How to Practice the Dharma like Dharma

Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon (1143–1217), the founder of the Drikung Kagyu tradition, left a real treasure of instructions. Four of them were selected here to arrange them as “stages of the path” (lam-rim) teaching.

Initially, “stages of the path” texts were differentiated into three types to provide different individuals with appropriate teachings for the entire path. For Jigten Sumgon, however, all stages of the path had to be included in every single session.

The present texts are about how to rely on the spiritual friend, the three trainings, the six paramitas, the view of dependent origination, the path of abandoning the ten unwholesome behaviors, the stages of the bodhisattvas’ path, and other topics.

ISBN 978-3-945457-34-4

 The Root Text, a Commentary by Khenpo Kunpal, and an Overview by Rinchen Jangchub

The Single Intention by Jigten Sumgön (1143–1217), the founder of the Drikung Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, contains teachings for the whole Kagyu tradition in 150 pithy “vajra statements” and their 46 additions.

The main theme of this work is the fundamental intention that underlies all the Buddha’s teachings and unites all the categories of Buddhist concepts within one central principle – the “actual reality of the nature or state of all phenomena.” These concepts are, for example, the three turnings of the Dharma wheel, the vehicles, the three vows, the realization of various Buddhist practitioners as steps on a single path, the three kayas and so on. One of the main messages is the universal validity and unchangeable nature of virtue and non-virtue, which means that no one can bypass the foundational practices and the observance of disciplined conduct.

This book consists of three parts: an overview by Jigten Sumgön’s direct disciple Rinchen Jangchub, the versified

root text, and a word-by-word commentary by Khenpo Kunpal (1872–1943).

ISBN 978-3-945457-42-9

Two Wings Spread presents the first English translation of three essential texts by Jigten Sumgön (1143–1217), the founder of the Drikung Kagyu tradition. Formulated as replies to teaching requests posed by his students, these texts contain Jigten Sumgön’s explanations of the essential elements of the Buddhist path – from taking refuge in the Three Jewels to the highest attainment of perfect awakening. Based on the Buddha’s words, the teachings of his master Phagmodrupa, and his personal experience, Jigten Sumgön selects the most salient points of each topic, warns against common pitfalls, and thereby offers his readers guidance on the unmistaken path to buddhahood.

ISBN 978-3-945457-47-4

In these teachings, Jigten Sumgön (1143–1217), the founder of the Drikung Kagyü tradition, covers the central themes of Tibetan Buddhism. He explains refuge, developing an altruistic mind, the different forms of dependent origination, how samsara and nirvana arise from the mind, why hearers, solitary realizers, and buddhas attain different awakenings, and how to correctly rely on the lama, among many other topics. 

The thirty lectures are presented in a direct form that makes readers feel like they are among the assembly of disciples, and this text is an authentic resource for becoming acquainted with the Buddha’s teachings in general and the teachings of the early Kagyü masters in particular.

ISBN 978-3-945457-36-8

This deep inspiring book is the spiritual biography of His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche Book Two, with forwards from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche and Mindrolling Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche. "...To each and every reader of this biography ... may you develop and be in absolute awe of bodhicitta at the end of this journey..." Sue-Sue

It was the Buddhist nun and travel writer Alexandra David-Néel (1868–1969) who brought the manuscript “Illuminator, a Light of Gnosis – The Great Commentary on The Single Intention” by Dorje Sherab from Asia to France. The German foundation Garchen Stiftung reproduced the precious manuscript in its original size and colors. Thus the work is available to an audience of traditional and western experts as well as students of the Tibetan language.

Manuskript-Reproduction

• 290 pages: 274 folios and foreword of 16 pp. by Jan-Ulrich Sobisch, University of Copenhagen
• Reproduction Page Size: 42 x 29,7 cm | 16.5" x 11.7"
• Page Size of the Tibetan Manuscript: approx. 38 x 10,5 cm | 15" x 4.1"
• Fine art paper with smooth surface and ideal whiteness for true color reproduction, environmentally friendly production, FSC™ certified, CO2 neutral, ageing resistance ISO 9706 certified

Manuscript Portfolio

• Size: 44 x 33 x 3 cm | 17.3" x 13" x 1.2"
• Rigid binders board, covered with smooth brown paper
• Two inner protective flaps
• Two robust textile-covered folding flaps
• Strong tie tape

In 1992 the Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage and festival of the Great Transference at Drikung was revived after a gap of thirty-six years. This would prove to be the only renewal of its traditional performance ...

Matthew T. Kapstein, whose study of the event is reproduced here for the first time with color photographic documentation, is the author of many works on Buddhism and Tibetan history, including The Tibetan Assimilation of Buddhism and The Tibetans. He is Director of Tibetan Studies at the École Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris, and Numata Visiting Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Chicago.

96 pp. with 43 color photographs
ISBN 978-3-945457-11-5

“Mountain Dharma” is a genre of Buddhist texts providing practical instructions for conducting solitary retreat in the mountains or other remote places. "The Inexhaustible Source of Nectar" collects sections from seven Mountain Dharma teachings given by Drikung Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon, the founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage, and written down by his student On Sherab Jungne.

