Masters of Meditation and Miracles: The Longchen Nyingthig Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism

by Tulku Thondup

Masters of Meditation and Miracles presents colorful biographies of thirty-five realized teachers whose lives were full of peace, enlightenment, and amazing miracles. They flourished in Tibet, the Roof of the World, in its golden days. These teachers belong to the Longchen Nyingthig lineage of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, a cycle of mystical teachings revealed by the great scholar and adept Jigme Lingpa.

From the first master, Garap Dorje, to the present, each spiritual personality has his or her own distinctive role to play in this great lineage. In retelling their stories in his own words, the author has sought to bring out their inner feelings as well as their external activities: how they faced and healed physical pain, how they dealt with emotional turmoil, how they overcame spiritual or meditative illusions, and most important, what experiences they had when they awakened their own inner Buddha Mind and Buddha qualities. These biographies not only provide great sources of teachings on meditation, but will also kindle a spiritual flame in the hearts of readers.

Genres: Buddhism, Biography, Spirituality

383 pages, Hardcover

First published March 26, 1996

Reviews

[Nikko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, quite simply, a MUST HAVE for any Vajrayana practitioner who wants inspiration. The incomparable Tulku Thondop presents topics like the Three Kayas so clearly, and the lives of the great masters presented so beautifully.

Note, I am affiliated with Shambhala Publications but this an objective and heartfelt review.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of short, hagiographic stories about the lineage holders of the Longchen Nyingthig tradition of Dzogchen meditation. It was a great source for my project of searching maps for monastic seats founded by these lineage holders.

According to my notes from Thondup, the tradition stems from 17 tantras disseminated early from India to Tibet, but also includes indispensable input from indigenous Tibetan termas ("discovered" texts). Among these tantras, the three "inner" tantras of Mahayoga, Anuyoga and Atiyoga were uniquely propogated among Nyingma (Old School) adherents.

Dzogchen pertains to the Atiyoga tantras, which consist of Semde, Longde and Menagde (Mind, Space, and Secret) series of instructions. The "Nyingthig" (Heart Drop) refers to the last of these series, which are traditional only transmitted orally (hence "secret").

We owe the preservation of these ancient teachings to Jigme Lingpa (1730-1798) who revived the earlier collection of nyingthig teachings propagated by Longchen Rabjam (1308-1363) based on teachings from two Indian gurus, Vimalamitra and the revered Padmasambhava. These, the Vima and Khandro Nyingthigs, are called the "Two Mother Teachings," while Longchenpa's revelations from them are the "Two Son Teachings."

Thondup's book isn't so much about the contents of these teachings as about the lives of the people who passed this tradition along.

[Theodore James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly well-written. Beautiful book for nourishing the seed of devotion towards the Longchen Nyingtik lineage.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my all-time favorite book of the lives of the masters of the nyingma lineage. It is a cornerstone of inspiration for those who feel devotion to the great masters of this lineage.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

a feast to be enjoyed again and again for those who have devotion for the nyingma tradition.