Treasures from Juniper Ridge

Padmasambhava's Advice #3

by Padmasambhava, Tulku Urgyen, Erik Pema Kunsang (Translator)

Treasures from Juniper Ridge combines meditation and pith practice instructions in a way that is easy to apply and comprehend. It is a compilation of discovered teachings, termas, by the greatest master of Vajrayana Buddhism, Padmasambhava, hidden by his female disciple, Yeshe Tsogyal.

Treasures is replete with pieces that are direct, profound, fresh, and pertinent to our times. These various revelations are for all levels of practitioners. They provide indepth explanations of assorted aspects of practice, including: deity, death and dying, non-conceptual meditation and recognizing mind nature. The book outlines ways to apply these teachings for the modern student, while remaining true to traditional principles.

“Padmasambhava’s pith instructions are extremely important because he is not just a legendary figure or an ancient myth. He is an actual person who continuously carries out spontaneous activities, including manifesting as treasure revealers, so that there is always a fresh, unimpaired teaching that people can practice. This also ensures that Padmasambhava’s spiritual influence and blessings are unceasing.

"The special quality of these terma teachings is that they provide a method for accomplishment that is appropriate for each specific generation, period of time, and individual person who meets them. The treasure teachings he gave on the Juniper Ridge of Crystal Pearls contain the essential meaning of hundreds of such instructions.” —Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 2008

About the author

According to tradition, Padmasambhava was incarnated as an eight-year-old child appearing in a lotus blossom floating in Lake Dhanakosha, in the kingdom of Uddiyana, traditionally identified with the Swat Valley in present-day Pakistan. His special nature was recognized by the local king who married him to one of his daughters, Mandarava. She and Padmasambhava's other main consort, Yeshe Tsogyal, developed into realised practitioners. Many thangkas and paintings show Padmasambhava in between them.
Padmasambhava's ability to memorize and comprehend esoteric texts in a single hearing established his reputation as a master above all others. Knowing that the life force of the wife and son of evil minister was about to end, he constructed an accident which resulted in their death. As a result, Padmasambhava was banished from the court and exiled in a charnel ground. Transiting various heavens and hells, he developed the power to transcend the cycle of birth and death, accomplishing the so-called great transference.
His fame became known to Trisong Detsen, the 38th king of Tibet (742–797), whose kingdom was beset by evil mountain deities. The king invited Padmasambhava to Tibet where he used his tantric powers to subdue the evil deities he encountered along the way, eventually receiving the Emperor's wife, identified with the dakini Yeshe Tsogyal, as a consort. This was in accordance with the tantric principle of not eliminating negative forces but redirecting them to fuel the journey toward spiritual awakening. In Tibet he founded the first monastery in the country, Samye Gompa, initiated the first monks, and introduced the people to the practice of Tantric Buddhism.
In Bhutan he is associated with the famous Taktshang or "Tiger's Nest" monastery built on a sheer cliff wall about 500m above the floor of Paro valley. He flew there from Tibet on the back of Yeshe Tsogyal, whom he transformed into a flying tigress for the purpose of the trip. Later he travelled to Bumthang district to subdue a powerful deity offended by a local king. Padmasambhava's body imprint can be found in the wall of a cave at nearby Kurje Lhakhang temple.
According to Tibetan tradition, the Bardo Thodol (commonly referred to as the Tibetan Book of the Dead) was among many treasures hidden by Padmasambhava, subsequently discovered by a Tibetan terton, Karma Lingpa.

Reviews

[Tom Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you find something that, when you are reading it, rings the bell of truth in you, over and over again. This is one of those books. Thanks to my friend, an old member of the great Sangha, for mentioning Padmasambhava to me. I feel blessed to have seen a record of some of his teachings.

[Cal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Buddhist religious text filled with incredibly insightful teachings. The translation work is very impressive, I never really had a hard time understanding the concepts.

If you're Buddhist or interested in Buddhism, then read it. If not, then don't. Personally, I think I'm a little bit better of a person after reading it.

[Georgia Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

clear instruction on awakening into enlightenment.

Easy to read instructions on the path to enlightenment.
I really felt relieved to receive these instructions into this practice that is so simple yet hard to do!

[bad · Rating 5 out of 5]

collected teachings of padmasambhava (the lotus born) given to lady tsogyal and others, sealed away as secret treasures for later generations.

[Nino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me lots of insights on how to change your mind, but might be difficult for some people to understand.