Acrostic Series

• Advice in Abecedarian Form by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

Advice in abecedarian form, meaning that each line begins with the successive letters of the Tibetan alphabet (ka, kha, ga, nga, and so on).

• Khandro's Plea by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

In response to a question from his spiritual consort, Khandro Tsering Chödrön, Jamyang Khyentse explains the essence of the path in just a few lines. (Khandro's question is in the form of an acrostic poem, the opening syllables of its four lines being the first four syllables of the Tibetan alphabet).

• Alpha Purity by Sera Khandro

A four-line Dzogchen poem in abecedarian form.

• Alpha-Pure, This All-Penetrating Awareness by Sera Khandro

Two verses of Dzogchen advice composed for Lama Kyab. The first verse is in abecedarian form.

• Disheartened by Circumstances: An Acrostic Poem by Longchen Rabjam

Longchenpa composed this famous abecedarian poem to express his disgust at the conduct of his classmates from Kham, Eastern Tibet, which had prompted his decision to leave the college of Sangpu Neuthog.

• A Blossoming of the Intellect: In Praise of the Great Pioneer Thönmi Sambhoṭa by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

An acrostic poem in praise of Thönmi Sambhoṭa who is credited with inventing the Tibetan writing system and composing the first Tibetan grammatical treatises.

• A Surge of Faith: Verses In Praise of Tārā by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

An acrostic text extolling the goddess Tārā, which Jamyang Khyentse wrote in 1924 when he was 31 years old (or 32 by Tibetan reckoning).

• Sweet Song of the Kalaviṅka: In Praise of Tseringma by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

Composed in Darjeeling in 1958, these verses in praise of the goddess Tseringma are in abecedarian form, meaning that each line begins with successive letters of the Tibetan alphabet (ka, kha, ga, nga, and so on).

• Acrostic Song by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

A simple song of advice addressed to yogins and yoginīs in abecedarian form, meaning that each line begins with the successive letters of the Tibetan alphabet—an effect that is (inadequately) reproduced in the translation.

• Songs and Poems Series