The Announcement from Vajra
Publications in Kathmandu
Dear Friends,
We have the pleasure of announcing the important publication of
two books treating the view and meditation of the Tibetan
Dzogchen tradition. Both are seminal texts of Dzogchen Kama,
which free of later exegesis we call "radical dzogchen". Written
by the two pre-eminent masters of the Dzogchen tradition in
Tibet, Vairotsana and Longchenpa,
these two books take us back to the source of Dzogchen
transmission and reveal the essence of this apex existential
modality, transcending all cultural specifics, presenting the
heart of Tibetan Buddhism to the western world. Keith Dowman's
translation provides an easy access to these classical texts:
Old Man
Basking in the Sun: Longchenpa's Treasury of Natural Perfection
Foreword by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Translation and Commentary by Keith Dowman
Eye of the
Storm: Vairotsana's Original Transmissions
Foreword by Bhakha Tulku Pema Rigdzin
Translation and Commentary by Keith Dowman
About "Old Man Basking in the Sun"
Dzogchen is the apotheosis of Tibetan Buddhism and Longchenpa is
the pre-eminent master of Dzogchen and one of Tibet's greatest
mystical poets. The verses of his Treasury of Natural
Perfection (Gnas lugs mdzod) written in the
fourteenth century encompass and epitomize the radical precepts
of Dzogchen while his auto-commentary elaborates their meaning
through a concise prose paraphrase and with illustrative
quotations from the Collection of Tantras of the Ancients
(Rnying ma rgyud 'bum). Transcending the Tibetan context,
Longchenpa delivers a manual of wisdom for all people at all
times and shows why the western world has turned to Tibet for
its mystical inspiration during the last half century. This
transmission of timeless wisdom of the Ancients of Tibet should
take its place amongst the world's religious classics. Through
the precept 'nonaction' – which is savoured like 'an old man
basking in the sun' – Dzogchen teaches the natural perfection of
all our experience, and all our lives, just as it is, without
need of any alteration. This discipline provides the key not
only to our inner enlightenment but to the health and survival
of our planet.
From the Foreword by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
'Now that Ati Dzogchen is spreading in the West, we need a
popular translation of this extraordinary text...and the benefit
will be seen as direct experience of the nature of mind. Keith
Dowman, the translator, who has spent many years in communion
with many great masters and fortuitously absorbed the
realization of Ati Dzogchen, has overcome the deep problems of
translation and produced a straight-forward English rendition. I
hope that this text may bring realization of the nature of
things just as they are, to all beings.'
From the Foreword to "Eye of the Storm" by Bhakha
Tulku Pema Rigdzin
'The five texts translated from Tibetan into English in this
book are considered the first transmission of Dzogchen Ati to
Tibet (Snga 'gyur lnga). They constitute the root and
essence of Dzogchen in Tibet –– basic, raw Dzogchen precepts,
appropriately styled 'radical Dzogchen'. This is the special,
extraordinary teaching of our Nyingma lineage. The great masters
have all attained realization through Dzogchen, contemporary
masters all owe their status to Dzogchen, and any attainment in
the future will be based on the precepts of Dzogchen Ati.'
From the blurb of James Low, author of Simply Being
Precise and poetic, authentic and elusive, these sweet
translations bring the warm breath of the tradition into our
daily lives. This book is a major contribution to the exciting
spread of Dzogchen in modern times, providing reliable versions
of key texts in language which creatively challenges our
assumptions. This new work by Keith Dowman is thoughtful, ripe
and poignant, rich in the fruit of years of learning, working,
experiencing and letting go.'
Keith Dowman, the translator and commentator upon these
two texts has spent a lifetime in study and practice of the
Dzogchen tradition with the Tibetan masters in exile in India
and Tibet, particularly with Dudjom Jigtral Yeshe Dorje and
Kanjur Rimpoche Longchen Yeshe Dorje. His previous translations
include most recently The Flight of the Garuda, an
introduction to Dzogchen, and also Sky Dancer, Masters
of Mahamudra and The Divine Madman. He lives in
Kathmandu and teaches Dzogchen seminars and retreats in Europe
and America.
With best wishes,
Bidur Dangol
Vajra Publications
Jyatha, Thamel, Nepal
bidur_la@mos.com.np
Please order from Vajra Books:
www.vajrabooks.com.np
Also available in the USA from Snowlion:
www.snowlionpub.com
and Namse Bangdzo:
www.namsebangdzo.com
and Amazon Books: www.amazon.com.
Available in the UK from
www.wisdombooks.com
and in Germany from
tushita@tushita.com
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