Vajrayana: An Essential Guide To Practice

by Traleg Kyabgon, Salvatore Celiento MA (Editor)

Overview

In Vajrayana: An Essential Guide to Practice Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche explains the profound meaning of Vajrayana, inclusive of the Six Yogas of Naropa, demystifying the practices and providing the necessary elucidations. One of the six Yogas, Dream Yoga, is explored in depth, providing remarkable insight into the human condition, mind, and spirituality. The clarifications illuminate the tantric path, dispelling confusion and uncertainty about how to approach Vajrayana practices. Some key explanations for practicing the Vajrayana path are elucidated including the role of clear light, and the role of the tantric teacher. This work includes generous, rarely discussed aspects of this profound path by one of the world’s foremost masters of Tibetan Buddhism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780648332152
Publisher:	Shogam Publications
Publication date:	11/15/2020
Pages:	250
Sales rank:	857,907
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche IX (1955-2012) was born in Nangchen in Kham, eastern Tibet. He was recognised by His Holiness XVI Gyalwang Karmapa as the ninth Traleg tulku and enthroned at the age of two as the supreme abbot of Thrangu Monastery. Rinpoche was taken to Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim at the age of four where he was educated with other young tulkus in exile by His Holiness Karmapa. Rinpoche studied under the auspices of His Eminence Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche at Sangngak Choling in Darjeeling. He also studied with a number of other eminent Tibetan teachers during that time and mastered the many Tibetan teachings with the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions in particular. Rinpoche moved to Melbourne Australia in 1980 and commenced studies in comparative religion and philosophy at LaTrobe University. He established E-Vam Institute in Melbourne in 1982 and went on to establish further Centers in Australia, America and New Zealand. Throughout his life Rinpoche gave extensive teachings on many aspects of Buddhist psychology and philosophy, as well as comparative religion, and Buddhist and Western thought. He was an active writer and has many titles to his name. Titles include: the best selling Essence of Buddhism; Karma, What It Is, What It Isn't, and Why It Matters, now translated into 5 languages; The Practice of Lojong; Moonbeams of Mahamudra; and many more. Rinpoche's writings are thought provoking, challenging, profound and highly relevant to today's world and its many challenges. Traleg Kyabgon (1955–2012) was the founder of the Kagyu E-Vam Buddhist Institute, which is headquartered in Melbourne, with a major practice center in upstate New York and a practice community in New York City. He taught extensively at universities and Buddhist centers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, and is the author of such books as Essence of Buddhism and Karma: What It Is, What It Isn't, Why It Matters. Salvatore Celiento has a degree in Pastoral Counseling from ACU and Master degree in Counseling from Victoria University in Australia. He is an accomplished martial artist in the Japanese tradition of Ninjutsu. His other studies include the Shakuhachi bamboo flute (with Grandmaster Riley Lee), Tibetan Yoga, and Japanese brush painting. Salvatore has lectured on counselling in universities in Australia for many years and was accepted to study as a Shedra student by Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche IX in 2010. He has completed 7 years of a 10 year Shedra program, studying traditional texts from the Kagyu and Nyingma Schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Table of Contents

Foreword Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche ix

Biography of Author Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche xi

Acknowledgements xiii

Editor's Introduction xiv

Section 1 Overview of Buddhist Tantra

Chapter 1 Sutra and Tantra: Differences Between Exoteric and Esoteric Buddhism 1

Chapter 2 The Sutric Heritage in Tantra and the Clear Light Mind of Bliss 10

Chapter 3 The Practice of Deity Yoga 22

Chapter 4 Empowerment and the Vajra Master 32

Chapter 5 The Preparatory Arrangements for the Empowerment 44

Chapter 6 The Four Empowerments 52

Chapter 7 The Creative-Imagination Stage 63

Chapter 8 Mystic Heat Yoga and the Completion Stage 79

Chapter 9 The Completion Stage Practices 87

Section 2 The Six Yogas Of Naropa

Chapter 10 Overview of the Six Yogas of Naropa 95

Chapter 11 Mystic Heat Yoga (Tummo) 105

Chapter 12 Illusory Body Yoga 114

Chapter 13 Dream Yoga 124

Chapter 14 Clear Light Yoga, Yoga of Bardo, and Transference of Consciousness 129

Section 3 Dream Yoga

Chapter 15 Illusion and Reality 137

Chapter 16 Philosophy of Dream Yoga 144

Chapter 17 The Practices of Dream Yoga 160

Chapter 18 Supplemental Practices of Dream Yoga 172

Notes 183

Index 197