HOW TO PRACTICE: The Way to a Meaningful Life by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, trans. & ed. by Jeffrey Hopkins
His Holiness starts on familiar Buddhist ground (morality of action, suffering, compassion) and chapter by chapter adds doctrine and complexity until teachings from the heights of Tantra and Tibetan deity yoga are being explicated. For the uninitiated the climb is steep, and those seeking general ethical guidance would do better with an easier text (His Holiness has written those, too). For the serious, however, the Dalai Lama offers elegant clarity about the paradoxes at the heart of Buddhism including the central Heart Sutra itself, the teaching of form-is-emptiness and about the intellectual intricacy of Buddhist teachings.
DALAI LAMA'S SECRET TEMPLE: Tantric Wall Paintings From Tibet by H.H. the Dalai Lama, Tom Latin
This book introduces an extraordinary series of paintings on the walls of the Lukhang, the Dalai Lamas' private meditation chamber in Tibet. The spiritual practices illustrated in these murals belong to the highest level of Buddhist Tantra and, in particular, to Dzogchen, the teachings of the "Great Perfection." As His Holiness the Dalai Lama explains, these practices have traditionally been kept secret as to engage them without proper guidance can lead to misunderstanding. In the right context, however, these same techniques are held to lead speedily to the total liberation of body, mind, and spirit....(from the foreward by Ian Baker)
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING IN THE DARK OF NIGHT by Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, translated by The Padmakara Translation Group
The Dalai Lama explains and amplifies Shantideva's The Way Of The Bodhisattva, alluding throughout to the experience of daily life and showing how anyone can develop bodhichitta, the wish for perfect enlightenment for the sake of others. This book will surely become a standard manual for all those who wish to make the bodhisattva ideal a living experience.
UNION OF BLISS AND EMPTINESS: On the Practice of Guru Yoga by H.H. the Dalai Lama
The origins of the instructions on this Lama Choepa (guru yoga) practice are traced back to the explanatory tantra called Vajramala, in which the visualization of the body mandala deities on the guru's body is explained according to Guhyasamaja. Since the integral practice of Yamantaka, Guhyasamaja and Heruka has great merit and advantages, Lama Choepa explains how to do it on the basis of this guru yoga practice. In this unique and clearly laid out commentary, the actual practice is explained on the basis of Guhyasamaja, the preliminaries such as the self-generation on the basis of Yamantaka, and the performing of offerings and so forth according to Heruka.
ESSENCE OF THE HEART SUTRA: The Dalai Lama's Heart of Wisdom Teachings by H.H. the Dalai Lama, trans. & ed. by Thupten Jinpa
The Heart Sutra is a presentation of profound wisdom on the nature of emptiness and selflessness, but these terms can be easily misunderstood. Here, the Dalai Lama identifies misconceptions and shows how an understanding of emptiness leads not to nihilism, but to a view of reality and to a deep and compassionate understanding. Masterfully edited by Thupten Jinpa, this book includes an overview of Buddhism.
TANTRA IN TIBET by H.H. the Dalai Lama, Tsong-ka-pa and trans & ed. by Jeffrey Hopkins
"This is a most valuable book for the serious seeker."--The Tibet Journal
Tantra in Tibet contains Essence of Tantra which explains how tantra is a highly practical and compassionate system of spiritual development. His Holiness discusses refuge, the three paths, greatness of mantra, clear light and initiation; Part 1 of the Great Exposition of Secret Mantra by Tsong-ka-pa presents the paths to Buddhahood, vajra vehicle, deity yoga, and method in the four tantras; Jeffrey Hopkins discusses the meaning of emptiness, transformation, and the purpose of the four tantras.
YOGA TANTRA: Paths to Magical Feats by H.H. the Dalai Lama and Dzongkaba, ed. by Jeffrey Hopkins
The Dalai Lama opens the door to the topic of Yoga Tantra with an extraordinarily detailed teaching on a classic text. Rarely in the Dalai Lama's lifetime has he given teachings of such a nature on this topic. There follows a translation of the Yoga Tantra section of Dzong-ka-ba's The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra, one of his most important works and a monument of Tibetan Buddhist literature. Jeffrey Hopkins concludes this book with an outline of the steps of Yoga Tantra practice. This is an invaluable book for anyone who is practicing or interested in Buddhist tantra in general.
DEITY YOGA in Action and Performance Tantras by H.H. the Dalai Lama, Tsong-ka-pa and Jeffrey Hopkins (also trans. & ed.)
Describes the profound process of meditation in Action and Performance Tantras--the basis of higher tantric practices. It explains the meditative rites of deity yoga-- visualizing oneself as a Buddha's divine body manifesting compassionate wisdom. Parts 2 & 3 of the Great Exposition of Secret Mantra by Tsong-ka-pa detail special deity yoga techniques for developing the heart, mind and physical form of a Buddha. The mudras (hand gestures) that accompany the meditations are clearly illustrated. The sequel to Tantra in Tibet.
THE GELUG/KAGYU TRADITION OF MAHAMUDRA by H. H. the Dalai Lama and Alexander Berzin
Within the Gelug tradition, mahamudra teachings are exemplified in the First Panchen Lama's Root Text for the Precious Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra. The work presented here contains two brilliant commentaries by the Dalai Lama. Berzin's overview of mahamudra discusses the relation of mind, appearances and reality and offers practical techniques for overcoming problems due to excessive worry, anxiety and disturbing thought. This treasury of practical instruction contains extensive teachings on the nature of mind, the development of shamata, sutra and tantra levels of mahamudra, and the compatibility of Dzogchen and anuttarayoga tantra.
DZOGCHEN: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection by H.H. the Dalai Lama, trans. by Thupten Jinpa & Richard Barron, fore. by Sogyal Rinpoche, ed. by Patrick Gaffney
This is the most informative and thorough book on Dzogchen available. These teachings are on Dzogchen, the heart essence of the ancient Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Exploring this esoteric subject in print for the first time, His Holiness offers the reader insights into one of Buddhism's most profound systems of meditation. He discusses both the philosophic foundations and the practices of this system--taking into account the approaches of various schools and teachers.
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