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Buddhisms

The Library of Tibetan Classics

Spanning more than a millennium, the literature in The Library of Tibetan Classics will eventually encompass thirty-two volumes covering such diverse fields as philosophy, psychology, spiritual practices, and ethics, as well as poetry, linguistics, plays, history, and classical Tibetan medicine. Each translated volume will include an introductory essay, annotation, and a comprehensive glossary. This unprecedented, thirty-two volume series—conceived in appearance and importance to be much like The Harvard Classics Five-Foot Shelf of Books—will be executed in close consultation with senior Tibetan masters from all major schools of the Tibetan tradition, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

"When completed, The Library of Tibetan Classics will represent a comprehensive reference library of the most important Tibetan classics embracing the entire spectrum of Tibetan thought and artistic traditions. Such a series will make Tibet's classical thought truly a world heritage, an intellectual and spiritual resource open to all." —His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso,the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

THE LIBRARY OF TIBETAN CLASSICS is a special series being developed by The Institute of Tibetan Classics, in association with Wisdom Publications, to make key classical Tibetan texts part of the global literary and intellectual heritage. Spanning nearly a millennium and a half, the series covers the vast expanse of classical Tibetan knowledge— from the core teachings of the specific Tibetan Buddhist schools to such diverse fields as ethics, philosophy, logic, psychology, spiritual practices, civic and social responsibilities, linguistics, poetry, art, medicine, astronomy and astrology, folklore, and historiography.

The series, comprising thirty-two large volumes, will contain a careful selection of over two hundred distinct texts by more than a hundred of Tibet’s best-known authors, thus providing for the first time a comprehensive reference library of classical Tibetan texts within a manageable collection. Since one of the primary objectives of the series is to create a body of texts that Tibetans themselves recognize as the best of their heritage, the texts, especially core teachings of individual schools, has been selected in close consultation with the preeminent lineage holders and with senior Tibetan scholars, especially His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The volumes are organized thematically and cover the broad categories of classical Tibetan knowledge, from specific teachings of the Tibetan schools, to tantric and philosophical studies, to treatises on the arts, social responsibilities, science, history, and Tibetan opera. This brochure provides a description of each volume and the texts they contain.

Each translated volume of The Library of Tibetan Classics will be accompanied by an introductory essay, annotation, and a glossary to help provide the modern reader a contemporary context to the texts. The English text of the Classics series will be reader-friendly. While maintaining a high standard of accuracy, the main body of the text will be largely free of scholarly apparatus so that the actual text flows naturally. Parallel Tibetan critical editions of each volume are being published in India by the Institute of Tibetan Classics. Electronic versions of the Tibetan editions can be downloaded from the Institute of Tibetan Classics website. Specialists who wish to compare translations with their Tibetan originals will find page references to the critical edition embedded within the translation.

The Library of Tibetan Classics will make available a manageable yet comprehensive reference library, covering the entire gamut of classical Tibetan knowledge, to libraries, educational and cultural institutions, and interested individuals worldwide.

Thupten Jinpa
General Editor, The Library of Tibetan Classics
President, Institute of Tibetan Classics

List of Series

1. Mind Training: The Great Collection, compiled by Shönu Gyalchok and Könchok Gyaltsen (fifteenth century).

2. The Book of Kadam: The Core Texts, attributed to Atisha and Dromtönpa (eleventh century)

3. The Great Chariot: A Treatise on the Great Perfection, Longchen Rapjampa (1308–63)

4. Taking the Result As the Path: Core Teachings of the Sakya Lamdré Tradition, Jamyang Khyentsé Wangchuk (1524–68) et al.

5. Mahamudra and Related Instructions: Core Teachings of the Kagyü School

6. Stages of the Path and the Ear-Whispered Instructions: Core Teachings of the Geluk School

7. Ocean of Definitive Meaning: A Teaching for the Mountain Hermit, Dölpopa Sherap Gyaltsen (1292–1361)

8. Miscellaneous Tibetan Buddhist Lineages: The Core Teachings, Jamgön Kongtrül (1813–90)

9. Sutra, Tantra, and the Mind Cycle: Core Teachings of the Bön School

10. The Stages of the Doctrine: Selected Key Texts

11. The Bodhisattva’s Altruistic Ideal: Selected Key Texts

12. The Ethics of the Three Codes

13. Sadhanas: Vajrayana Buddhist Meditation Manuals

14. Ornament of Stainless Light: An Exposition of the Kalacakra Tantra, Khedrup Norsang Gyatso (1423–1513).

15. Lamp Thoroughly Illuminating the Five Stages of Completion, Tsongkhapa (1357–1419)

16. Studies in the Perfection of Wisdom

17. Treatises on Buddha Nature

18. Differentiations of the Profound View: Interpretations of the Emptiness in Tibet

19. Elucidation of the Intent: A Thorough Exposition of “Entering the Middle Way,” Tsongkhapa (1357–1419)

20. Tibetan Buddhist Epistemology I: The Sakya School

21. Tibetan Buddhist Epistemology II: The Geluk School

22. Tibetan Buddhist Psychology and Phenomenology: Selected Texts

23. Ornament of Higher Knowledge: A Exposition of Vasubandhu’s “Treasury of Higher Knowledge,” Chim Jampalyang (thirteenth century)

