Wellsprings of the Great Perfection: The Lives and Insights of the Early Masters

468 Pages·2006·15.011 MB·English

by  Erik Pema Kunsang

WELLSPRINGS
OF THE GREAT PERFECTION
Compiled and Translated by
Erik Pema Kunsang

W e l t s p ť i ^ s
Rangjung Yeshe Books • www .rangjung .com
padmasambhava • Dakini Teachings
Advice from the Lotus-Born * Treasures From Juniper Ridge
PADMASAMBHAVA AND JAMGON KONGTRUL
The Light of Wisdom,, Vol. 1 • The Light of Wisdom, Vol. 2
yeshe tsogyal * The Lotus^Born
gampopa * The Precious Garland of the Sublime Path
DAKPO tashi namgyal • Clarifying the Natural State
tsele natsok rangdrol • Mirror of Mindfulness • Empowerment •
Heart Lamp
chokgyur lingpa • Ocean ofAmrita • The Great Gate
jamgon mipham rinpoche • Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 1
Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 2 * Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 3 *
Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 4
tulku urgyen rinpoche • Blazing Splendor
Rainbow Painting • As It Is, Vol. 1 • As It Is, Vol. 2 • Vajra Speech
Repeating the Words of the Buddha
adeu rinpoche & tulku urgyen rinpoche • Skillful Grace
khenchen thrangu rinpoche • Crystal Clear
Songs of Naropa • King of Samadhi • Buddha Nature
chokyi nyima rinpoche • Present Fresh Wakefulness
Indisputable Truth • Union ofMahamudra &Dzogchen
Bardo Guidebook • Song of Karmapa
TSIKEY CHOKLING RINPOCHE • LotUS Ocean
tulku thondup • Enlightened Living
orgyen tobgyal rinpoche • Life & Teachings of Chokgyur Lingpa
tsoknyi rinpoche • Fearless Simplicity • Carefree Dignity
DZOGCHEN TRILOGY COMPILED BY MARCIA BINDER SCHMIDT
Dzogchen Primer • Dzogchen Essentials • Quintessential Dzogchen
ERIK PEMA KUNSANG • Wellsprings of the Great Perfection
A Tibetan Buddhist Companion * The Rangjung Yeshe Tibetan-English
Dictionary of Buddhist Culture • Perfect Clarity
marcia dechen wangmo • Confessions of a Gypsy Yogini
adeu rinpoche • Freedom in Bondage
TRAKTUNG DUDJOM LINGPA • Clear Mirror
Well
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Lives and Insights of the
Early Masters in the Dzogchen Lineage
compiler & translator
Erik Pema Kunsang
editors
Michael Tweed
& Marcia Binder Schmidt
artwork
Ngawang Zangpo
PUBLICATIONS
Boudhanath,Hong Kong &. Esby
Rangjung Yeshe Publications
Flat 5A, Greenview Garden ,
125 Robinson Road , Hong Kong
Address letters to :
Rangjung Yeshe Publications
P.O. box 1200
Kathmandu , Nepal
WWW.RANGJUNG.COM
[email protected]
© 2006 Erik Hein Schmidt
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced
WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER.
Distributed to the book trade by:
NORTH ATLANTIC BOOKS
135798642
First edition 2006
Printed in Canada on recycled acid -free paper
Publication Data :
TRANSLATED FROM THE TlBETAN BY ERIK PeMA KuNSANG,
(Erik H ein Schmidt ).
Edited by M ichael Tweed and Marcia Binder Schmidt .
Artwork by Ngawang Zangpo .
isbn -io: 962-7341-57-6
ISBN-13: 978-962-7341-57-4
1. Eastern philosophy —Buddhism .
3. Vajrayana —Dzogchen (Nyingma ).
I. Title .
Cover art detail : icon of Shri Singha from the archives of
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
Design : Michael Tweed
Passages up to 108 words can be quoted freely without
permission . Longer passages can also be quoted but with prior
written permission from the publisher .
When I have passed beyond this world of sorrow,
Three hundred sixty years from now,
In Uddiyana, land of braided people,
To the daughter of the monarch Uparaja,
Will appear a yogi-child, without a father,
Who is blessed by buddha Vajrasattva
And bears the name Delightful Vajra.
He will spread the doctrine of the Ati teachings.
Buddha Shakyamunif oretold the coming of Prahevajra
the Nirvana Sutra.

C ontents
Foreword xiii
Preface xv
Translators Introduction i
Samantabhadras Infinite Realms 13
Prelude 25
Continuous Stream of Nectar 27
The Yoga of the Early Dawn 33
Part i—The Grand Vista 43
Kulayaraj a Tantra, the opening chapter 47
The Eighteen Songs of Realization 53
The Royal Tantra of All-Inclusive Vastness 77
A Journey to the Golden Sanctuary 81
Realization Songs of Awakened Mind 97
Part ii—From Early Treasure Masters 113
The Twelve Dzogchen Buddhas 115
Seven Segments to Establish the Great History 123
Songs from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of Sukhavati 153
Shri Singha Confers the Eighteen Dzogchen Tantras 157
The Heart Essence of the Dakinis 161
The Essence Tantra of Liberation Through Wearing 171
The Great Single Cut of Complete Liberation 175
The Jewel Garland Records 181
Illuminating Sunlight 189
Part iii—From Revelations of Samantabhadra’s M ind 207
The Tantra that Reveals the Intrinsic Buddha Mind 211
Revealing the Effortless Vehicle 225
VII
CONTENTS
Vairotsana’s Profound Mind Tantra 239
Key to the Wisdom Heart 247
The Six Hearing Lineages 255
The Hearing Lineage of Vairotsana 259
Part iv—From Later Treasure M asters 275
The Golden Garland Chronicles: Excerpts 279
The Single Golden Letter of the Black Quintessence 295
Transmitting the Brilliant Expanse 299
The Great History of Transmitting the Lineage of the
Precious Teachings 305
Shri Singha’s Heart Mirror 333
The Heart Essence of Vajrasattva 341
The Quintessence of Ail Vehicles 343
The Written Narration: In Tibet 347
The Testaments of the Knowledge-Holders 353
The Seven Spikes of Shri Singha 357
Twenty-One Songs of Self-Existing Oneness 363
The Golden Sun that Dispels Darkness 371
Part v—From Chokgyur Lingpa’s revelations 383
Vajra Songs from the Masters of the Outer Cycle 389
Songs from the Innermost Essence 395
Vajra Songs from the Masters of the Innermost Cycle 401
Vimalamitras Song of Flawless Ambrosia 413
Part vi—Aspiration 415
An Aspiration for the Ground, Path and Fruition 417
Endnotes 421
Index 427
VIII