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Descriptions of Publications |
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Rest for the Fortunate: Nyungne is a practice of 1000-Armed Chenrezig that is common to all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It integrates fasting, the temporary observance of strict vows, the supreme altruistic motivation of bodhicitta, and the vajrayana practice of Chenrezig in a short retreat format. Based on a traditional text by the 9th Situ Rinpoche, this book gives a complete and inspiring background on nyungne practice. It includes a history of the early lineage holders of the nyungne teachings, including the story of Gelongma Palmo, the Indian princess who was the founder of the nyungne tradition. At the end of the book, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche presents a special teaching on death, dying, and the bardo states based on a teaching given by Padmasambhava. |
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The Wish-Fulfilling Wheel: The Practice of White Tara White Tara's special function is to promote long life, both for the practitioner and for others, such as our lamas. This book is a complete explanation of all aspects of the practice by Ven. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche. It includes two complete practice texts in English and Tibetan. |
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Taking Refuge; A Teaching on Entering the Buddhist Path [OUT OF PRINT] |
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| Living in Compassion This book is an accessible and practical resource on the Buddhist path, centered around bringing the practice of compassion to everything we do. It begins with a teaching on marriage and relationships as seen from a Buddhist perspective, with emphasis on the application of personal discipline and the understanding of karma in our personal and family lives. The second section is a complete, detailed commentary on The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva, one of the most important Tibetan texts on the path of compassion and wisdom. In the third and final section of the book, Bardor Rinpoche gives a complete teaching on the six perfections, the transcendent qualities of generosity, morality, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. |
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| Teaching on the Tashi Prayer The Tashi Prayer was written by Khenchen Mipham (1846-1912), a major figure in 19th- Century Tibetan Buddhism. The purpose of the prayer is to pay homage to and supplicate four kinds of awakened beings (buddhas, male bodhisattvas, female bodhisattvas, and protectors) so as to receive their blessings for both spiritual and worldly success. This in-depth teaching by Bardor Rinpoche, which is based on Mipham's own commentary, will provide a very helpful explanation for those who do the Tashi Prayer, as well as an authentic glimpse into the role of prayer in Tibetan Buddhist practice. This second edition includes the prayer in both Tibetan and English, making this book a complete practice text. There is no empowerment for this prayer, but it is considered good to get the reading transmission (lung) whenever possible. |
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| The Kagyu Lineage & Activity of the Karmapas [OUT OF PRINT] This text is a concise but in-depth teaching on one of the four main Buddhist traditions of Tibet, the Kagyu Lineage. It presents the stories of the great figures of this tradition -- from Tilopa in ancient India, down to the present Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje. Along with this history are clear explanations of the nature of lineage and the place of the Kagyu tradition in Buddhist history. As the story unfolds, we get a glimpse of the extraordinary enlightened beings who have preserved and transmitted the teachings and realization of the Buddha in an unbroken way into our present time. |
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| Karma Chakme's Mountain Dharma, Vol. 1 Karma Chakme's Mountain Dharma is a monumental work detailing Tibetan Buddhist practice. Originally written in 1659, this remarkable book is now available in English for the first time, constituting a major landmark in Khenpo Karthar's teachings and Tibetan Buddhism in general. Volume 1 contains foundational teachings and discusses how one can apply these practices in order to benefit others. These teachings are suitable for all practitioners, whether one is in retreat or living a busy life in the world. |
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| Precious Essence: the Inner Autobiography of Terchen Barway Dorje This compelling book is the autobiography of Barway Dorje, an important teacher who was born in Tibet in the nineteenth century and widely acknowledged as an authentic treasure revealer. Meticulously translated by Yeshe Gyamtso, the stories in this book will both delight and inspire modern practitioners. |
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| Practice of Green Tara A complete teaching on the Green Tara practice as performed daily at KTD Monastery. Includes an explanation of the 21 Praises of Tara, photos of the mudras associated with the practice, and a large folding line drawing of the 21 Taras. There is a special section at the end of this text on the previous lives of Ven. Bardor Tulku Rinpoche. |
