Translations by Laura Dainty

• Heart Treasure for the Warriors Who Long for Liberation by Atiśa Dīpaṃkara

Atiśa Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna imparted this advice to his disciples at the request of Lha Changchub Ö as he was preparing to return to India. In it, he offers basic guidance on how to lead a spiritual life, escape "the swamp of saṃsāra" and reach "the dry shores of liberation."

• An Extensive Commentary on the Four Immeasurables by Buddhagupta

A brief guide to cultivating immeasurable loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity; it is attributed to the Indian master Buddhagupta and included within the Tengyur (Toh 3914).

• A Prayer to the Vidyādhara Gurus by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa

This prayer invoking the blessing of the buddhas, bodhisattvas and accomplished practitioners (vidyādharas) of Tibet is taken from the compilation A Shower of Precious Blessings: A Garland of Supplications to Guru Rinpoche, Embodiment of All Refuge Objects, and to the Three Roots and Lineage Masters.

• Advice on Nonsectarianism (from Radiant Sunlight of the Victorious Ones' Teachings: A Brief, First-Hand Account of the Liberating Life-Story of the Great Emanated Treasure Revealer) by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa

In an address to disciples, Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa sets out a vision of nonsectarianism, in which he emphasizes the commonality of traditions and decries the divisiveness that periodically plagues Tibet and constitutes an act of forsaking the Dharma.

• Pearl Droplets of Blessings: A Prayer to the Guru Who Embodies All by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa

A short prayer to Guru Rinpoche as the source and embodiment of all tantric lineages in Tibet, composed at the request of Riwoche Jedrung.

• The Concise Cleansing Offering from The Guru’s Heart Practice: Dispelling All Obstacles on the Path by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa

Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa revealed this concise smoke offering practice (bsang mchod) as part of the famous cycle known as The Guru's Heart Practice: Dispelling All Obstacles on the Path (bla ma'i thugs sgrub bar chad kun sel).

• The Confession of Downfalls from the Great Compassionate One’s Lotus Uṣṇīṣa by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa

This treasure text invoking the Thirty-Five Buddhas of Confession was revealed by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa as part of the cycle of The Great Compassionate One, Lotus Uṣṇīṣa (thugs rje chen po pad+ma gtsug gtor). It presents a concise version of the famous Bodhisattva’s Confession of Downfalls (byang chub sems dpa'i ltung ba bshags pa).

• The Secret Practice of Dorjé Draktsal According to the Trio of the Guru’s Heart Practices by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa

Chokgyur Lingpa revealed the secret cycle of The Heart Practice of Mighty Vajra Wrath (Tukdrup Dorjé Draktsal) from Yegyal Namkha Dzö. This particular Guru Draktsal sādhana is regarded as the auxiliary practice to Chokgyur Lingpa’s The Gradual Path of Wisdom Essence (lam rim ye shes snying po).

• The Single-Page Practice of the Guru of Great Bliss by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa

This concise practice of Guru Dewa Chenpo (gu ru bde ba chen po), the Guru of Great Bliss, was revealed as a terma by Chokgyur Lingpa and transcribed by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye at Tsurpu Monastery.

• The Smoke Offering for Sengchen Norbu Dradül by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa

A simple text to accompany the offering of fragrant incense smoke (bsang) to Gesar Sengchen Norbu Dradül, Great Lion Jewel, Tamer of Foes.

• White and Red Sur Offerings That Are Very Easy to Apply by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa

A practice of white and red Sur (gsur), or 'burnt offering', revealed by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa.

• Cloud-Banks of the Two Accumulations: A Feast Offering Including the Six Vajra Lines Prayer to Be Practiced with Any Guru Sādhana by Chokling Tersé Tulku

This short feast-offering liturgy incorporates the Prayer in Six Vajra Lines (Dü Sum Sangyé) and can be used in connection with any guru sādhana.

• To Nourish Faith: A Brief Account of the Wisdom Deeds of Our Root Guru, the Omnipresent Sovereign Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche by Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche

Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche (b.1951) composed this short biography of his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche (1920–1996), following repeated requests from the khenpos, tulkus, vajra masters, and senior monks of Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling, as well as from disciples at Nagi Gompa, Asura Cave retreat centre, and other Dharma centres.

• The Sage who Dispels Mind’s Anguish: Advice from the Guru, the Gentle Protector Mañjuśrī on the Means of Accomplishing the Yogas of Śamatha and Vipaśyanā by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche adapted this teaching on śamatha and vipaśyanā from The White Lotus, Mipham Rinpoche's supportive teaching (rgyab chos) for the Treasury of Blessings sādhana of Buddha Śākyamuni. The text explains how to accomplish both śamatha and vipaśyanā in the context of that practice and clarifies the relationship between Buddha Śākyamuni, the yidam deity and the guru.

• Drumbeat of the Deathless Vajra: A Fervent Invocation and Prayer by Dudjom Rinpoche

Dudjom Rinpoche wrote this short prayer when he was engaged in long-life practice at Māratika cave in Nepal, the sacred site where Guru Rinpoche achieved immortality with his consort, Mandāravā.

