The Life and Teachings of Tsongkhapa

by Robert A. F. Thurman (Editor)

Overview

A must-read for students of Tibetan Buddhism, The Life and Teachings of Tsongkhapa provides a thorough exploration of the great teacher’s wisdom.

In The Life and Teachings of Tsongkhapa, you’ll discover Tsongkhapa’s teachings on

• transcendental aspects of sutra, tantra, and insight meditation,
• mystic conversations with great bodhisattvas,
• deeply spiritual songs in praise of Manjushri and Maitreya,
• and much more.

The anthology concludes with a number of intensely moving songs in praise of Tsongkhapa and his immeasurable contribution to Tibetan Buddhism by such realized and remarkable Tibetan Buddhists as the Seventh Dalai Lama, the Eighth Karmapa, Dulnagpa Palden, and Khedrup Je.

This edition has been substantially corrected by Robert Thurman and contains a new introduction and a bibliography of all the works referenced in the text.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781614294276
Publisher:	Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date:	06/12/2018
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Robert Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University, the president of Tibet House US, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Tibetan civilization, and president of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies, a nonprofit affiliated with the Center for Buddhist Studies at Columbia University and dedicated to the publication of translations of important artistic and scientific treatises from the Tibetan Tengyur. He is considered the leading American expert on Tibetan Buddhism and is the author of many books on Tibet, Buddhism, art, politics, and culture, including The Central Philosophy of Tibet, Circling the Sacred Mountain, Essential Tibetan Buddhism, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet, Worlds of Transformation, Inner Revolution, Infinite Life, The Jewel Tree of Tibet, Why the Dalai Lama Matters, and with Sharon Salzberg, Love Your Enemies.

Table of Contents

Preface Gyatso Tsering ix

Introduction Robert A. F. Thurman 1

Part 1 Life, Liberation, and Accomplishments 7

1 A Short Biography 9

2 Destiny Fulfilled 35

3 Song of the Mystic Experiences of Lama Jé Rinpoche 43

Part 2 Stages of the Path to Enlightenment 53

4 Three Principles of the Path 55

5 Lines of Experience 59

6 A Letter of Practical Advice on Sutra and Tantra 67

7 The Prayer of the Virtuous Beginning, Middle, and End 87

Part 3 Middle Way Critical Philosophy: Insight Meditation 93

8 Praise of Buddha Shakyamuni for His Teaching of Relativity 95

9 The Middle Length Transcendent Insight 103

10 Conditions Necessary for Transcendent Insight 111

Part 4 Praises, Prayers, and a Mystic Conversation 171

11 The Ocean of Clouds of Praises of the Guru Mañjughosha 173

12 Brahma's Diadem-A Praise of Maitreya 183

13 Prayer for Rebirth in Sukhavati 193

14 Garland of Supremely Healing Nectars 199

Part 5 Praises and an Invocation 215

15 Song of the Tricosmic Master 217

16 A Song Rapidly Invoking Blessings 223

17 In Praise of the Incomparable Tsongkhapa 229

18 Tushita's Hundred Gods 233

Notes 235

Bibliography 247

Index 253

About the Author 279