24. A Beautiful Adornment of Mount Meru: Presentation of Classical Indian Philosophies, Changkya Rölpai Dorjé (1717–86)

25. The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems: A Tibetan Study of Asian Religions Thought, Thuken Losang Chökyi Nyima (1737–1802)

26. Gateway for Being Learned and Realized: Selected Texts

27. The Well-Uttered Insights: Advice on Everyday Wisdom, Civility, and Basic Human Values

28. A Mirror of Beryl: A Historical Introduction to Tibetan Medical Science, Desi Sangyé Gyatso (1653–1705)

29. Selected Texts on Tibetan Astronomy and Astrology

30. Art and Literature: An Anthology

31. Tales from the Tibetan Operas

32. Selected Historical Works

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Reviewed Volumes

The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems: A Tibetan Study of Asian Religious Thought (Library of Tibetan Classics) byThuken Chökyi Nyima (1737–1802) Translated by Geshe Lhundub Sopa et al. Edited by Roger Jackson  (Wisdom)  The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems (Grub mtha’ shel gyi me long), by Thuken Losang Chökyi Nyima (1737–1802) is probably the widest-ranging account of religious philosophies ever written in premodern Tibet. Thuken was a cosmopolitan Buddhist monk from Amdo, Mongol by heritage, Tibetan in education, and equally comfortable in a central Tibetan monastery or at the imperial court in Beijing. Like most texts on philosophical systems, his Crystal Mirror covers the major schools of India, both non-Buddhist and Buddhist, but then goes on to discuss in detail the entire range of Tibetan traditions as well, with separate chapters on the Nyingma, Kadam, Kagyü, Shijé, Sakya, Jonang, Geluk, and Bön. Not resting there, Thuken goes on to describe the major traditions of China—Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist—as well as those of Mongolia, Khotan, and Shambhala. The Crystal Mirror is unusual, too, in its concern not just to describe and analyze doctrines, but to trace the historical development of the various traditions. In evaluating philosophical systems, Thuken does favor his own Geluk school, but he treats the views of other traditions with considerable sympathy and respect as well—sometimes even defending them against criticisms from his own tradition. All this makes the Crystal Mirror an eloquent, erudite, and informative textbook on the religious history and philosophical systems of an array of Asian cultures—and provides evidence that serious and sympathetic study of the history of religions has not been a monopoly of Western scholarship.
 

The Book of Kadam: The Core Texts (Library of Tibetan Classics) by Thupten Jinpa (Wisdom) Attributed to Atiya Dıpa'kara (982–1054) and Dromtönpa (1005–64) Translated by Thupten Jinpa THE KADAM SCHOOL, which emerged from the teachings of the Indian master AtiŸa and his principal student, Dromtönpa, is revered for its unique practical application of the bodhisattva’s altruistic ideal in day-to-day life. One of the most well-known sets of spiritual teachings stemming from AtiŸa and Dromtönpa is a special collection of oral transmissions enshrined in the two-volume Book of Kadam (Bka’ gdams glegs bam). The texts in this volume include the core texts of The Book of Kadam, notably the twenty-three-chapter dialogue between AtiŸa and Dromtönpa that is woven around AtiŸa’s Bodhisattva’s Jewel Garland. Sometimes referred to as the “Kadam emanation scripture,” The Book of Kadam is undisputedly one of the greatest works of Tibetan Buddhism. This volume contains (1) AtiŸa’s Bodhisattva’s Jewel Garland, (2) the twenty-three chapters of the Jewel Garland of Dialogues, (3) Dromtönpa’s Self-Exhortation, (4) Elucidation of the Heart-Drop Practice by Khenchen Nyima Gyaltsen (1223–1305), (5) four selected chapters from Dromtönpa’s birth stories, (6) two brief verse summaries of the Book of Kadam, one by the second Dalai Lama (1476–1542) and the other by Yongzin Yeshé Gyaltsen (1713–93), and (7) Sayings of the Kadam Masters, compiled by Chegom Sherap Dorjé (ca. twelfth century). Although the Kadam school no longer exists as an autonomous lineage within Tibetan Buddhism, its teachings have become fully incorporated into the teachings of all four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, especially the Geluk School.

