya Mañjuśrī Tantra Garbha—commentary | Mañjuśrī

This commentary on the Ārya Mañjuśrī Tantra Garbha, which is said to encapsulate the famous Mañjuśrī Nāma Saṃgīti, appears anonymously in the Treasury of Precious Revelations (rin chen gter mdzod), but is thought to have been written by the editor of that collection, Jamgön Kongtrul.

• The Cascading Essence of Great Bliss: An Empowerment Ritual for the Female Practice of the Queen of Great Bliss, from the Heart-Essence of the Vast Expanse | Yumka Dechen Gyalmo

Jamgön Kongtrul compiled this empowerment text for Yumka Dechen Gyalmo on the basis of the original treasure revelation, Blessing and Empowerment for the Female Practice. The result is "clear yet concise," as Kongtrul himself put it, and less elaborate than the later arrangement by Dodrupchen Jigme Tenpe Nyima (1865–1926).

• Jewels of Many Colours: Ordinary Fire Pūjas for the Four Activities Based on a Single Substance to Easily Conclude Approach and Accomplishment | Fire Offering

Jamgön Kongtrul composed this simple fire offering (me mchod) ritual for each of the four activities—pacifying, enriching, magnetizing and subjugating—because he could not find anything similar. It is included within his Treasury of Revelations (rin chen gter mdzod).

• The Prayer of the Tenth Days in Guru Rinpoche’s Life Story entitled ‘The Nucleus of Blessings’ | Guru Rinpoche Prayers

Jamgön Kongtrul wrote this biographical prayer (rnam thar gsol 'debs) to Guru Padmasambhava at the request of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. It focuses on the deeds the Precious Guru is said to have performed on the tenth day of each month, when he is commemorated by his followers.

• 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 | 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.

• Prayer to the Lineage of the Great Chetsün’s Profound Essence of Vimala | Chetsün Nyingtik

A supplication to the lineage of Chetsün Nyingtik, the Heart-Essence of Chetsün, which belongs to the category of recollection or reminiscence (rjes dran) among Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo's seven authoritative transmissions.

• Prayer to the Lineage of the Great Chetsün’s Profound Essence of Vimala | Chetsün Nyingtik

This supplemented prayer to the lineage of Chetsün Nyingtik, the Heart-Essence of Chetsün, features extra lines, added by Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, to invoke Jamgön Kongtrul, Adzom Drukpa, Shechen Gyaltsab and Chökyi Lodrö himself.

• Song of the Illusory Display: The Lineage Prayer for the Heart-Essence of the Deathless Lake-Born Vajra | Lineage Prayers

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

• Splendid Treasure of Twofold Accomplishment: The Lineage Prayer for The Guru’s Heart Practice, Wish-Fulfilling Jewel | Lineage Prayers

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.

• The Fount of Longevity: The Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik Lineage Prayer | Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik

A lineage prayer for the practice of Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik ('chi med 'phags ma'i snying thig), the Heart-Essence of the Deathless Noble Tārā, a revelation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo which is associated with longevity.

• Amrita Offering to the Lineage of Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik | Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik

A three-verse liturgy to accompany the offering of amṛta or medicinal nectar (sman) to the deities and lineage masters of Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik.

• A Short Supplication to Tārā | Tārā

A brief six-line supplication to the guru, indivisible from Ārya Tāra, mother of all the buddhas, written at the behest of Jampal Tendar and other devoted disciples.

• Prayer to Jamgön Kongtrul by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo | Prayers

A four-line prayer to Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thayé (1813–1899) that is commonly recited as part of longer supplications to the lineage.

• Prayer to Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thayé | Prayers

Jamgön Kongtrul composed this four-line supplication to himself at the request of a monk named Tsoknyi Dorje.

• Prayer to Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo | Prayers

This four-line prayer is commonly recited as part of longer invocations of the lineage.

• Prayer to Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Jamgön Kongtrul and Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö | Prayers

This prayer to Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Jamgön Kongtrul and Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö was written for Jamyang Sonam, prince of Yönru in Lithang.

• 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.

• 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 Orgyen Jigme Chökyi Wangpo | Prayers

This five-line supplication to Patrul Orgyen Jigme Chökyi Wangpo (1808–1887) is taken from the prayers section of Jamgön Kongtrul's collected writings.

• The Melodious Sound of Gathering Auspiciousness: A Prayer Based on the Liberational Life of the Omniscient Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo | Prayers

Jamgön Kongtrul composed this biographical prayer (rnam thar gsol 'debs) to Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo by extracting verses from a longer prayer to the masters of the Shangpa Kagyü lineage. For this edition, which is found in the Rinchen Terdzö, Jamyang Khyense Chökyi Lodrö composed three additional verses that refer to Khyentse Wangpo's parinirvāṇa and rebirth.

• The Melodious Speech of Samantabhadra: A Prayer to the Glorious Master Jamgön Kongtrul Thaye | Prayers

This prayer to Jamgön Kongtrul was composed by the master himself at the request of one of his disciples. It contains references to his life and the qualities he considers important, such as—to adopt the words of the text—the pure perception, with which he upheld all Buddha's teachings impartially.

• The Melody of the Auspicious Spiralled Conch: A Prayer Based on the Liberation Life of the Great Emanated Tertön Chokgyur Lingpa | 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.

• The Tambura’s Yearning Song of Devotion: A Prayer Summarizing Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal’s Life and Liberation | Biography

Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye composed this beautiful prayer summarizing Samten Lingpa’s famous terma biography of Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal in 1893 at the request of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and the yoginī Doshul Khandro.

• A Liturgy for the Activity Manual of the Blazing Wrathful Guru, Hayagrīva and Garuḍa | Takhyung Barwa

A liturgy for the Blazing Wrathful Guru, Hayagrīva and Garuḍa (Lama Drakpo Takhyung Barwa) practice that Jigme Lingpa revealed in 1795. Kongtrul follows Namkha Tsewang Chokdrup’s earlier compilation and supplements the root text with verses from the Vidyādhara Assembly (Rigdzin Düpa), the Female Practice of The Queen of Great Bliss (Yumka Dechen Gyalmo) and also the Awesome Ones’ Assembly (Palchen Düpa).

• Liberation Through Training in the Realm of Amitābha, Boundless Light | 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 Concise Excellent Vase of Jewels: A Wealth Practice of Kyechok Tsülzang arranged by Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche | Chokling Tersar

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.

• Cloud-Banks of Everything Desirable: The Wealth Deity Smoke Offering from The Guru’s Heart Practice, Dispeller of All Obstacles | Chokling Tersar

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.

• The Essence of Benefit and Happiness: A Method for Saving Lives | Saving Lives

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).

• Prayer for the Swift Rebirth of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo | Swift Rebirth Prayers

Following the master’s passing in 1892, Kongtrul composed four lines of prayer for his swift rebirth as an addendum to a four-line supplication that Khyentse Wangpo himself had written.

• Prayer to Kongtrul Yönten Gyatso by Jamyang Loter Wangpo | Swift Rebirth Prayers

Loter Wangpo composed two stanzas and added them to the standard four-line prayer to Jamgön Kongtrul as soon as Kongtrul passed away (at the very end of the nineteenth century) in order to create this three-verse prayer for swift rebirth.

• Music to Adorn the Illusory Display: A Concise Explanation of the Nature of the Feast Offering | Tsok

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.

• Vajrakīla Tsok Prayer from Sangtik Korsum by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa | 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.