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The Supreme Source: The Fundamental Tantra Of Dzogchen Semde, Kunjed Gyalpo
The aim of Dzogchen is the reawakening of the individual to the primordial state of enlightenment, which is naturally found in all beings. The master introduces the student to his or her real nature already perfected and enlightened, but it is only by recognizing this nature and remaining in this state of recognition in all daily activities that the student becomes a real Dzogchen practitioner of the direct path of self-liberation. In this book the Dzogchen teaching is presented through the tantra Kunjed Gyalpo, or "The King Who Creates Everything"—a personification of the primordial state of enlightenment. This tantra is the fundamental scripture of the Semde, or "Nature of Mind," tradition of Dzogchen and is the most authoritative source for understanding the Dzogchen view. The commentary by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu gives easier insight into the depths of these teachings. Adriano Clemente translated the main selections of the original tantra.
296 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 14, 2023
The Kunjed Gyalpo or Supreme Source is the quintessential text of Tibetan Dzogchen, considered the most refined and subtle teaching in Tibetan Buddhism, the so called ati-yoga of the Nyingma School. Referencing the classic "Parable of the Raft," Dzogchen begins where the raft is left behind, when a student is ready to relinquish all schools, teachers, teachings, instructions, texts, traditions - all effort, all seeking, all magic, all projection, all reification, all longing... (you get the idea) - and rest-abide-bask in the Great What Is or Perfect Suchness. Dzogchen is the radical path of sudden awakening to that which has always already been fully present in awareness, the Supreme Source.
Published in 1999, this volume is many things related to the Kunjed Gyalpo - it's 1) an intro to the Semde textual lineage of Dzogchen; 2) an intro to the text itself and its relationship to Dzogchen understanding and practice; 3) a summary of the 84 chapters of the Kunjed Gyalpo; 4) partial translations of three sections of the text; followed by 5) an epilogue conversation with Dzogchen teacher Namkhai Norbu, and five appendices.
Beware that words in this text (and others like it) such as "source," "state," "nature," "essence," "true," "perfect," "unborn," even "nondual," etc., (actually any and all qualifiers whether nouns or adjectives), in particular those signifying ultimates such as "your true nature," "the supreme state," "the perfect essence," "the supreme source," "the primordial state," and so on, as word-concepts, are by definition unable to truly designate that which is both beyond any designation but also within every designation... these are words of paradox, simultaneously this and not-this, that and not-that, living in a both/and-neither/nor space that is paradoxical through and through. No words explain it; all words explain it. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.
So, as you read lines such as "The state of pure and total presence is the clear light" or "Because I am the unborn reality itself"- see that there is no separate "perfect state" or no separate "unborn reality" apart from all other states, things, and realities. Doing this is to avoid subtle objectification, to not reify some "perfect state" or "unborn reality" as being a "source" or "ground" that everything "comes from" or that all things and states are "derived from" or some other misunderstanding. Unfortunately, in this book and others like it, it is common to find (and, using language, truly difficult to avoid) words and phrases that can easily be read non-paradoxically when, in fact, the proper understanding is paradoxical, both-and/neither-nor... an understanding most often referred to as "nondual." Just a little lesson in nondual understanding.
You'll know when you're ready for Dzogchen and the Kunjed Gyalpo. If you're not, you'll read this, scratch your head and think, "this is weird stuff," or you'll have some kind of orthodox defensive "this is bullshit" reaction, or you'll yawn and say "this stuff is bor-ing," or you just might read it and go, "Wow, this is what I've been feeling for years - now I've finally found someone who can reflect it back to me!" Dzogchen is both the most immediate everyday mundane awareness and the most esoteric refined enlightened awareness. Enlightened delusion. Where those two meet is the Punchline of Life.
Also, there exists a short summary text on the meaning of the Kunjed Gyalpo authored by the great 14th century Dzogchen master Longchenpa, transl. by Lipman and Peterson with an intro by Namkhai Norbu, You Are the Eyes of the World. This is a good companion volume to the one reviewed here but don't expect it to "explain" its meaning since Dzogchen is not about explaining in any conventional sense. Happy travels.
Published in 1999, this volume is many things related to the Kunjed Gyalpo - it's 1) an intro to the Semde textual lineage of Dzogchen; 2) an intro to the text itself and its relationship to Dzogchen understanding and practice; 3) a summary of the 84 chapters of the Kunjed Gyalpo; 4) partial translations of three sections of the text; followed by 5) an epilogue conversation with Dzogchen teacher Namkhai Norbu, and five appendices.
