Today, for the anniversary of the parinirvāṇa of Jetsun Tāranātha (28th of the 3rd Tibetan month), and as part of the launch of the new publication of Tāranātha's 'Meaningful to See', this post, is about the section from his more extensive commentary, A Hundred Blazing Lights on the second preliminary practice, 'generating a mind of… Continue reading ‘Love is the water of compassion’: Tāranātha on the ‘four immeasurables’ in ‘A Hundred Blazing Lights’
Tag: Taranatha
‘A Hundred Blazing Lights’: Tāranātha on the meaning of ‘profound’ and ‘exceptional devotion’ in the ‘profound path of vajra-yogas’
Jetsun Tāranātha As part of the new publication of Tāranātha's root text 'Meaningful to See: Guiding Instructions on the Profound Path of the Vajra-yogas' (and the annotations within it from his longer supplementary commentary, 'A Hundred Blazing Lights' (HBL)), this post shares his explanation of the term 'profound' (zab mo) and why it is used… Continue reading ‘A Hundred Blazing Lights’: Tāranātha on the meaning of ‘profound’ and ‘exceptional devotion’ in the ‘profound path of vajra-yogas’
Tāranātha on Vajrasattva in ‘A Hundred Blazing Lights’: the nature of karma, the four ‘opponent powers’ and the necessity of purification
As part of the launch of the first publication of 'Meaningful to See: Guidance on the Profound Path of the Vajra-Yogas' by Jetsun Tāranātha, and the launch of a new 'Vajrasttava' section on this website, I am sharing some of Tāranātha's instructions on Vajrasattva: Hundred Syllable Mantra practice of the Kālacakra preliminaries from his longer… Continue reading Tāranātha on Vajrasattva in ‘A Hundred Blazing Lights’: the nature of karma, the four ‘opponent powers’ and the necessity of purification
NEW PUBLICATION: ‘Meaningful to See: Guidance on the Profound Path of the Vajra-Yogas’ by Jetsun Tāranātha
For commemoration of Vesak (Buddha Day) and the Kālacakra new year, today May 7th, happy to announce the long-awaited and much-requested, translation and publication of a short (but important) root text by Jonang and Shangpa Kagyu master, Jetsun Tāranātha, Meaningful to See: Guidance on the Profound Path of Vajra-Yogas (zab lam rdo rje'i rnal 'byor… Continue reading NEW PUBLICATION: ‘Meaningful to See: Guidance on the Profound Path of the Vajra-Yogas’ by Jetsun Tāranātha
Translation Note: The difference between ‘prajñā’ (sherab) and ‘jñāna’ (yeshe) and their role in understanding the Buddhist ‘view’
As an homage and offering to the great mother prajñāpāramitā, on this new moon day, I offer this short translation and research note of what the term prajñā means, how it differs from the other important term jñāna and thus how it is best translated. It is 'knowing' but 'knowing' what? In many Buddhist texts,… Continue reading Translation Note: The difference between ‘prajñā’ (sherab) and ‘jñāna’ (yeshe) and their role in understanding the Buddhist ‘view’
NEW PUBLICATION: ‘The Explicit and Hidden Aspects of Tārā: A Commentary on the Twenty-One Tārās’ by Jetsun Tāranātha
On the the Kālacakra New Year, the full moon of the third lunar month (Nagpa Dawa), I am happy to announce the first English translation (and publication) of the Commentary on the Praises to the Twenty-One Tāras (Phyag 'tshal nyer gcig gi bstod pa'i rnam par bshad pa), The Explicit and Hidden Aspects of Tāra, composed… Continue reading NEW PUBLICATION: ‘The Explicit and Hidden Aspects of Tārā: A Commentary on the Twenty-One Tārās’ by Jetsun Tāranātha
NEW TRANSLATION: The categories and meaning of the hundred syllable Heruka Vajrasattava mantra in the Dro Kālacakra tradition
In two of the main texts on the Kālacakra practices within the Jonang Dro Kālacakra tradition ('A Hundred Blazing Lights' by Tāranātha and 'The Chariot that Transports to the Four Kāyas' by Bamda Gelek Gyatso) the categories and meaning of the hundred syllable (yig brgya) mantra are explained in detail. Translated and published in English… Continue reading NEW TRANSLATION: The categories and meaning of the hundred syllable Heruka Vajrasattava mantra in the Dro Kālacakra tradition
A memoriam and tribute to Kālacakra scholar, translator and calendar expert – Edward Henning (1949-2016)
Here is a brief memorial tribute to the late Kālacakra scholar, translator and Tibetan astrology expert Edward Henning (1949-2016). Although it is by no means full or comprehensive, it includes an account of my own personal experience and correspondence with Edward about his work (shortly before he suddenly passed away) and a full reproduction of… Continue reading A memoriam and tribute to Kālacakra scholar, translator and calendar expert – Edward Henning (1949-2016)
Tāranātha and his Indian tantric master Buddhaguptanātha
Buddhaguptanātha (1514-1610), an Indian tantric master, (16th century) was a very important teacher for Jonang and Shangpa Kagyu master and lineage holder, Tāranātha. His life was recorded in extensive detail by Tāranātha who wrote his biography around the year 1601. In 1590, Buddhaguptanātha visited Tibet. In fact, Tāranātha's well-known account of 'The History of Buddhism… Continue reading Tāranātha and his Indian tantric master Buddhaguptanātha
New Translation: ‘Supplication to the Kālacakra Lineage’ by Jetsun Tāranātha
Happy to announce this new, and first-time published, English translation of Jetsun Tāranātha’s Supplication to the Kālacakra lineage (dus kyi ‘khor lo’i brgyud ‘debs), that has been transmitted to, and maintained predominantly by, the Jonang and Kagyu tradition to this day. This text will also be included in a new e-book publication ‘The Kālacakra History and… Continue reading New Translation: ‘Supplication to the Kālacakra Lineage’ by Jetsun Tāranātha