Lamp of Mahamudra: The Immaculate Lamp that Perfectly and Fully Illuminates the Meaning of Mahamudra, the Essence of all Phenomena

124 Pages·2004·4.68 MB·English

by  Tsele Natsok Rangdrol

Tsele Natsok Rangdrol

Lan1p of
Mahan1udra
The Immaculate Lamp
That Perfectly and Fully Illuminates
The Meaning ofMahamudra,
The Essence ofA ll Phenomena
Tsele Natsok Rangdrol
Translated by
Erik Perna Kunsang
Foreword by
H. H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Introduction by
Ven. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
Shambhala
Boston & Shaftesbury
1989

Contents
Foreword by H. H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche ix
Translator's Preface xi
Introduction by Ven. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche xiii
Prologue 1
SECTION ONE: GROUND MAHAMUDRA
The View 5
SECTION Two: PATH MAHAMUDRA
· Shamatha and· Vipashyana 17
Faults and Qualities 25
Experience and Realization 32
The Four Yogas 36
The Five Paths and the Ten Bhumis 47
Enhancement 57
SECTION THREE: FRUmON MAHAMUDRA
The Three Kayas of Buddhahood 63
Epilogue 69
Translator's Afterword 75
Glossary n

Foreword
The most learned Tsele Perna Legdrub was the body
emanation of the great translator Vairochana, and he at
tained the pinnacle of learning and accomplishment of the
masters of the Land of Snow. Also known as Kongpo
Gotsang Natsok Rangdrol, he was unmatched in his three
qualities of scholarship, virtue, and noble-mindedness.
Among the five volumes of his collected works, I con
sidered that this Lamp of Mahamudra would benefit every
one interested in the dharma. The words are clear and easy
to understand, and lengthy scholarly expositions are not
emphasized. This text, easy to comprehend and containing
all the key points and very direct instructions, results from
following the oral advice of a qualified master.
In order to help the foreigners who are presently inter
ested in the dharma to gain true confidence, I, old Dilgo
Khyentse, encouraged my disciple Erik Perna Kunsang to
translate this book into English. Therefore, may everyone
trust in this.
Written on the twenty-fifth day of the first month of the
year of the Earth Dragon.
DILGO KHYENTSE RINPOCHE

Translator's Preface
Lamp ofMahamudra is the second of three renowned books
by Tsele Natsok Rangdrol being translated by the order of
Venerable Tulku. Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. This edition
was published for the eighth yearly seminar on Buddhist
theory and practice at Rangjung Yeshe Institute, Boudhan
ath, Nepal.
The following autobiographical information about
Tsele Natsok Rangdrol was extracted by His Holiness
Dilgo Khyentse from the inner life story ofJamgon Kong
trul the Great recounting the succession of his past incar
nations:
The most learned master Tsele Perna Legdrub
Natsok Rangdrol was prophesied as the body
emanation of the great translator Vairochana. Re
nowned as the reincarnation of the incomparable
Tendzin Dorje, he was invited to the Thangdruk
Monastery, established by his previous incarna
tion. Attending numerous learned and accom
plished masters, including Gangra Lochen, he fully
comprehended the philosophical scriptures and
oral instructions of sutra and tantra, according to
the new and old schools. Being extremely disci
plined, even the liquor in his feast offerings was
prepared from water with molasses. Besides this
his tongue never touched a drop of alcohol.
In the later part of his life he stayed in Palri
Gotsang, the cave of Deshek Tse in the south, and
Translator's Preface
other places where he perfected the realization of
mahamudra and dzogchen. Among his disciples
are included Gampopa Sangpo Dorje, Bomting ·
Choje Miphampa, Tau Perna Lodro, and others.
I would like to thank Marcia Binder Schmidt for acting
as the translation assistant, checking all stages of the work,
Judith Amtzis for her repeated editing, as well as John
Rockwell and Wayne Amtzis for their useful suggestions.
ERIK PEMA KVNSANG
Nagi Gompa, Nepal
1988