Pema Lingpa_ALL 0709 7/7/09 12:18 PM Page i
The Life and Revelations of Pema Lingpa Pema Lingpa_ALL 0709 7/7/09 12:18 PM Page ii Pema Lingpa_ALL 0709 7/7/09 12:18 PM Page iii
The Life and Revelations of Pema Lingpa
Translated by Sarah Harding
Snow Lion Publications ithaca, new york ✦ boulder, colorado Pema Lingpa_ALL 0709 7/7/09 12:18 PM Page iv
Snow Lion Publications P.O. Box 6483 Ithaca, NY 14851 USA (607) 273-8519 www.snowlionpub.com
Copyright © 2003 Sarah Harding
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission from the publisher.
Printed in Canada on acid-free recycled paper.
isbn 1-55939-194-4
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Pema Lingpa_ALL 0709 7/7/09 12:18 PM Page v
Contents
Foreword by Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche vii
Translator’s Preface ix
Introduction by Holly Gayley 1
1. Flowers of Faith: A Short Clarification of the Story of the Incarnations of Pema Lingpa by the Eighth Sungtrul Rinpoche 29
2. Refined Gold: The Dialogue of Princess Pemasal and the Guru, from Lama Jewel Ocean 51
3. The Dialogue of Princess Trompa Gyen and the Guru, from Lama Jewel Ocean 87
4. The Dialogue of Master Namkhai Nyingpo and Princess Dorje Tso, from Lama Jewel Ocean 99
5. The Heart of the Matter: The Guru’s Red Instructions to Mutik Tsenpo, from Lama Jewel Ocean 115
6. A Strand of Jewels: The History and Summary of Lama Jewel Ocean 121
Appendix A: Incarnations of the Pema Lingpa Tradition 137
Appendix B: Contents of Pema Lingpa’s Collection of Treasures 142
Notes 145
Bibliography 175 Pema Lingpa_ALL 0709 7/7/09 12:18 PM Page vi Pema Lingpa_ALL 0709 7/7/09 12:18 PM Page vii
Foreword by Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche
his book is an important introduction to Buddhism and to the Tteachings of Guru Padmasambhava. In particular, it includes selections from the treasures revealed by the great Bhutanese master Pema Lingpa. The history and dialogue with Princess Pemasal is the crux – that is where Guru Rinpoche gave a series of prophecies about the princess’s future lives, which eventually led to Pema Lingpa’s birth. This will be of benefit to anyone interested in the Dharma and those practicing in the Peling tradition. These dialogues with female disciples offer inspiration to women practic- ing the Dharma today. People might think that women did not have the same opportunities or capacities for refining their beings and attaining enlighten- ment. These selections show that it makes absolutely no difference whether you are female or male; it is the practitioner’s faith and diligence that deter- mine spiritual progress. I chose Lama Jewel Ocean to be translated first, because it contains impor- tant instructions for the spiritual path. These teachings concern Guru Pad- masambhava and provide the foundation for later practices. Along with the Dzogchen and Great Compassion cycles, Lama Jewel Ocean is one of the most important in the Peling tradition. It is studied and practiced first because of the importance of the guru’s blessing. In order to translate these selections from Lama Jewel Ocean, I invited Sarah Harding, Kalu Rinpoche’s student, to Bhutan for a year. It is difficult Pema Lingpa_ALL 0709 7/7/09 12:18 PM Page viii