A Brief Historical Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism
Excerpted from The Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche.
Gautama, the Buddha was born in Northern India in the fifth century BC, the son of a king who brought him up as heir to the throne. His birth and youth were remarkable, and it was clear from the beginning that the young prince Siddhartha was destined to be an extraordinary being. His early life was spent in palatial luxury, with few worries or cares, and he excelled in all the pursuits of his time, both academic and athletic.
The Tertön Tradition in Tibetan Buddhism
H.E. Namkha Drimed is a Tertön, or Discoverer of Dharma Treasures called Termas. H.E. Namkha Drimed has received treasures concerning the complete aspects of the Gesar of the Three Roots and of the accomplishment of the Four Activities combined together, as well as Phurba, Yeshe Tsogyal, Dorje Drolo, the heart practice of the Guru, Dzogchen, and so forth. He has received these many profound dharma treasures at the appropriate time in order to clear
King Gesar of Ling
With respect to his mind termas, from The Story of the Secret Key, Padmasambhava says:
In that turbulent degenerating time
I Lotus-born Guru, will promulgate for the benefit of future generations
Various sadhana practices appropriate to the times…
The Ocean of Play of Buddha Activity
A Daily Supplication to the Warrior Gesar, the Great Being Döndrup, King of Werma, Tamer of Enemies.
Namkha Drimed Rinpoche, who had originally requested the text in 1958, recalls:
“In July and August of 1958, I attended the Rinchen Terdzö empowerments that Trungpa Rinpoche was giving at Yak monastery in Tsawa Gang. That was the first time I met Trungpa Rinpoche. I already had a very personal connection with Gesar. I had received some Gesar terma teachings, but they were not complete. Realizing that Trungpa Rinpoche was a great master and also had a very special connection to Gesar, I asked him to write something for me. He immediately wrote down the Gesar supplication, The Ocean of the Play of Buddha Activity. After the text was copied, he sealed the original and presented it to me.
Sacred Stories, Songs and Poems
This song of Milarepa’s provides wonderful inspiration for women seekers of enlightenment. It describes his meeting with Sahle Aui, who became one of the four foremost yogini disciples of the Jetsun. Here, she supplicates Milarepa for teachings:
Please listen to me,
Great Repa Yogi, the accomplished One.
When I look at human lives…