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Entering the Way of the Great Vehicle: Dzogchen as the Culmination of the Mahayana
The first English translation of a classic treatise on how the Tibetan practice of Dzogchen, or Great Perfection, is in fact the culmination of the path of Mahayana Buddhism.
Rongzom Chökyi Zangpo wrote this treatise in the eleventh century during the renaissance of Buddhism in Tibet that was spurred by the influx of new translations of Indian Buddhist texts, tantras, and esoteric transmissions from India. For political and religious reasons, adherents of the “new schools” of Tibetan Buddhism fostered by these new translations cast the older tradition of lineages and transmissions as impure and decadent. Rongzompa composed the work translated here in order to clearly and definitively articulate how Dzogchen was very much in line with the wide variety of sutric and tantric teachings espoused by all the Tibetan schools. Using the kinds of philosophic and linguistic analyses favored by the new schools, he demonstrates that the Great Perfection is indeed the culmination and maturation of the Mahāyāna, the Great Vehicle.
The central topic of the work is the notion of illusory appearance, for when one realizes deeply that all appearances are illusory, one realizes also that all appearances are in that respect equal. The realization of the equality of all phenomena is said to be the Great Perfection approach to the path, which frees one from both grasping at, and rejecting, appearances. However, for those unable to remain effortlessly within the natural state, in the final chapter Rongzompa also describes how paths with effort are included in the Great Perfection approach.
Rongzom Chökyi Zangpo wrote this treatise in the eleventh century during the renaissance of Buddhism in Tibet that was spurred by the influx of new translations of Indian Buddhist texts, tantras, and esoteric transmissions from India. For political and religious reasons, adherents of the “new schools” of Tibetan Buddhism fostered by these new translations cast the older tradition of lineages and transmissions as impure and decadent. Rongzompa composed the work translated here in order to clearly and definitively articulate how Dzogchen was very much in line with the wide variety of sutric and tantric teachings espoused by all the Tibetan schools. Using the kinds of philosophic and linguistic analyses favored by the new schools, he demonstrates that the Great Perfection is indeed the culmination and maturation of the Mahāyāna, the Great Vehicle.
The central topic of the work is the notion of illusory appearance, for when one realizes deeply that all appearances are illusory, one realizes also that all appearances are in that respect equal. The realization of the equality of all phenomena is said to be the Great Perfection approach to the path, which frees one from both grasping at, and rejecting, appearances. However, for those unable to remain effortlessly within the natural state, in the final chapter Rongzompa also describes how paths with effort are included in the Great Perfection approach.
- GenresBuddhism
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2017
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About the author
Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo
2 books1 followerRongzom Chokyi Zangpo (Tibetan: རོང་ཟོམ་ཆོས་ཀྱི་བཟང་པོ Wylie: rong zom chos kyi bzang po; also known as Rongzom Mahapandita, Rongzom Dharmabhadra, or simply Rongzompa) was a translator and practitioner of Buddhist tantric yoga who is held among the greatest intellectuals in Tibetan history.
One of the first Tibetan to gain acceptance as an author of Buddhist works at a time of heavy bias in favor of Indian Sanskrit sources, Rongzom's translations and commentaries played a significant role in making Vajrayāna Buddhism and tantric philosophy truly Tibetan—a point emphasized by his being considered the reincarnation of multiple Indian masters, as though he personally embodied their authority. Over the centuries, scholars of both Old and New traditions have described Rongzom's compositions as masterworks of penetrating analyses authored in the distinctive style of classical Indian literature.
One of the first Tibetan to gain acceptance as an author of Buddhist works at a time of heavy bias in favor of Indian Sanskrit sources, Rongzom's translations and commentaries played a significant role in making Vajrayāna Buddhism and tantric philosophy truly Tibetan—a point emphasized by his being considered the reincarnation of multiple Indian masters, as though he personally embodied their authority. Over the centuries, scholars of both Old and New traditions have described Rongzom's compositions as masterworks of penetrating analyses authored in the distinctive style of classical Indian literature.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 2, 2021
A challenging but hugely rewarding work. The author is, along with Longchenpa and Mipham Rinpoche, one of the three pillars who systematized the Nyingma teachings. His mastery in this endeavor is on full display here. This is essential reading for practitioners intent on really establishing their view. It is also a work that demands rereading, and consulting with their teacher.
It will also be of interest to those more philosophically minded and even those more disposed towards madhyamaka teachings who will be struck at the sophistication of this presentation.
Note: I am affiliated with the publisher but this is an honest ant heartfelt review.
It will also be of interest to those more philosophically minded and even those more disposed towards madhyamaka teachings who will be struck at the sophistication of this presentation.
Note: I am affiliated with the publisher but this is an honest ant heartfelt review.
October 15, 2019
I have to admit I read this book twice, slowly, and there are still parts I don't fully understand. But the parts I did get made it worth while and I hope to read it again until I can understand it all. Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo is a very astute master, and he explains the Buddhist teachings, including the different paths, in a precise and clear way.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews