Translations: An Overview

In 2016 an initial translation of all the titles of the Core Texts was made, including a list that gathers all the existing translations (to the best of our knowledge). This list is continuously updated and can be found for the moment on the Rigpa Wiki page Longchen Nyingtik Root Volumes.

Shechen Core Texts: translated texts

The Shechen edition contains around 250 texts consisting of more than 4200 pages. Of these pages about 40% has been translated.

It might look as if a lot has been translated—and that is true—but there has been an imbalance in the texts chosen so far. Only about 20% of the collection consists of commentarial writings (as opposed to rituals/liturgical texts), such as the famous Yeshe Lama and a number of Dzogchen tantras and commentaries, yet nearly 100% of these have been translated; and the Yeshe Lama has been translated no fewer than three times.

Of the texts related to sādhana rituals—the main bulk of the collection—only about 25% have been translated. Some translations were completed as long ago as the 1980s.  

There is no one who has made more contributions to the Longchen Nyingtik tradition in the English language than Tulku Thondup Rinpoche. He is mostly known for his collection of biographies of the Longchen Nyingtik lineage compiled in his book Masters of Meditation and Miracles (1996), loved by many. Regarding the liturgies of the Longchen Nyingtik, his pioneering translation of the preliminary practices was published already in 1982 by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, his translation of Rigdzin Düpa was published in 1980, and revised in 1991, and his translation of the Queen of Great Bliss was published in 1982 and revised in 1992.

Despite these and other recent efforts, 75% of the rituals/liturgical texts in the Shechen edition still remain to be translated.

Furthermore, as was mentioned before, there are several other important texts and commentaries which were not included in the Shechen edition but are essential for practitioners of these practices. Examples are the massive Ratik commentary on Yumka Dechen Gyalmo, the commentaries on Palchen Düpa by Khenpo Ngakchung and Khenpo Chemchok, and several commentaries on Dukngal Rangdrol such as the one by Khenpo Pema Vajra. Therefore, a lot of work remains to be done.

Continue reading about our translation plan.