Notes Series

The Eightfold Nature of Profundity from the Abhisamayālaṃkāra

Notes on a single verse from Maitreyanātha's Abhisamayālaṃkāra (IV, 59) which identifies eight types of profundity related to arising, ceasing, suchness, the knowable, knowing, activity, non-duality and skill in means.

Abhisamayālaṃkāra 23 Nov 2021

Notes from the Oral Tradition on Ālaya, Ālaya Consciousness, etc.

by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol

These notes discuss the ālaya, or 'ground of all', as well as the ālaya-consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna) and other forms of consciousness from a practical, experiential perspective, rather than a scholastic or theoretical point of view. They drew upon the sayings and explanations of such masters as Adzom Drukpa, Tertön Sogyal and Dudjom Lingpa.

Dzogchen Advice 15 Jan 2016

Dependent Arising

by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang

This brief text draws on the oral tradition of Patrul Rinpoche to explain three categories of dependent arising found in Longchen Rabjam's Great Chariot: 1) the dependent arising of the fundamental character (gshis) or ground (gzhi) of reality, 2) the dependent arising of saṃsāra, and 3) the dependent arising of nirvāṇa.

Dependent Origination 24 Oct 2023

Summary of Striking the Vital Point in Three Statements

by Dudjom Rinpoche

These three single-sentence glosses clarify and expand upon Garab Dorje's famous 'Three Statements that Strike the Crucial Point'. Dudjom Rinpoche composed them while teaching in the West in 1976.

Striking the Vital Point in Three Statements 23 Aug 2017

Brief Dzogchen Instruction

by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

Simple instructions on the practices of Trekchö and Tögal composed at the request of the daughter of Katok Gyalse Kunzang Rinpoche.

Dzogchen Advice Restricted 9 Nov 2021

Summary of the Key Points of Advice on Trekchö

by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

Written at the request of Lhasé Sogyal, the king of Yönru in Lithang, this short text covers the key points of Trekchö, from the foundational prerequisites to the unique Dzogchen preliminary of 'demolishing the house of the ordinary mind' and the main meditation practice of Dzogchen itself.

Trekchö Advice Restricted 10 Feb 2017

Principles of the Dzogchen Practice of Khordé Rushen

by Nyoshul Khenpo Jamyang Dorje

In this short essay, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche explains the theory behind the Dzogchen preliminary practice known as Khordé Rushen ('khor 'das ru shan), or separating the domains of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa.

Dzogchen Preliminaries Advice Restricted 22 Jun 2018

The Five Wisdoms

by Nyoshul Khenpo Jamyang Dorje

Definitions of the five wisdoms (ye shes lnga), i.e., the wisdom of dharmadhātu, mirror-like wisdom, wisdom of equality, wisdom of discernment and all-accomplishing wisdom, according to the oral tradition of Khenpo Ngawang Palzang, aka Khenpo Ngakchung.

Advice Dzogchen 15 Aug 2015

The Four Uncommon Samayas of the Great Perfection

by Tsultrim Zangpo

Simple, pithy explanations of the four uncommon Dzogchen samayas: non-existence (or absence), evenness, spontaneous presence, and oneness.

Samaya Dzogchen 27 Aug 2021

Brief Explanation of Clarification and Transcendental Resolution from the Oral Tradition of Nyala Sogyal

by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol

This brief explanation of the important Dzogchen notions of clarification (shan 'byed) and transcendental resolution (la blza ba) was composed by Tertön Sogyal and recorded in the collected writings of Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol.

Dzogchen Restricted 2 Nov 2019

How Liberation and Delusion Develop Out of the Clear Light of the Ground, etc.

by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol

In these brief notes, Chöying Rangdrol explains what is meant by the 'youthful vase body', and outlines how liberation occurs in the intermediate state (bardo), and how delusion develops should we fail to recognise the nature of bardo appearances.

Dzogchen Dying & the Bardos 29 Nov 2016

Memorandum on the Subject of Mahāmudrā and Dzogchen Instructions

by Dongak Chökyi Gyatso

The author makes a distinction between “instructions that apply more generally” and “teachings that are intended for specific individuals” in order to argue for a gradualist approach that culminates in Mahāmudrā or Dzogchen for all but those of the very sharpest faculties (who are able to proceed to the highest teachings directly).

Dzogchen Mahāmudrā Nonsectarianism 10 Jul 2014

The Bright Lamp of Wisdom: A Guide to the Practice of Guru Yoga (Yeshe Saldrön)

by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

Extensive notes on the Bright Lamp of the Heart Essence (Nyingtik Saldrön) practice preceded by a general discussion of guru yoga and the importance of following a teacher.