Taking the Result as the Path: Core Teachings of the Sakya Lamdre Tradition (Library of Tibetan Classics) translated by Cyrus Stearns (Wisdom) Translated by Cyrus Stearns THE TRADITION KNOWN AS THE PATH WITH THE RESULT or Lamdré (lam ’bras) is the most important tantric system of theory and meditation practice in the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. This volume contains an unprecedented compilation of eleven vital works from different periods in the history of the Path with the Result in India and Tibet. The Vajra Lines of the great Indian adept VirÒpa (ca. seventh–eighth centuries) is the basic text of the tradition and is said to represent the essence of all the Buddhist tantras in general and the Hevajra Tantra in particular. Sachen Künga Nyingpo’s (1092–1158) Explication of the Treatise for Nyak is a fundamental commentary on Viropa’s succinct work and is among the earliest texts written in Tibet to explain Viropa’s mystical words. The collection of six writings by Jamyang Khyentsé Wangchuk (1524–68) includes a definitive history of the tradition and detailed explanations of its meditation practices as taught by his great master, Tsarchen Losel Gyatso (1502–66). A supplement to Khyentsé’s history, written in the nineteenth century by Künga Palden and completed by Jamyang Loter Wangpo (1847–1914) in the early twentieth century, tells the stories of later masters in the lineage. An instruction manual composed by the Fifth Dalai Lama (1617–82) completes the unfinished work of Khyentsé Wangchuk. The volume concludes with a summation of all the teachings. Mangthö Ludrup Gyatso (1523–96), another of Tsarchen’s principal Dharma heirs, composed this brief and eloquent text.

Most of these writings traditionally have been considered to be of a secret nature. The present translation has been made with the personal approval and encouragement of His Holiness Sakya Trizin, head of the Sakya tradition, and Chogyé Trichen Rinpoché, head of the Tsarpa branch of the Sakya tradition.

Ornament of Stainless Light: An Exposition of the Kalachakra Tantra (Library of Tibetan Classics) by Khedrup Norsang Gyatso (Wisdom) Khedrup Norsang Gyatso (1423–1513) Translated by Gavin Kilty

THE KALACAKRA, LITERALLY “WHEEL OF TIME,” likely evolved into a full-fledged system of theory and praxis within Indian Mahayana Buddhism around the tenth century. In expounding the root text of this important Vajrayana Buddhist tradition, Indian master Pu˚˜arık›, who according to legend was one of the Kalki kings of the mythic land of Shambhala, wrote the influential work Stainless Light. This volume is an authoritative Tibetan exposition of this important Buddhist text. The transmission of the Kalacakra teachings came to Tibet in the eleventh century when Gijo Lotswa translated the key texts of this system into Tibetan.

One of the central themes of the Kalacakra literature is a detailed understanding of a correlation between the human body and the external universe. As part of working out this complex correspondence, the Kalacakra texts present an amazingly detailed theory of cosmology and astronomy, especially about the movements of the various celestial bodies. They also present a highly complex system of Buddhist theory and practice that involve, among others, the employment of vital bodily energies, deep meditative mental states, and a penetrative focus on subtle points within the body’s key energy conduits known as “channels.”

The Kalacakra teachings attracted commentarial works from many great Tibetan authors. Khedrup Norsang Gyatso’s Ornament of Stainless Light, which has been selected specially by His Holiness the Dalai Lama for inclusion in The Library of Tibetan Classics, ranks among the most authoritative works on the theory and practice of this important Buddhist system.

Mind Training: The Great Collection (Library of Tibetan Classics) by Thupten Jinpa (Wisdom) Compiled by Shönu Gyalchok (ca. fourteenth–fifteenth centuries) and Könchok Gyaltsen (1388–1469) Translated by Thupten Jinpa  (Theg pa chen po blo sbyong brgya rtsa) represents the earliest anthology of a special genre of Tibetan spiritual literature known simply as “mind training,” or lojong in Tibetan. The Tibetans revere the mind training tradition for its pragmatic and down-to-earth advice, especially its teachings on “transforming adversities into favorable opportunities.” This volume contains forty-three individual texts, including the most important works of the mind training cycle, such as Serlingpa’s Leveling Out All Conceptions, Atiya’s Bodhisattva’s Jewel Garland, Langri Thangpa’s Eight Verses on Mind Training, and Chekawa’s Seven-Point Mind Training, together with the earliest commentaries on these seminal texts as well as other independent works. These texts expound the systematic cultivation of such altruistic thoughts and emotions as compassion, love, forbearance, and perseverance. Central to this discipline are the diverse practices for combating our habitual self-centeredness and the afflictive emotions and way of being that arise from it.