Translations by Kaleb Yaniger

• A Guide to Uḍḍiyāna (Ujjain), Benglor by Chatral Rinpoche

In this brief guide to Ujjain, most likely part of a personal pilgrimage diary, Chatral Rinpoche repeatedly refers to the city as Uḍḍiyāna. Ujjain is home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the most famous temples dedicated to Lord Śiva, attracting thousands of devotees every day. Rinpoche concludes with a guide to Khoteshwar, identified here as the Sindhu Isle, birthplace of Guru Padmasambhava.

• Cloud Banks of Blessings: A Prayer to Guru Padmasambhava by Fifth Dalai Lama

The Great Fifth Dalai Lama wrote this prayer to Guru Padmasambhava in his eight manifestations, calling upon him to remember his pledge to Tibet and its people, for recitation on the tenth day of each lunar month.

• A Garland of Vajra Gems: The Life and Liberation of the Guru by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye

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.

• A Beautiful and Wondrous Udumbara Garland: A Supplication and Summary of the Chronicles of Padma, The Life and Liberation of the Precious Guru of Uḍḍiyāna by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

This prayer beautifully summarizes the Padma Kathang (The Chronicles of Padma), one of the most famous and influential of Guru Padmasambhava's many biographies. It reveals how Guru Rinpoche manifests in an infinite variety of forms in order to protect and spread the Buddhadharma.

• The History of the Hearing Lineage of the Profound and Secret Practice of Siṃhamukhā by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo recounts the origin of the teachings of Siṃhamukhā and how they have been subsequently passed down to him. He closely follows the story associated with the lineage of Bari Lotsawa (ba ri lugs).

• The Kalaviṅka’s Call: A Guide to Glorious Samye Chimphu by Jigme Lingpa

A short historical guide to the sacred place of Samye Chimphu, where Guru Padmasambhava taught and granted empowerments to his twenty-five disciples, who then meditated in the surrounding caves and attained signs of accomplishment. Later, as Jigme Lingpa explains, the place became a pilgrimage site that was visited by many of Tibet's most illustrious masters.

• Gentle Splendour: Praises to the Great Abbot Śāntarakṣita by Mipham Rinpoche

This praise to the Abbot Śāntarakṣita is part of a set of three praises commemorating the lives of the so-called Abbot, Master and Dharma-King (Khen Lob Chö Sum), i.e., Śāntarakṣita, Guru Padmasambhava and Trisong Detsen.

• Snowy Lands: Praises to the Great Dharma Emperor Tri Songdetsen by Mipham Rinpoche

This praise to the Emperor Tri Songdetsen is part of a set of three praises commemorating the lives of the so-called Abbot, Master and Dharma-King (Khen Lob Chö Sum), i.e., Śāntarakṣita, Guru Padmasambhava and Tri Songdetsen.

• The Three Kāyas: Praises to the Great Master Padmasambhava by Mipham Rinpoche

This praise to the Master Padmasambhava is part of a set of three praises commemorating the lives of the so-called Abbot, Master and Dharma-King (Khen Lob Chö Sum), i.e., Śāntarakṣita, Guru Padmasambhava and Trisong Detsen.

• Liberation Upon Hearing: The History of the Great Jarung Kashor Stūpa by Ngakchang Shakya Zangpo

In this famous history of the sacred stūpa of Boudha, Guru Padmasambhava recounts the stūpa's origins. In response to a request from King Trisong Deutsen, he tells how a humble poultry-woman first extracted a promise from the king and then built the stūpa together with her four sons, who were all later reborn as prominent figures in the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet. Padmasambhava also describes the benefits to be gained from circumambulating the stūpa and making offerings before it, and concludes with a series of prophecies concerning the stūpa's restoration.

• A Concise History of Orgyen Padma’s Enlightened Deeds by Orgyen Lingpa

This revelation of Orgyen Lingpa, discovered at Samye Chimphu, provides a brief account of Guru Padmasambhava's life and deeds. Each of its sixteen chapters describes eight features, beginning with Padmasambhava's eight manifestations, his eight life-giving fathers, eight mothers, and so on. The text concludes with a series of prophecies.

• An Extremely Concise Barché Lamsel—The Prayer for Clearing Obstacles from the Path by Rangrik Dorje

This very short prayer to Guru Padmasambhava, for 'clearing obstacles from the path' (bar chad lam sel) was composed by the treasure-revealer Rangrik Dorje of Nyarong.

• An Extremely Concise Sampa Lhundrup—Prayer that Spontaneously Fulfils All Wishes by Rangrik Dorje

This very short prayer to Guru Padmasambhava, for 'spontaneously fulfilling all wishes (bsam pa lhun grub) was composed by the treasure-revealer Rangrik Dorje of Nyarong.

• The Seven Lines that Dispel All Obstacles and Enfold All Profundity by Rangrik Dorje

A seven-line prayer to Guru Padmasambhava for the elimination of all obstacles and the fulfilment of all wishes.

• The Spontaneous Fulfilment of All Wishes: Invoking the Great Guru of Uḍḍiyāna by Rangrik Dorje

This brief invocation, composed at the request of government officials, calls upon Guru Padmasambhava to remember his pledge to come to the aid of Tibet and its people.

• The Wish-Fulfilling Tree: A Prayer to the All-Embodying Lama Tsokye Dorje by Rangrik Dorje

A brief prayer to Guru Tsokye Dorje—'Lake-Born Vajra'—for the elimination of all obstacles on the spiritual path.

• Victory Over All Adversity: A Prayer to Invoke Guru Rinpoche’s Wisdom for the Swift Fulfilment of Wishes by Rangrik Dorje

A brief prayer to Guru Padmasambhava for protection against adversity and the fulfilment of all wishes.

• A Prayer Recounting the Lives and Liberation of the Exalted Ḍākinī Mandāravā revealed by Samten Lingpa

This prayer, which recounts Mandāravā’s lives and liberation, forms the 37th chapter of Samten Lingpa’s famous terma biography of Princess Mandāravā.

• In Praise of the Hidden Valley of Kyimolung by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Having spent parts of his life in the hidden valley (sbas yul) of Kyimolung in Nubri, Nepal, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche composed this eulogy in praise of its sacred landscape.