Nyingtik Saldrön Guru Yoga Following a Teacher Restricted 7 Apr 2020

The Seed of Reasoning: Notes on the Five Great Logical Arguments of the Middle Way

by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

A brief text summarizing the five great logical arguments of the Madhyamaka, or Middle Way: 1) the investigation of the cause: the Diamond Splinters; 2) the investigation of the result: refuting existent or non-existent effects; 3) the investigation of both: refuting the four permutations of arising; 4) the investigation of essential identity: ‘neither one nor many’; and 5) the logical argument of Great Interdependence.

Middle Way Emptiness 7 Aug 2018

Notes on the Seven Points of Mind Training

by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

These notes on the Seven Points of Mind Training appear to derive from the celebrated commentary of Sé Chilbu Chökyi Gyaltsen (1121–1189). Unfortunately the notes do not cover the entire root text and their brevity is suggestive of lecture notes or an aide-memoire.

Seven Points of Mind Training 6 Jan 2020

Brief Notes on the Visualization for the Concise Recitation of the Pure Vision Preliminary Practice

by Dudjom Rinpoche

Brief notes written by Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche himself and incorporated into the recited text of the concise version of the Dudjom Tersar ngöndro.

Ngöndro Dudjom Tersar 22 Apr 2006

Notes from Miscellaneous Writings

by Khenpo Shenga

Notes on the general preliminary points to be made before commenting upon any of the major Indian treatises, such as what is meant by “In the language of India...” and the four rubrics of subject matter, immediate purpose, connection and ultimate purpose.

Pedagogy Literary Theory 23 Sep 2005

On the Ignorance of the Learned

by Dodrupchen Jigme Tenpe Nyima

A candid, somewhat comical description of what it means to take a limited and superficial approach to scholarship, which Jigme Tenpe Nyima tells us is based on his own experience.

Advice Scholasticism 11 Apr 2014

Types of Spiritual Song

by Khenpo Shenga

A list of the various types of spiritual song (mgur dbyangs) including dohās based on realization, songs of devotion, and expressions of joy and contentment.

Songs and Poems Literary Theory 4 Nov 2019

A Brief Note on Elaborate Water Torma Offerings

by Jigme Lingpa

In this brief note, Jigme Lingpa clarifies the meaning of "repayment" ('khor ba) in the context of karmic debts, and identifies the scriptural sources for the water torma practices within the Kangyur, while pointing out that disputes among divergent Tibetan traditions of offering tormas lack a canonical basis.

Torma Offering 23 Feb 2026

Notes on the Heart-Essence Practices of the Channels and Wind-Energies

by Adzom Gyalse Gyurme Dorje

These notes provide a brief but valuable overview of the practices of Tsa Lung (rtsa rlung)—literally 'channels and wind-energies'—according to the Longchen Nyingtik tradition. The text identifies some important literary sources that explain the theory behind the training, warns of potential pitfalls and highlights the benefits.

Longchen Nyingtik Dzogrim 28 Jan 2021

On the Yogācāra Treatises and Buddha Nature

by Khenpo Shenga

This short text, which is untitled in the original Tibetan, briefly discusses the Five Treatises of Maitreya, the writings of Asaṅga, and the fact that the buddha nature, or sugatagarbha, is not empty of its own immaculate qualities.

Buddha Nature Five Treatises of Maitreya 17 Dec 2020

Lamp That Illuminates the Excellent Path of Great Bliss: A Guide to the Practice Text of the Female Awareness-Holder, the Queen of Great Bliss

by Dodrupchen Jigme Tenpe Nyima

This is the second major commentary on Yumka, the ḍākinī practice of the Longchen Nyingtik, (not including Jigme Lingpa's own writings) after the much longer and more elaborate Raṭik, which it supplements. The text begins with a discussion of the role and significance of Yeshe Tsogyal, and then proceeds to examine the practice itself, highlighting its special qualities and elaborating on many of its profound and subtle features.

Yumka Dechen Gyalmo Restricted 24 Feb 2022

Notes Series

Abhisamayālaṃkāra

Ālaya

Dependent Origination

Dzogchen

Dzogchen & Mahāmudrā

Guru Yoga

Middle Way

Mind Training

Ngöndro

Pedagogy

Scholasticism

Songs

Torma Offering

Tsa Lung

Yogācāra

Yumka Dechen Gyalmo

Related Topics

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