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| Teaching on Family & Dharma This teaching was given by the Ven. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche at the first Family Dharma Weekend, held in Big Rapids, Michigan in the late 1980s. Rinpoche discusses the way families relate to the Dharma in the traditional culture of Tibet, especially in raising children. The teaching includes some inspiring stories about H.H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and personal reminiscences of Rinpoche's escape from Tibet. |
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| Teaching on the Shrine A shrine is not merely a collection of objects of cultural significance -- it is a symbolic representation of the key principles of Buddhism. Rinpoche explains the proper understanding and attitude in creating and working with a shrine. He describes the general layouts of different types of shrines and their meaning, the proper characteristics of the objects used, the traditional set of offerings, and the representations of the enlightened objects of refuge. |
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| Abandoning What is Not Worthwhile In this teaching Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche clearly explains how the ten negative actions--three of body, four of speech, and three of mind--and how they need to be recognized, avoided, and purified. Note that this is a companion teaching to Embracing What is Genuine, which discusses the corresponding positive actions. |
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| Commentary on Chenrezik &
Amitabha Practices This is a complete detailed commentary on the Chenrezik and Amitabha practices performed at KTD and many of its affiliated centers. It corresponds directly with the pecha texts for these practices with page references and complete explanations of the texts. Along with detailed information on the visualization of Chenrezik and Amitabha, it has extensive explanations of the seven-branch prayer and the supplication to Chenrezik that make up a large part of the practice. Also included are stories from the life of Padmasambhava, along with a commentary on the 7-Line Guru Rinpoche prayer. |
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| Compassion Without Illusions This teaching addresses the problem of how misconceptions and erroneous views of ourselves and the world prevent us from developing our potential for genuine compassion. Such limitations are basically due to the mental afflictions, or kleshas. As we work to overcome these habitual patterns, we are able to experience and express innate compassion and loving kindness. The basic method that is presented for taming the mind is silent sitting meditation or shinay, which means "dwelling in tranquility." |
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| Death, Dying, and the Intermediate
State This teaching explains death as one phase in the continuous process of rebirth that we have been experiencing for countless lifetimes. The influence of karmic patterns on our future rebirths makes it important to study and practice with this in mind. Emphasizes the the importance of relating to the objects of refuge and generating the mind of enlightenment. Also includes a discussion of how to work with dying people, whether they are practitioners or not, to facilitate a positive rebirth. |
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| Embracing What is Genuine This teaching is the companion to "Abandoning What is Not Worthwhile," which discusses the ten negative actions. This text covers the ten corresponding positive actions of body, speech, and mind along with their karmic consequences. In particular, the teaching explains how to perfectly accomplish virtuous or wholesome activity and the importance of proper motivation in everything we do. |
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| Sending and Receiving Starting with the foundation of sitting meditation practice, it is possible to practice other types of skillful methods of working with the mind. The practice of sending and receiving, or tong len in Tibetan, is a fundamental mind practice which helps uproot confusion and habitual patterns of ego clinging. By visualizing and accepting the confusions and negativities of others and offering them all sources of goodness and blessings it is possible to develop genuine and spontaneous compassion. |
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| Teaching on Interdependence
and Emptiness Based on The Heart Sutra, perhaps the most well-known and essential of the mahayana prajnaparamita scriptures, this teaching contains the essential Buddhist views on wisdom and emptiness. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche's explanation focuses on the understanding of the unity of emptiness and interdependence, and provides an excellent step-by-step description of the 12 nidanas, or links, of interdependent origination. |
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| Teaching on Manjushri This is a commentary on the well-known Manjushri prayer called the Ganglo Ma, or Gang Gi Lodro. It is associated with the mantra Om Ara Pa Tsa Na Dhi, which is perhaps the most well-known mantra of Manjushri. This prayer is very strongly associated with study and learning in the Tibetan tradition, and it is commonly performed before beginning a study session in monasteries and schools. Transcript includes the prayer with Tibetan, transliteration, and translation. |