Here Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon shows himself to be a master of dependent origination. He extensively considers activities of body and speech as well as mental attitudes, and he precisely specifies how they affect a retreat positively or negatively.

The English translation is followed by the Tibetan text in full.

ISBN 978-3-945457-13-9
158 pages

Jigten Sumgön (1143–1217) is the founder of the Drikung Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. His nephew and disciple Chenga Sherab Jungne recorded the authentic biography on which all later biographies are based. In this life story, Jigten Sumgön’s path to liberation becomes discernible as the overcoming of all mental defilements, faults and confusions. Through this, his closest disciples and other Tibetan and Indian saints recognise in their master the reincarnation of Nagarjuna and a perfect buddha.

The brief biography of the author, Chenga Sherab Jungne, provides additional insights into the founding years of the Drikung Kagyu tradition.

ISBN 978-3-945457-12-2
286 pages

The public teachings of Jigten Sumgon (1143–1217), the founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, are a source of wisdom. He not only explains the pure offering and pure dedication, the philosophical main features of the Kagyu school, and the four yogas of the Mahamudra tradition but also the vajra body, the practice of channels, chakras, and winds, the responsibility of the disciple, and much more.

Won Sherab Jungne, a heart son of Jigten Sumgon, took notes on these public teachings and commented on them. Finally, Dorje Dragpa, the fifth lineage holder of the Drikung Kagyu transmission, compiled them in the present form.

The English translation is followed by the Tibetan text in full.

ISBN 978-3-945457-16-0
154 pages

In 1174, the Protector of the Three Worlds, Drikung Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon, spontaneously composed the "Seven Supplications to Tara" while he beheld seven aspects of the Noble Savioress in a direct vision.

To fathom and appreciate the depth of this important Vajra song, in the nineteenth century the monk and scholar Konchog Norzang wrote a quintessential commentary for it. "A Bouquet of Blue Lotus Flowers" unfolds the profound wisdom of Tara from the ultimate perspective of Mahamudra.

The present volume contains a new translation of the core text together with the English word-by-word translation of its detailed commentary. It is supplemented by a Tibetan version of both.

ISBN 978-3-945457-14-6
84 pages

Lapchiwa Namkha Gyaltsen (1372–1437) was considered an incarnation, or at least emanation, of the Lord of Yogins, Jetsün Milarepa (1040–1123). However, for all the exemplary life that he led, he is virtually forgotten today, like other great masters. And if a very few remember him at all, it is mostly as a Drigung Kagyü master, even though he was an eminent lineage holder and practitioner of the Karma Kagyü, Shangpa Kagyü, Rechung Nyengyü, and Sakyapa teachings and practices as well. 

This biography was composed by Namkha Samdrub Gyaltsen (1408–1462), a close student of the Lapchiwa. Also included in this volume, you will find a wonderful supplication to Jetsün Milarepa, considered lost for a long time and also penned by Namkha Samdrub Gyaltsen.

With13 photos
ISBN 978-3-945457-06-1

Ayang Thubten Rinpoche’s Rays of Sunlight is a commentary on Zhedang Dorje’s The Heart of the Mahayana Teachings, a detailed guide to the stages of the path to awakening. Containing all of the Drikung Kagyu tradition’s essential teachings on sutra and tantra, Rays of Sunlight is one of the most treasured works in the Drikung Kagyu tradition.

Like Gampopa’s Jewel Ornament of Liberation, the text Rays of Sunlight begins with a discussion of Buddha-nature, the nascent buddha within all beings, before presenting the sequential practices we must cultivate to fully awaken its transcendent qualities. With its lucid explanation of how a single individual can uphold the pratimoksha vows, bodhisattva precepts, and tantric samaya without contra-diction, Rays of Sunlight is sure to be of interest to dedicated practitioners of all traditions. And for those with an affinity for the profound path of meditation, the text closes with an extraordinary explanation of “The Fivefold Path of Mahamudra.”

ISBN 978-3-945457-05-4

The "Gongchig," by Jigten Sumgon (1143 - 1217) is regarded by practitioners as their tradition's most important and at the same time most difficult text. The Eighth Karmapa even went so far as to praise it as the "Doctrine of the Kaygupas," and many westerners with an interest in these teachings have been waiting for years for a translation. Now, for the first time, the Drikung Kagyu Institute's translator training program has made available a German and English-language translation of the root text and Chokyi Dragpa's (1595 - 1659) precise commentary. This edition also renders the texts accessible to readers with little background in Buddhist philosophy. All of the Tibetan source texts are included as well.

Otter Verlag ISBN 978-3-933529-28-2

In his work Engaging by Stages in the Teachings of the Buddha, the great Tibetan master Phagmodrupa (1110-1170) sets out the Buddhist path with the utmost clarity. For the first time, this seminal treatise is now available in English. Phagmodrupa illustrates the sequential stages of entering the Buddhist path: placing trust in the spiritual tutor, taking refuge, meditating upon love and compassion, and attaining the three bodies of the Buddha. A biography of Phagmodrupa, also contained herein, provides insight into the life and work of this important master.

Otter Verlag ISBN 978-3-933529-21-3