• Averting Negativity through Siṃhamukhā, the Lion-Faced Ḍākinī by Eighth Karmapa

A short practice of the lion-faced ḍākinī, Siṃhamukhā (seng gdong ma), who is associated with the elimination of adversity, threats and danger.

• Amṛta Offering for The Guru’s Heart-Practice, Wish-Fulfilling Jewel by Fifteenth Karmapa

A brief rite of amṛta or 'medicinal nectar' offering (sman mchod) to accompany The Guru’s Heart Practice, Wish-Fulfilling Jewel (thugs sgrub yid bzhin nor bu) revelation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa.

• The Dhāraṇīs That Encapsulate the Essence of the Kangyur, the Collected Words of the Buddha revealed by Guru Chökyi Wangchuk

A collection of brief ḍhāraṇīs that are said to encapsulate the essence of the entire Kangyur (bka' 'gyur), or Collected Words of the Buddha, and serve as a powerful means of purification when recited.

• Calling the Guru From Afar: A Prayer to Pierce the Heart with Devotion by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye

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.

• Liberation Through Training in the Realm of Amitābha, Boundless Light by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye

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).

• Music to Adorn the Illusory Display: A Concise Explanation of the Nature of the Feast Offering by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye

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.

• Song of the Illusory Display: The Lineage Prayer for the Heart-Essence of the Deathless Lake-Born Vajra by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye

Supplication to the lineage of Tsokyé Nyingtik, the secret practice among the Chokling Tersar’s Four Cycles of Guru Yoga (bla sgrub skor bzhi).

• Splendid Treasure of Twofold Accomplishment: The Lineage Prayer for The Guru’s Heart Practice, Wish-Fulfilling Jewel by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye

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.

• The Essence of Benefit and Happiness: A Method for Saving Lives by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye

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).

• Wellspring of Bounty for the Fortunate: A Guru Yoga of the Three Family Lords by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye

A guru yoga featuring the three great nonsectarian masters Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, and Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thayé as embodiments of the Lords of the Three Families—Avalokiteśvara, Mañjuśrī and Vajrapāṇi.

• A Concise Ritual for the Kings’ Posts by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

A concise ritual invoking the Four Great Kings (rgyal chen sde bzhi), who are the guardians of the four directions, when establishing and dissolving retreat boundaries.

• Essence of Accomplishment: A Concise Feast-Offering to Noble Tārā by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

This short Tārā feast-offering was composed for practitioners who wish to offer a simple gaṇacakra feast within a Tārā sādhana, such as the Zabtik Drolchok.

• Music to Delight the Ḍākinī: A Praise to the Deathless Mandāravā by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

Verses in praise of the eighth-century princess and ḍākinī Mandāravā, one of the principal consorts of Guru Padmasambhava.

• Net of the Illusory Display: The Root Sādhana from the Heart-Essence of the Deathless Lake-Born Vajra by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

In 1848, at the age of twenty-eight, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo had a vision in which he was blessed by Guru Rinpoche, who then dissolved into his heart. As a result, the root practice of Guru Tsokyé Nyingtik, the Heart-Essence of the Lake-Born Guru, arose in Khyentse Wangpo’s mind, and he immediately wrote down its activity manual.

• The Chariot Bound for Sukhāvatī, the Blissful Realm: The Liturgy for Cultivating Buddha Amitābha’s Pure Realm by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

According to the colophon, this elaborate ritual for cultivating the pure realm of Amitābha was compiled by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo at the passing of Chokgyur Lingpa’s mother, Tsering Yangtso. Taking Chokgyur Lingpa’s treasure Amitābha sādhana from the Essence Manual of Oral Instructions (zhal gdams snying byang) as a basis, Khyentse Wangpo added further instructions and verses, primarily from The Array of Amitābha Sūtra (Toh 49, 'od dpag med kyi bkod pa) and The King of Aspiration Prayers (bzang spyod smon lam).

• The Essence of Cintāmaṇi: A Daily Practice of the Great Compassionate One, Wish-fulfilling Wheel by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

A daily practice of the Great Compassionate One, Wish-fulfilling Wheel (thugs rje chen po yid bzhin 'khor lo), a yidam practice which Chokgyur Lingpa revealed at Yegyel Namkha Dzö in 1856.

• The Fulfiller of All Wishes, the Ritual Manual from The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Guru Heart-Practice by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

The longer sādhana, or ritual manual (las byang), for the The Guru’s Heart-Practice, Wish-Fulfilling Jewel (thugs sgrub yid bzhin nor bu), which was jointly revealed by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa at Drak Rinchen Barwa on November 16, 1858.

• The Melody of Complete Accomplishment: A Prayer to Those Praised as Ornaments of the Practice Lineage by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

Jamyang Khyentse says that he wrote this four-verse prayer to the founders of the practice lineage, i.e., Marpa Lotsāwa, Milarepa and Gampopa, in the first month of the Wood Ox year (1865) following a dream.

