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The Excellent Path to Enlightenment - Sutrayana
Longchenpa (1308-1364) is the main Tibetan lineage holder of the Nyingma Dzogchen teachings and is the author of many texts including the well known “The Seven Treasures.”
“The Excellent Path to Enlightenment” consists of one hundred and forty one separate practices that can be performed on a daily basis. It is a complete practice manual that contains the essential points of the entire Buddhist teachings.
The initial ninety two practices are associated with the Sutrayana teachings and the remaining practices are divided among the different yanas of the Vajrayana teachings. The book organizes these points in a special way in accordance with the view of Dzogchen, the pinnacle view of Buddhism.
This book is the initial ninety two practices associated with the Sutrayana teachings.
The Vajrayana sections are days 93-141. To read and practice the full 141 days of “The Excellent Path to Enlightenment” it is required that you have permission, given by a qualified Vajrayana master, to engage in the Vajrayana Buddhist path. It would be best, and is recommended, to have a reading transmission (Lung) and practice instructions for this text.
If you meet the requirements then this text can be ordered at
“The Excellent Path to Enlightenment” consists of one hundred and forty one separate practices that can be performed on a daily basis. It is a complete practice manual that contains the essential points of the entire Buddhist teachings.
The initial ninety two practices are associated with the Sutrayana teachings and the remaining practices are divided among the different yanas of the Vajrayana teachings. The book organizes these points in a special way in accordance with the view of Dzogchen, the pinnacle view of Buddhism.
This book is the initial ninety two practices associated with the Sutrayana teachings.
The Vajrayana sections are days 93-141. To read and practice the full 141 days of “The Excellent Path to Enlightenment” it is required that you have permission, given by a qualified Vajrayana master, to engage in the Vajrayana Buddhist path. It would be best, and is recommended, to have a reading transmission (Lung) and practice instructions for this text.
If you meet the requirements then this text can be ordered at
172 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 2014
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About the author
Longchen Rabjam
28 books27 followersSame author as:
- Longchenpa
- Kloṅ-chen-pa Dri-med-ʼod-zer
- Longchenpa
- Kloṅ-chen-pa Dri-med-ʼod-zer
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December 22, 2022
This is an interesting, unusual even, book of Longchenpa’s teachings. First off though to clarify, this edition (complete with all 141 meditations) is the same as the partial Sutrayana version but with the 49 additional Vajrayana and Dzogchen teachings (I was a little confused from the description thinking I may need to order both volumes to get the first 92 meditations). This text is a little unusual since it is both very terse and complete – covering the full range of meditations on the path to enlightenment in “141 days” (or however long you choose to work through them). Each day's meditation ranges from a few lines to a few pages in length, and is probably too simplified and condensed to be much good to a beginner, appearing to be more of a “CliffsNotes” kind of presentation for retreat use. It’s definitely not like the more effusive teachings on Tibetan Buddhism that have become common in modern times, and this simplicity is a large part of its appeal.
As the translator says in his intro, “You will not find extensive or detailed practices described in this text. You will only find pith instructions here. Extensive practices are certainly excellent, but you will need to learn about them outside this text.” (For this I’d recommend, of the many books with more detailed teaching, to check out 'Words of My Perfect Teacher' if you need the background teachings.) Overall, the text is simple, and the translation apparently faithful to the original. It is very authentically Old-School Tibetan in that regard. One other noticeable aspect of this book is that, while a self-published Create Space publication, it has to be the most professional one I’ve ever seen. The abundant line drawings of buddhas and lineage holders are especially nice.
I think it’s obvious this is intended to be a retreat manual with the daily meditations meant as a review/reminder for those who’ve already received more extensive teachings. Given that it is Longchenpa (and so permeated with the Dzogchen view) the basic kind of preliminary teachings often seemed like explicit rushen (extra-ordinary preliminary) practice teachings. And in this regard while pithy they are also sometimes more extensive than similar published teachings available today.
For a taste (of composition and translating style as well as layout) here is about 75% of one of the meditations;
81
PATIENCE WITH REFERENCE POINT
When practicing the authentic dharma, be willing to bear the suffering that attends performing difficult activities.
Be patient with regard to taking on the suffering of others.
Be patient and not fearful of abiding in the great dharma of emptiness.
Keep forbearance in mind.
Although these practices make up patience with reference point, here we are chiefly emphasizing meditating on patience where one avoids anger when being harmed by others.
Give rise to bodhicitta, meditating on patience for all sentient beings…..
My individual actions determine my karma; the harm that others do to me is incapable of improving or worsening my karma.
Thus, it is suitable to be patient. If I am able to fix a problem, then I should apply exertion and do so.
If the problem cannot be fixed, then having a mind of retribution without forbearance will lead to my own suffering, and this will be of no benefit. It only increases again the harmful activities of others.
Thus, I should abandon all anger that comes form a mind of torment.
Relax loosely in the nature of peace.
In conclusion make dedication within the purity of the three spheres.
This is the eighty-first instruction. (p.123-124)
As the translator says in his intro, “You will not find extensive or detailed practices described in this text. You will only find pith instructions here. Extensive practices are certainly excellent, but you will need to learn about them outside this text.” (For this I’d recommend, of the many books with more detailed teaching, to check out 'Words of My Perfect Teacher' if you need the background teachings.) Overall, the text is simple, and the translation apparently faithful to the original. It is very authentically Old-School Tibetan in that regard. One other noticeable aspect of this book is that, while a self-published Create Space publication, it has to be the most professional one I’ve ever seen. The abundant line drawings of buddhas and lineage holders are especially nice.
I think it’s obvious this is intended to be a retreat manual with the daily meditations meant as a review/reminder for those who’ve already received more extensive teachings. Given that it is Longchenpa (and so permeated with the Dzogchen view) the basic kind of preliminary teachings often seemed like explicit rushen (extra-ordinary preliminary) practice teachings. And in this regard while pithy they are also sometimes more extensive than similar published teachings available today.
For a taste (of composition and translating style as well as layout) here is about 75% of one of the meditations;
81
PATIENCE WITH REFERENCE POINT
When practicing the authentic dharma, be willing to bear the suffering that attends performing difficult activities.
Be patient with regard to taking on the suffering of others.
Be patient and not fearful of abiding in the great dharma of emptiness.
Keep forbearance in mind.
Although these practices make up patience with reference point, here we are chiefly emphasizing meditating on patience where one avoids anger when being harmed by others.
Give rise to bodhicitta, meditating on patience for all sentient beings…..
My individual actions determine my karma; the harm that others do to me is incapable of improving or worsening my karma.
Thus, it is suitable to be patient. If I am able to fix a problem, then I should apply exertion and do so.
If the problem cannot be fixed, then having a mind of retribution without forbearance will lead to my own suffering, and this will be of no benefit. It only increases again the harmful activities of others.
Thus, I should abandon all anger that comes form a mind of torment.
Relax loosely in the nature of peace.
In conclusion make dedication within the purity of the three spheres.
This is the eighty-first instruction. (p.123-124)
Displaying 1 of 1 review