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| The Dharma in Women This teaching was given on Mother's Day weekend in 1989 and begins with Rinpoche's appreciation of the Mother's Day holiday and an explanation of the gratitude that our mothers deserve. It describes social and gender relationships in India during the life of the Buddha, and how his teachings transcended these structures. It also covers Buddhist practice in the context of women's issues from the point of view of the three yanas. Includes many interesting questions and answers. |
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| The Five Buddha Families This teaching discusses the principle, which is fundamental to the tantric approach in Buddhism, that the enlightened qualities of the five buddha families are always present within us, as well as how these are recognized through practice. |
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| The Four Dharmas of Gampopa The teaching called The Four Dharmas of Gampopa is just four lines of text (often repeated as a prayer) that actually encompasses the entire teachings of the Dharma. Rinpoche begins with a short biography of Gampopa, who is so important in the Kagyu lineage, and goes on to explain each point individually. The four dharmas cover the complete range of hinayana, mahayana, and vajrayana teachings, so this would be a good general introduction for someone starting to investigate the Tibetan tradition, as well as an interesting review for the more experienced reader. |
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| The Heart of Mindfulness/Shamata
Meditation The silent sitting practice (shamata) is a very important practice for students of the Tibetan tradition. This text gives detailed information on shamata meditation, including physical posture, obstacles that come up and their remedies, walking meditation, and ways to work with the experiences that arise while practicing. This transcript is not meant to replace personal meditation instruction from a qualified teacher, but it should be a valuable reference once you have received instructions. |
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| The Inseparability of the Three
Yanas This teaching conveys a clear and in-depth understanding of the three paths of practice or yanas (hinayana, mahayana, and vajrayana.) It explains how they are related and how they are ultimately inseparable in the practice of Dharma. Each of the yanas is described in terms of view, meditation, conduct, and result, and an explanation is provided on how all three compliment each other and are are essential in our development. Also discussed are the vows associated with each of the three paths, the six paramitas, as well as an excellent overview of vajrayana practice. |
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| The Kagyu Lineage This is a concise teaching on the history of the Kagyu lineage. Though the subject has been taught extensively elsewhere, this transcript will be of value for many points not commonly explained and for certain stories we have not seen anywhere else. For example there is an explanation of the disciples of Gampopa known as the "Three Men from Kham" which includes several incidents that were prophetic as to their future activity. The transcript also contains Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche's only publicly available comments about the controversy concerning the recognition of the 17th Karmapa. Written in 1995, these comments are among the most helpful I have read about this issue. |
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| The Practice of Loving Kindness &
Compassion This special teaching was given by Rinpoche in 1979. It is a very clear and direct message on how these qualities are central and essential to the path of enlightenment and how to develop them. It also covers the Sending and Receiving practice (tong len). Rinpoche's translator, Ngödup Burkhar, felt strongly that this teaching should be transcribed, and everyone who worked on this text was personally very touched by it. |
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| The Tibetan Calendar & Lunar
Cycle This brief teaching gives a very clear explanation of the Tibetan calendar and its significance in the practice of dharma. It discusses the important days in the yearly cycle based on the major events in Buddhist history, as well as the monthly lunar cycle, giving a basic explanation of the influence and significance of these special times in the practice of meditation. This transcript is a good companion for the Karma Kagyu practice calendar, which gives specific information for each day of the year. |
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| The Two Accumulations: Merit &
Wisdom This is an explanation of two aspects of development on the path, those of merit (positive karmic accumulation) and wisdom. Merit is the more relative aspect, based on positive attitudes, aspirations, connections, and actions, while wisdom is the ultimate aspect of the unfolding of enlightened mind. Rinpoche explains how merit is vital to, and supportive of, the development of wisdom. He tells stories from the lives of practitioners of the past which range from humorous to macabre to touching. Instructions are given for practice in everyday life. |
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