English
Deutsch Español Français Italiano Nederlands Português 中文 བོད་ཡིག
Explore Projects Updates About Donate
The Home of Tibetan Buddhist Texts in Translation
ISSN 2753-4812
ISSN 2753-4812

Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé Series

Tibetan Masters Jamgön Kongtrul

English (62) | Deutsch (4) | Español (8) | Français (7) | Português (4) | Italiano (1) | 中文 (6) | བོད་ཡིག (62)

Emanation of Vairotsana, prophesied in kama and terma,

Setting forth the way of the five great treasuries,

Holder of the Rimé teachings and treasury of qualities as vast as the ocean,

Lodrö Tayé, at your feet I pray!

Works by and about the great nineteenth-century master Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé ('jam mgon kong sprul blo gros mtha' yas, 1813–1899), one of the pioneers of the Rimé movement:

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.
Advice 9 Sep 2015
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.
Advice Mahāmudrā 20 Aug 2015
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.
Advice Mahāmudrā
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.
Advice Mahāmudrā 8 Jun 2015

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.
Aspiration Prayers Tibet 19 Mar 2007
revealed by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa
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.
Aspiration Prayers Termas Chokling Tersar Rinchen Terdzö Khyentse Kabab Nyingma Mönlam 14 Jun 2019
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.
Aspiration Prayers Rinchen Terdzö 3 Jun 2015

Biography

This epic of Guru Padmasambhava, as recorded by Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal, was revealed by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé as a “siddhi”. The text consists of ten short chapters, each related to a different aspect of the master’s life and activities.
Biography Rinchen Terdzö 17 Dec 2018
by Alak Zenkar Rinpoche
Alak Zenkar's brief biography of Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé (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).
Biography 7 Sep 2005
This brief account of the life of Pema Ledrel Tsal, revealer of the Khandro Nyingtik, is extracted from Kongtrul's collected biographies of the treasure-revealers known as the Tertön Gyatsa (gter ston brgya rtsa).
Biography Rinchen Terdzö 29 Jan 2025
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.
Biography Rinchen Terdzö 23 May 2018

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.
Calling the Guru from Afar Nonsectarianism 9 Dec 2021
by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö
A devotional song for invoking the inspiration and blessings of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé and Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö himself.
Calling the Guru from Afar 2 Mar 2022

Commentaries

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.
Mañjuśrī Commentary Rinchen Terdzö 8 Sep 2007

Confession

A simple practice for confessing all forms of non-virtuous action and all impairments and breakages of vows and commitments.
Confession 27 Feb 2024
from the revelation of Guru Chökyi Wangchuk
This practice of confession and fulfilment, popularly known as Narak Kong Shak, was arranged by combining elements of Guru Chökyi Wangchuk’s revelation called Kagye Sangwa Yongdzok together with the Kagye Drakpo Rangjung Rangshar of the Northern Treasures.
Confession Termas Peaceful and Wrathful Deities Kagyé Fulfilment Rinchen Terdzö Khyentse Kabab Restricted 7 Oct 2017

Empowerment Rites

Extracted from the full empowerment manual, these are the key verses to be recited aloud by recipients.
Yumka Dechen Gyalmo Empowerment Restricted 14 Feb 2025
A simple authorization or permission blessing (rjes gnang) for Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik, which enables a practitioner to perform the daily practice or participate in group accomplishment rituals (sgrub chen). (Note, however, that the more elaborate empowerment is required for recitation retreats.)
Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik Empowerment Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 12 Apr 2024
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).
Yumka Dechen Gyalmo Empowerment Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 5 Apr 2021
Key verses extracted from the full Takhyung Barwa empowerment manual as a reference for recipients who must recite them aloud.
Takhyung Barwa Empowerment Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 12 Feb 2025

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).
Fire Offering Rinchen Terdzö 26 Aug 2019

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.
Guru Rinpoche Prayers Guru Padmasambhava Biographical Prayers Rinchen Terdzö 31 May 2013

Guru Yoga

by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö
This guru yoga features the Fifteenth Karmapa, Khakhyab Dorje (1871–1922), as the main figure, around whom are three other masters: Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé (1813–1899), Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820–1892) and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa (1829–1870).
Guru Yoga 5 Oct 2022
A guru yoga featuring the three great nonsectarian masters Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, and Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé as embodiments of the Lords of the Three Families—Avalokiteśvara, Mañjuśrī and Vajrapāṇi.
Guru Yoga 2 Jan 2023

History

This brief explanation of pure visions (dag snang) and mind treasures (dgongs gter) is extracted from Kongtrul's historical introduction to the Rinchen Terdzö collection.
Termas History Rinchen Terdzö 23 Jan 2025

Lineage Prayers

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.
Chetsün Nyingtik Lineage Prayers Rinchen Terdzö 4 Apr 2022
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.
Chetsün Nyingtik Lineage Prayers 5 Apr 2022
Supplication to the lineage of Tsokyé Nyingtik, the secret practice among the Chokling Tersar’s Four Cycles of Guru Yoga (bla sgrub skor bzhi).
Lineage Prayers Chimé Tsokyé Nyingtik Chokling Tersar Rinchen Terdzö 5 Sep 2022
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.
Lineage Prayers Tukdrup Yizhin Norbu Chokling Tersar Rinchen Terdzö 3 Apr 2023
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.
Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik Lineage Prayers White Tārā Rinchen Terdzö 6 Jul 2013
Upon the request of Öntrul Rinpoche, Jamgön Kongtrul composed this lineage prayer for The Profundity of the Three Roots of Longevity (rtsa gsum tshe’i zab pa) while staying in Palpung Nyingpo Yiga Chödzin.
Chokling Tersar Rinchen Terdzö 25 Jun 2024
Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé composed this lineage prayer for The Innermost Cycle of the Yidam (gsang skor yi dam) while on pilgrimage with Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo at the Yoru Tradruk Temple in Central Tibet in the Iron Mouse year of 1840.
Kagyé Chokling Tersar Rinchen Terdzö 16 Jul 2024

Mind Training

by Geshe Chekhawa Yeshe Dorje
This version of the Seven Points of Mind Training, which is included in the Damngak Dzö collection, accords with the commentary by Gyalse Tokme Zangpo (1297–1371)—in its sequence of the slogans and in its annotations.
Seven Points of Mind Training Damngak Dzö 4 Mar 2025

Ngöndro

by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
In compiling this extensive preliminary practice, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche drew primarily on two sources: Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo's own ngöndro liturgy called The Direct Primordial Path and Jamgön Kongtrul's commentary on the Vima Nyingtik and Lama Yangtik called Stainless Words, A Guide That Brings Together the Two Traditions, Mother and Child, of the Secret Heart-Essence of the Great Perfection.
Vima Nyingtik Lama Yangtik Nyingtik Yabzhi Ngöndro Dzogchen Restricted 19 May 2026

Offering

A three-verse liturgy to accompany the offering of amṛta or medicinal nectar (sman) to the deities and lineage masters of Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik.
Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik Amṛta Offering Rinchen Terdzö 29 May 2023
A brief rite of amṛta or medicinal elixir offering (sman mchod) to accompany The Three Roots Sādhana (rtsa ba gsum gyi sgrub thabs) from The Profundity of the Three Roots of Longevity (rtsa gsum tshe’i zab pa).
Chokling Tersar Amṛta Offering Rinchen Terdzö 25 Jun 2024

Prayers

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.
Tārā Prayers 20 May 2021
by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo
A four-line prayer to Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé (1813–1899) that is commonly recited as part of longer supplications to the lineage.
Prayers 10 Feb 2023
Jamgön Kongtrul composed this four-line supplication to himself at the request of a monk named Tsoknyi Dorje.
Prayers 30 Mar 2022
This four-line prayer is commonly recited as part of longer invocations of the lineage.
Prayers 31 Mar 2022
by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö
This prayer to Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Jamgön Kongtrul and Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö was written for Jamyang Sonam, prince of Yönru in Lithang.
Prayers 5 Feb 2020
by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö
A four-line prayer to invoke the blessings of the three great masters Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa.
Nonsectarianism Prayers 22 Jun 2020
by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo
Verses of supplication to Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé, Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa, and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, which Khyentse Wangpo composed at Jamgön Kongtrul's behest.
Nonsectarianism Prayers 10 Oct 2022
This five-line supplication to Patrul Orgyen Jigme Chökyi Wangpo (1808–1887) is taken from the prayers section of Jamgön Kongtrul's collected writings.
Prayers 29 Mar 2022
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.
Prayers Biographical Prayers Rinchen Terdzö Khyentse Kabab 11 Jan 2022
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.
Prayers Biographical Prayers Rinchen Terdzö Khyentse Kabab 25 Jun 2015
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.
Prayers Biographical Prayers Rinchen Terdzö Khyentse Kabab 18 Jan 2023
Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé 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.
Biographical Prayers Rinchen Terdzö Ḍākinī Treasury 21 Feb 2017

Sādhanas

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).
Takhyung Barwa Sādhanas Hayagrīva Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 29 Nov 2022
by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö
This brief text, which Jamyang Khyentse encouraged his students to recite it during a period of frequent earthquakes, is included in the latest edition of his collected writings but clearly derives from a text by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé—a work which ultimately derives from the Tārā Who Dispels All Fears subcycle of the Tukdrup Barché Kunsel cycle within the Chokling Tersar.
Tārā Sādhanas Tārā Who Dispels All Fears Termas Restricted 5 Jan 2021
by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa
This arrangement follows Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé’s (1813–1899) instructions for a concise daily version of Tertön Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa’s (1829–1870) Profound Essence of Tārā, commonly known as Zabtik Drolchok (zab tig sgrol chog).
Tārā Profound Essence of Tārā Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 21 Feb 2025
by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa
The practice of Tārā’s Profound Essence (sgrol ma'i zab tig), commonly referred to as Zabtik Drolchok (zab tig sgrol chog) is a sādhana of Green Tārā, revealed as a mind treasure (dgongs gter) by Tertön Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa (1829–1870) at Pema Shelpuk (pad+ma shel phug). This is Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé’s (1813–1899) elaborate liturgical arrangement of the root treasure text.
Tārā Profound Essence of Tārā Rinchen Terdzö Nyingma Mönlam Restricted 21 Feb 2025
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.
Sādhanas Chokling Tersar Guru Dewa Chenpo Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 5 Apr 2024
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).
Amitābha Chokling Tersar Rinchen Terdzö Tukdrup Barché Kunsel 2 Nov 2022
This practice for guarding against the fear of natural disasters is part of the Tārā Who Dispels All Fears subcycle, which itself belongs to the Tukdrup Barché Kunsel cycle within the Chokling Tersar.
Tārā Tārā Who Dispels All Fears Restricted 25 Feb 2025
arranged by 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.
Lama Norlha Wealth & Prosperity Restricted 30 Aug 2023

Sang Offering

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.
Lama Norlha Sang Offering Wealth & Prosperity Rinchen Terdzö Tukdrup Barché Kunsel 30 Aug 2023

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).
Saving Lives Rinchen Terdzö 23 Jan 2022

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.
Swift Rebirth Prayers 30 Mar 2022
by Jamyang Loter Wangpo
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.
Swift Rebirth Prayers 18 Feb 2019

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.
Tsok Commentary 1 Oct 2021
by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa
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.
Vajrakīlaya Termas Rinchen Terdzö Chokling Tersar Tsok Restricted 10 Aug 2020
Jamgön Kongtrul

Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé

Courtesy of Himalayan Art Resources

Name variants:

Guṇa
Karma Ngawang Yönten Gyatso
Ngawang Yönten Gyatso
Pema Garwang
Pema Garwang Dewé Dorje
Tennyi Yungdrung Lingpa
Yönten Gyatso

Subsequent incarnation(s):

Karse Kongtrul Khyentse Özer
Shechen Kongtrul
Kalu Rinpoche

Further information:

Damngak Dzö
Rinchen Terdzö
Treasury of Lives Author Bio
BDRC Author Profile (P264)

DONATIONS

If you find this site useful, please consider helping us to achieve our goal of translating more classic works from the Buddhist tradition and making them freely available. Please support us on Patreon.

Quick Links

Words of the Buddha | Indian Masters | Tibetan Masters | Topics

Tools

Other Sites

84000 | Rigpa Wiki | Himalayan Art | Buddhist Digital Resource Center | Treasury of Lives

Social

Bluesky | Facebook | Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

LICENSE

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

ISSN 2753-4812

This website uses cookies to collect anonymous usage statistics and enhance the user experience.
Decline
Accept