Tangtong Gyalpo: A Guide for Readers Tangtong Gyalpo (1361-1485 CE), or "The King of the Empty Plain," was a Buddhist mahasiddha, physician, blacksmith, architect, and civil engineer. He's also known by the names Chakzampa, the "Iron Bridge Builder," and Tsondru Zangpo, "Excellent Persistence." Many people believe he was an emanation of both Padmasambhava (known as

Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso: A Guide for Readers Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche (1934-2024) was a Tibetan Buddhist teacher in the Kagyu tradition. Born to a nomad family in Ngangchen, Kham (the eastern region of Tibet), Khenpo Tsültrim began his training under Lama Zopa Tarchin at an early age. He later attended intensive retreats and continued his

Buddhist Mindfulness: A Guide for Readers Buddha Statue at Mahabodhi (Bodh Gaya, India) Today the term "mindfulness" has become a buzzword heard everywhere from elementary schools to corporate offices to the military. Generally speaking, when we use the term in secular life, we're referring to the ability to purposefully place our attention on our present

Remembering Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche It is with great heartache that we share that Ven. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, a prominent teacher of the Karma Kagyu School, has passed at the age of 91 on June 4, 2023. We'd like to take a moment to appreciate this remarkable master and prolific author. We are happy to

The Works of B. Alan Wallace: A Guide for Readers B. Alan Wallace has authored, translated, edited, and contributed to more than forty books on Tibetan Buddhism, science, and culture. With fourteen years as a Buddhist monk, he earned a BA in physics and the philosophy of science and then a PhD in religious studies.

Remembering Rigdzin Shikpo We are sad to share the news that Rigdzin Shikpo (Michael Hookham) passed away on April 28th, 2023. A short bio of him is included in Recalling Chögyam Trungpa: "Rigdzin Shikpo, a qualified master of the Nyingma tradition, has studied and practiced Buddhism for over fifty years. Before meeting his main teacher,

Arya Tara the Liberator: A Guide for Readers Ārya Tārā (Sanskrit), also known as Jetsun Drölma in Tibetan Buddhism, or simply "Tārā" is a meditation deity and an important figure in Buddhist thought, history, and practice. While often described as a goddess or protectress, she is considered a liberator for her ability to remove obstacles,

A Reader's Guide to the Madhyamaka School of Buddhism A Reader's Guide to Madhyamaka (The Middle Way) Madhyamaka (Sanskrit) or Uma (Tibetan) is a system of Buddhist thought first articulated by the 2nd century Indian Buddhist master Nāgārjuna and elucidated further by subsequent Indian and Tibetan masters such as Chandrakirti, Shantideva, Aryadeva, Longchenpa, and Tsongkhapa, to name

Doha and Gur: Indian and Tibetan Songs of Realization Bhutanese painted thanka of Milarepa (1052-1135) from the late 19th-early 20th Century, Dhodeydrag Gonpa, Thimphu, Bhutan Doha and Gur Doha (Sanskrit) or Nam Gur (Tibetan, Gur for short), is often translated as "Songs of Realization." This form of poetry is often sung or recited spontaneously and is

Related Reader's Guides See Also: Dudjom Tersar Home Page | Rebirths of the Dudjom Lineage | The Nyingma School | Longchen Nyingtik | Namcho & Palyul | Associated Reader Guides: | Jigme Lingpa | Longchenpa | Mipham Rinpoche | Patrul Rinpoche | Shechen Gyaltsap  Gyatrul Rinpoche Gyatrul Rinpoche from the cover of Meditation, Transformation, and Dream