• Concise Mahāmudrā Preliminary Practice from the New and Old Secret Mantra’s Ripening and Liberating Practices of Generation and Completion by Jedrung Jampa Jungné

A brief Taklung Kagyü preliminary, or ngöndro, that focuses on Vajradhara, the great Indian siddhas, and the masters of the Taklung Kagyü tradition.

• Luminous Bindu: A Guru Sādhana of the Eighty-Four Mahāsiddhas by Jedrung Jampa Jungné

Jedrung Jampa Jungné composed this guru sādhana following a vision of the ḍākinī Kadalī. It involves a self-visualisation of Cakrasaṃvara and a front-visualisation of Vajradhara surrounded by the Eighty-Four Mahāsiddhas.

• Streams of Sapphire: A Prayer to the Eighty-Four Mahāsiddhas by Jedrung Jampa Jungné

Following a vision of the ḍākinī Kadalī, Jedrung Jampa Jungné composed this prayer that invokes all eighty-four Mahāsiddhas and accompanies the guru yoga sādhana known as Luminous Bindu.

• A Drop of Jewels: A Guru Yoga for Lord Gampopa by Jokyab Pema Trinlé Nyingpo

This simple guru yoga for Gampopa Sonam Rinchen (1079–1153) is part of a series of three guru yoga practices focussing on foundational figures of the Kagyü school: Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa.

• A Drop of Moonlight: A Guru Yoga for Lord Mila by Jokyab Pema Trinlé Nyingpo

This guru yoga for Jetsün Milarepa (1040–1123), Tibet's most celebrated yogin and poet, is part of a series of three guru yoga practices focussing on Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa.

• A Drop of Sunshine: A Guru Yoga for Lord Marpa by Jokyab Pema Trinlé Nyingpo

This guru yoga for Lord Marpa Chökyi Lodrö (c.1012–1097), together with his four main disciples (Tsurtön Wanggi Dorje, Ngok Chöku Dorje, Metön Tsönpo and Milarepa), is part of a series of three guru yoga practices focussing on Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa.

• Vajra Net: The Ancillary Preliminary and Concluding Practices for the Three Drops, the Guru Yogas for Venerable Marpa, Mila, and Gampopa by Jokyab Pema Trinlé Nyingpo

Additional liturgies to accompany the same author's three guru yoga practices dedicated to Marpa Lotsāwa, Milarepa and Gampopa—A Drop of Sunshine, A Drop of Moonlight, and A Drop of Jewels.

• Extensive Instructions on the Transference of Consciousness to the Land of Great Bliss by Karma Chakme

This famous commentary on the 'transference of consciousness' ('pho ba; Skt. saṃkrānti/utkrānti) describes the various forms of the practice in general and the specific details of the Namchö (gnam chos) transference in particular. It offers instructions on how to perform the transference both for oneself and others.

• The Swift Steed of Garuḍa, King of Birds: An Instruction for Travelling to Sukhāvatī: A Visualization and Recitation of Uṣnīṣa-Sitātapatrā by Karma Chakme

To practise this short sādhana of the deity Sitātapatrā (gdugs dkar, “White Parasol”) is, in the words of the text itself, "to hold aloft an indestructible vajra sword that can avert disease, obstacles, black magic, evil spells and all oppressing forces." The sādhana is also said to be a swift means of travelling to Sukhāvatī, akin to flying on the back of a garuḍa.

• Eradicating Downfalls by Reciting the Names of the Buddhas: The Swift Path to Complete Awakening in a Single Instant revealed by Nyala Pema Düdul

This practice of invoking and paying homage to various buddhas is said to be a powerful means of purifying obscurations and accumulating merit, tantamount to reciting the Kangyur in its entirety. It belongs to the Profound Secret Teachings of The Natural Liberation Pervading Space (mkha' khyab rang grol) revelation.

• A Clear, Concise and Simple Explanation of the Generation and Completion Stages for the Benefit of Beginners by Shechen Gyaltsab Gyurme Pema Namgyal

This pithy text provides beginners with a clear, comprehensible explanation of kyerim (bskyed rim), or the generation stage, including all the most important points of practice, such as the three samādhis, four aspects of recitation, and four stakes that secure the life-force (srog sdom gzer bzhi).

• A Combined Guru Yoga for Marpa, Mila, and Gampopa by Situ Pema Nyinjé Wangpo

A simple practice of guru yoga focussing on three central figures of the Kagyü tradition: Marpa Lotsāwa, Milarepa and Gampopa.

• A Devotional Song by Tsewang Drakpa

A brief prayer invoking Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa, composed by the great tertön's eldest son, Tersé Gyurme Tsewang Drakpa.

• Concise Feast Offering for the Spontaneous Fulfillment of Wishes by Tsewang Drakpa

A simple feast-offering liturgy to facilitate the accumulation of tsok offerings by means of The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Guru Heart-Practice, Spontaneous Fulfillment of Wishes (bla ma’i thugs sgrub yid bzhin nor bu bsam pa lhun grub ma).

• A Concise Guru Sādhana of My Sublime Father, Karma Urgyen Tsewang Chokdrup Pelbar by Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche

A concise guru yoga focusing on Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and composed by his son, the Fourth Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche.