Report May 2023
This month we published two new translations: once again, an important text for the Longchen Nyingtik Phowa practice, and a short torma offering text, both of which are written by Jigme Lingpa himself.
Our first text is Transferring the Consciousness of the Deceased by Jigme Lingpa. This short guide can be read aloud in the presence of the dead and dying. It begins by explaining the truth of the person's situation, that they have passed away, then offers citations from the sūtras, encourages them to aim for Sukhāvatī, and finally guides them in a practice of transference (phowa).
Avalokiteśvara (Khasarpaṇi)
Courtesy of HAR
Our second text is the Concise Stacked-Pills Torma Offering, also by Jigme Lingpa. This stacked-pills torma (pung-tor) ritual, during which one visualizes oneself as Avalokiteśvara, was written for those of lesser acumen. It includes offerings to the four types of guest, with particular focus on water offerings to the pretas, or hungry ghosts.
But we have more important updates for you. At the Longchen Nyingtik project, we not only produce new translations but are also continuously updating and improving our earlier translations. We are very happy to have completely revised our translations of Rigdzin Dupa and Dukngal Rangdrol (including the tsok) with the help of Patrick Gaffney, who with his exemplary editing skills, was able to make major improvements.
Improvements have also been made at the Lotsawa House website, which now has dedicated pages to all the sadhanas of the Longchen Nyingtik, such as Rigdzin Dupa and Yumka, so that all the texts related to one cycle are easy to find.
We also want to point out the two pages about the Longchen Nyingtik on Himalayan Art Resources, the Longchen Nyingtig Main Page and the Longchen Nyingtig Deities.
Finally, we would like to bring to your attention a recent Chinese translation of Khyentse Wangpo’s Illuminating the Excellent Path to Omniscience, Notes on the Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro by Sung Po-yu, 龍欽寧體前行儀軌[遍智善道]明解.
We conclude with a citation from one of several texts we are currently working on, The Treasure Vase Containing the Essence of Great Bliss: The Inner Female Practice of the Ḍākinī from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse:
““From the heart of a lotus flower
Arose the goddess Tārā, swift and courageous.
In the wilderness of snowy mountains, she appears as a woman.
Outwardly, she is the sweet-voiced Tsogyal.
Inwardly, she is venerable Tārā in actuality.
Secretly, she is Vajravārāhī.””
Tara and her 21 manifestations according to the Longchen Nyingtik, tanka courtesy of Dodrupchen Monastery