The Precious Treasury of Philosophical Systems PDF
Preview The Precious Treasury of Philosophical Systems
THE PRECIOUS TREASURY OF PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEMS THE SEVEN TREASURIES SERIES This series consists of the volumes written by Longchen Rabjam that, as a group, have come to be known as The Set'elt Treasuries. Although Longchenpa did not intend them to be a series, scholars traditionally treat them as such because of their interrelated themes. Published Volumes The Precious Treasury oft he W,1)' of Abiding The Precious Treasury oft he B,1sic Space of Phenomena and its commentary, A Treasure TroL•e of Scriptztral Transmission The Precious Treasury of Pith lmtructio11s The Precious Treasury of Philosophical Systems A Treatise Elucidating the Meaning of the Entire Range of Spiritual Approaches Longchen Rabjam Translated by Richard Barron (lama Chokyi Nyima) PAD.MA PUBLISHING 2007 Published by Padma Publishing P.O. Box 2-9 Junction City. California 96048-02-~ © Padma Publishing !oo- All rights resen·ed. ~o portion of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means. electronic or me.:hanical. including phoro.:opying. re.:ording. or any information storage or retrie\"al system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of .-\meri~.t first Printing Ubr.1r)· of Congress C.1t.1loging in Public.Jtimz D,1f,1 Klmi -chen-pa Dri-med-'od-zer. l_,o8-r _,6 _, The precious treasury of philosophi~al systems I Longchen Rabjam: translated by Richard Barron !Lama Chilkyi :\yima1. p. em. Includes bibliographical referen.:es. ISB:-H;: 9-8-r-88184--H-1 1alk. paper! ISB:-.o-ro: 1-88184--H-6 1alk. papl'r• 1. Rriin-ma-pa 1S ecti-Doctrincs-Early works to 1800. I. Barron. Richard II. Tirle. BQ-:-662+"4341.~ !oo !94·3'4!04!3-d~!! Contents ForeU'ord, His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche Vll Introduction, Venerable Tulku Thondup Rinpoche IX Transh1tor 's Prelace XV Introduction 3 I The Buddha 7 2. The Buddha's Teachings 23 3 The Approaches and Their Philosophical Systems 5I 4 The Paths of the Cause-Based Approaches 12.7 5 The Fruition-Based Secret .\!antra Approach 2.39 6 The Sarma Tradition 2.61 7 The Nyingma Tradition 2.89 8 The Extraordinary Teachings: The Vajra Heart Essence 337 Colophon 385 Notes 389 WordUst 465 Sources Cited 483 lndex 52.9 \" Foreword His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche The publication of Longchen Rabjam's Set•en Treasuries should be a cause for rejoicing among deeply committed English-speaking Buddhists who aspire to realize the Dzogchen, or Great Perfection, teachings ofVajra yana Buddhism. Though there are many spiritual traditions in this world, Buddhism offers the deepest examination of what constitutes the root of samsara, and of how to deal \\"ith all levels of obscuration and attain lib eration. Among Buddhist teachings, none are more profound, more capa ble of freeing the mind from its most subtle obscurations, than those of the Great Perfection. Yet, because Great Perfection transmission leads to wisdom beyond words and concepts, the translation of Dzogchen texts presents tre mendous difficulties. Some lamas have said that it is not even worth the attempt, that too much distortion results. I respect their opinion, but feel that those of us with the supreme fortune to have received authentic trans mission from great Dzogchen masters have a responsibility to maintain the oral lineage, including the translation of texts, as well as the mind-to mind lineage of realization. If we eschew this work, the precious Great Perfection teachings will remain inaccessible to some excellent Western practitioners who have potential as meditators but who do not know Tibetan. An avenue for the flourishing of the transmission will be cut off. I am also gravely concerned about the translations of Great Perfec tion texts produced by Westerners who know Tibetan but who rely solely on scholarly knowledge, without recourse to teachers. Intellectual under standing alone, without the ripening process that takes place under the direction of qualified Dzogchen teachers, will certainly result in mis guided translations, perpetuated in misguided meditation by those who base their spiritual practice on such translations. But again, if qualified \"II viii FOREWORD Dzogchen masters refrain from working on translations because they fear imperfect results, can they lament when even more erroneous translations are published? The translator of these texts, Richard Barron (Lama Chokyi Nyima), has truly mastered both literary and spoken Tibetan, but his deeper under standing is based on an extended retreat under the guidance of His Emi nence Kalu Rinpoche, on a number of six-week Dzogchen retreats, and on listening to and translating the teachings of many eminent lamas. He has translated other Great Perfection texts and sadhanas, notably Dud jom Lingpa's Buddhahood Without Meditation, under my direction. He thus brings more capability to his work than mere theoretical and intel lectual competence. While we have not necessarily produced flawless translations, we have confidence in this groundbreaking attempt. It should be understood that works of this kind are not casually read and easily comprehended. In fact, for most people, the texts are quite difficult to fathom; their mean ing unfolds according to the depth of the reader's spiritual preparation. However, simply having these books in one's home is more valuable than having statues or stu pas, for they are truly relics of the dharmakaya. Such holy works carry powerful blessings and are worthy objects of faith and devotion. The project of translating Longchen Rabjam's Seten Treasuries is on 1 going. We encourage anyone with knowledge and experience of the Great Perfection to contact us with suggestions, clarifications, or corrections, which we will consider for incorporation into future editions. May these precious texts illuminate the minds of all who read and venerate them.
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