Damngak Dzö Series

• The Bodhisattva’s Garland of Jewels by Atiśa Dīpaṃkara

This short text (Bodhisattvamaṇyāvalī in Sanskrit), which is included in the Middle Way section of the Tengyur (Toh 3951), is regarded as a classic work of the Mind Training (blo sbyong) tradition. With its direct and pithy language, it is not so much a poem as a series of maxims on the bodhisattva path.

• The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment by Atiśa Dīpaṃkara

This short text, Atiśa Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna's most famous and important work, served to establish lamrim, the 'graduated path', as a genre of Tibetan literature and to introduce the three types of being (skyes bu gsum) as a significant typology. It is included in the Middle Way section of the Tengyur (Toh 3947).

• Seven Points of Training the Mind According to the Great Vehicle by Geshe Chekhawa Yeshe Dorje

One of the most important and influential works of mind training composed in Tibet, this series of slogans was first composed—that is, written down—by Chekawa Yeshe Dorje (1101–1175) according to the tradition of Atiśa Dīpaṃkara (982–1055?). The seven points cover: 1) the preliminaries, 2) main practice, 3) transformation of adversity, 4) lifelong application of the practice, 5) measures of progress, 6) commitments, and 7) precepts.

• Commentary on the Seven Points of Mind Training by Gyalse Tokme Zangpo

This is among the best known and most commonly taught commentaries on the popular mind training slogans. The author, famous for his Thirty Seven Practices of the Bodhisattvas, writes in the style of the pith instructions, in plain and simple language.

• Prayer to the Lineage of Seven-Point Mind Training by Gyalse Tokme Zangpo

A supplication to the lineage of the Seven Points of Mind Training (blo sbyong don bdun ma), or Verses of Mahāyāna Mind Training.

• Three Principal Aspects of the Path by Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa

One of the great Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa's most famous teachings, this short text highlights the importance of renunciation, the motivation of bodhicitta, and the wisdom that realises the nature of things.

• A Song of Calling the Guru from Afar by Fifth Shamarpa

This famous song of devotion, which is addressed to the Karmapa, is included in the Treasury of Instructions (gdams ngag mdzod).

• A Casket of Sacred Dharma: Stages of Meditation on Dependent Arising by Pema Karpo

Belonging to the set of instructions known as the Seven Excellent Interdependent Connections (rten 'brel rab bdun ma), this text by the great Kagyü teacher Pema Karpo (1527–1592) explains meditative equipoise, which is "the dependent arising that gives rise to excellent qualities", and post-meditation, which is the "dependent arising for perfecting the capacity".

• The Ganges Mahāmudrā Instructions by Tilopa

This well-known and important source for the Mahāmudrā tradition, which is included within the Tengyur (Toh 2303), contains instructions that Tilopa imparted to Nāropa on the banks of the River Ganges.

• The Sweet-Sounding Song that Fulfils All Aims: A Prayer to Noble Tārā Combined with Her Root Mantra by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

This brief supplication to the saviouress Tārā incorporates and expands upon the literal meaning of the syllables of her root mantra (oṃ tāre tuttāre ture svāhā).

• Vajra Speech of the Prayer to Noble Avalokiteśvara from the Great Siddha Thangtong Gyalpo's Lifetime as Bhikṣu Padma Karpo recalled by Thangtong Gyalpo

Thangtong Gyalpo recalled this supplication to Noble Avalokiteśvara from the devotional practices of a previous lifetime as the bhikṣu Padma Karpo.

• Supplement to the Omniscient Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo’s Prayer to the Lineage of Parting from the Four Attachments by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

Supplementary verses to be added to the prayer to the lineage of Parting from the Four Attachments composed by Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo (1382–1456).

• Parting from the Four Attachments by Jetsün Drakpa Gyaltsen

Drakpa Gyaltsen's famous commentary on the four-line instruction that his father, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, received from Mañjuśrī, is so closely associated with the root text that it is often known by the same title, Parting from the Four Attachments.

• Prayer to the Lineage of Parting from the Four Attachments by Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo

A prayer to the lineage of masters who held the instructions for the famous four-line teaching from the Buddha and Mañjuśrī down to Ngorchen's own guru, Sharchen Yeshe Gyaltsen (shar chen ye shes rgyal mtshan, 1359–1406).

• Nubpa Rigdzin Drak's Parting from the Four Attachments by Nubpa Rigdzin Drak

Little is known about the author, Nubpa Rigdzin Drak, who may have been a student of Jetsün Drakpa Gyaltsen (1147–1216), but his commentary is among the best known works on Parting from the Four Attachments—partly as a result of its inclusion in the Blo sbyong brgya rtsa compendium. The text explains the antidotes to each of the four attachments and the results that will accrue from applying them.

• The Instructions on Parting from the Four Attachments spoken by Mañjuśrī to Sachen Kunga Nyingpo

This famous four-line teaching was spoken by Mañjuśrī, who appeared in a vision to the young Sachen Kunga Nyingpo during a six-month retreat. It is said to encapsulate the entire bodhisattva path of the pāramitās.

• Sakya Paṇḍita’s Instruction on Parting from the Four Attachments by Sakya Paṇḍita Kunga Gyaltsen

A brief commentary on Parting From the Attachments (zhen pa bzhi bral), the famous four-line instruction originally revealed by Mañjuśrī to Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092–1158), Sakya Paṇḍita's great uncle.

• The Thirty Aspirations by Padampa Sangye

This popular liturgy, attributed to Padampa Sangye, consists of thirty short aspirations related to the Mahāyāna path in general and the Vajrayāna in particular.

• Advice Series

• Nonsectarianism Series

• Rinchen Terdzö Series