Dzokchen - by B Alan Wallace (Paperback)

About the Book

"Dèudjom Rinpochâe was renowned for being among the foremost scholars in the Nyingma tradition. With his vast erudition, he wrote forty volumes of texts, which include classic scholarly texts as well as pith instructions, the latter of which you will find in this book. In addition to being a great scholar and contemplative, he was also a great bodhisattva, or mahåasattva, who inspired countless people to devote themselves to the practice of Dharma, with a special emphasis on Dzokchen. Like his predecessor, Dèudjom Lingpa, Dèudjom Rinpochâe was also a great tertèon, or treasure revealer, as illustrated in his root verses, which form the basis of his commentary in this volume. The treasures revealed by Dèudjom Lingpa and Dèudjom Rinpochâe together form what is known as the Dèudjom Tersar - the New Treasure tradition of the Dèudjom lineage-which in turn was passed on to Gyatrul Rinpochâe, as well as many other distinguished lamas who became disciples of Dèudjom Rinpochâe. Within this book, you will find Dèudjom Rinpochâe's pith instructions in the form of root verses, entitled Guidance Transmitted One-on-One to Those of Good Fortune. These verses are actually part of a much larger cycle of treasure texts revealed by Dèudjom Rinpochâe on the wrathful manifestation of Padmasambhava known as Dorjâe Drolèo. Dèudjom Rinpochâe's autocommentary on these pith instructions, entitled The Illumination of Primordial Wisdom, forms the core of this volume. I have provided my own commentary on his root texts with the intention to help illuminate this path of the Great Perfection and inspire you to devote yourself to this greatest of all journeys. My own understanding, which I will share with you here, has been informed and inspired by the core teachings and guidance I've received from my lamas, who have led me toward this path of irreversible transformation - namely, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Gyatrul Rinpochâe, Yangthang Rinpochâe, Drupèon Lama Karma, and many others"--

Book Synopsis

Pith Instructions for Realizing the Great Perfection, from One of the Greatest Tibetan Yogis of the Twentieth Century, H. H. Dudjom Rinpoche.

In the concise yet comprehensive practice manual entitled The Illumination of Primordial Consciousness, the great twentieth-century Tibetan Nyingma master Dudjom Rinpoche lays out a sequential path to spiritual freedom according to the teachings of the Great Perfection (Dzokchen): First, we refine our awareness by training in meditative quiescence (shamatha) and then proceed to the cultivation of contemplative insight (vipashyana), by which our mind's basic nature of luminosity and emptiness is revealed. Then, having recognized that the ordinary, deluded mind is actually without any intrinsic essence, we are primed to cut through this conditioned mind into unborn, timeless pristine awareness, which has never been contaminated by mental afflictions or other obscurations. Finally, we realize that our own awareness has never been other than the dharmakaya, the mind of a buddha, and perfect enlightenment is realized spontaneously and effortlessly.

Beloved teacher and renowned scholar Lama B. Alan Wallace guides the reader through Dudjom Rinpoche's remarkable text, sharing insights gained over years of study and practice. He provides line-by-line commentary, enhanced with teachings from other revered Dzokchen masters such as Padmasambhava, Dudjom Lingpa, and Gyatrul Rinpoche. Also included is a set of fifteen guided meditations, with links to audio tracks of Lama Alan giving the instructions himself.

Review Quotes

"Düdjom Rinpoché was a great master and scholar of Dzokchen, and for many years represented the Nyingma lineage-in-exile. This book is a treasury of profound advice and instruction on Dzokchen practice, and would be of immense benefit to all those seeking guidance on this path."--Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

"I am delighted that the esteemed Buddhist teacher B. Alan Wallace has translated Düdjom Rinpoché's Illumination of Primordial Wisdom and composed a commentary on it for contemporary students. [This volume is] a valuable addition to the great library of translated texts for growing numbers of Nyingtik practitioners around the world. I highly recommend that those with a connection to the Dzokchen teachings acquire this book and rely upon it to enhance their confidence and growth as they progress along the Dzokchen path."--Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

About the Author

B. Alan Wallace is president of the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies. He trained for many years as a monk in Buddhist monasteries in India and Switzerland. He has taught Buddhist theory and practice in Europe and America since 1976 and has served as interpreter for numerous Tibetan scholars and contemplatives, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama. After graduating summa cum laude from Amherst College, where he studied physics and the philosophy of science, he earned his MA and PhD in religious studies at Stanford University. He has edited, translated, authored, and contributed to more than forty books on Tibetan Buddhism, medicine, language, and culture, and the interface between science and religion.

Alan is also the founder of the Center for Contemplative Research (CCR), which has retreat center locations in Crestone, Colorado, and Castellina Marittima, Italy as well as a center in New Zealand slated to open soon. The CCR is dedicated to researching the role and methods of the ancient contemplative practices of shamatha and vipashyana, and their involvement in mental health and wellbeing, as well as their role in fathoming the nature and origins of human consciousness.