Beware that words in this text (and others like it) such as "source," "state," "nature," "essence," "true," "perfect," "unborn," even "nondual," etc., (actually any and all qualifiers whether nouns or adjectives), in particular those signifying ultimates such as "your true nature," "the supreme state," "the perfect essence," "the supreme source," "the primordial state," and so on, as word-concepts, are by definition unable to truly designate that which is both beyond any designation but also within every designation... these are words of paradox, simultaneously this and not-this, that and not-that, living in a both/and-neither/nor space that is paradoxical through and through. No words explain it; all words explain it. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.
So, as you read lines such as "The state of pure and total presence is the clear light" or "Because I am the unborn reality itself"- see that there is no separate "perfect state" or no separate "unborn reality" apart from all other states, things, and realities. Doing this is to avoid subtle objectification, to not reify some "perfect state" or "unborn reality" as being a "source" or "ground" that everything "comes from" or that all things and states are "derived from" or some other misunderstanding. Unfortunately, in this book and others like it, it is common to find (and, using language, truly difficult to avoid) words and phrases that can easily be read non-paradoxically when, in fact, the proper understanding is paradoxical, both-and/neither-nor... an understanding most often referred to as "nondual." Just a little lesson in nondual understanding.
You'll know when you're ready for Dzogchen and the Kunjed Gyalpo. If you're not, you'll read this, scratch your head and think, "this is weird stuff," or you'll have some kind of orthodox defensive "this is bullshit" reaction, or you'll yawn and say "this stuff is bor-ing," or you just might read it and go, "Wow, this is what I've been feeling for years - now I've finally found someone who can reflect it back to me!" Dzogchen is both the most immediate everyday mundane awareness and the most esoteric refined enlightened awareness. Enlightened delusion. Where those two meet is the Punchline of Life.
Also, there exists a short summary text on the meaning of the Kunjed Gyalpo authored by the great 14th century Dzogchen master Longchenpa, transl. by Lipman and Peterson with an intro by Namkhai Norbu, You Are the Eyes of the World. This is a good companion volume to the one reviewed here but don't expect it to "explain" its meaning since Dzogchen is not about explaining in any conventional sense. Happy travels.
December 1, 2018
Key passage of note-
"Although it transcends form, the bliss of the authentic non-dual condition contains all forms within itself, it cannot become an object and cannot be conceived as “one”. Pure and total conciousness cannot be depicted in any way. However, for phenomena created by consciousness, multiplicity arises.
I am the essence of the state of perfection of all Buddhas.
To those attracted by oneness, I teach the that the ineffable essence is one alone. Whereas to those attracted by multiplicity I teach the infinite variety that manifests from me: it too is my nature. One is my essence. Two is my manifestation. The multiplicity of created phenomena. There is nothing in this nature that is not perfect.”
The Kunjed Gyalpo is an essential non-dualist text and Namkhai Norbu's translation is a clear/concise read.
"Although it transcends form, the bliss of the authentic non-dual condition contains all forms within itself, it cannot become an object and cannot be conceived as “one”. Pure and total conciousness cannot be depicted in any way. However, for phenomena created by consciousness, multiplicity arises.
I am the essence of the state of perfection of all Buddhas.
To those attracted by oneness, I teach the that the ineffable essence is one alone. Whereas to those attracted by multiplicity I teach the infinite variety that manifests from me: it too is my nature. One is my essence. Two is my manifestation. The multiplicity of created phenomena. There is nothing in this nature that is not perfect.”
The Kunjed Gyalpo is an essential non-dualist text and Namkhai Norbu's translation is a clear/concise read.
August 23, 2017
This was a long read. Written in a fresh, vibrant style- the teaching was super intense for me and I could only read a little bit at a time. I ended up having very powerful personal experiences and shifts as a result and am treating this as a "first pass", as it is the kimd of thing you can read over and over again.
April 22, 2020
It felt quite dry at times and felt like a slog. It was eye opening in some ways, but I think there is much of it I don't quite understand, even though I've had flashes of insight that touch at these things. Hopefully, some day, I'll understand this book completely. I'm not sure it's the best pedagogy.
February 3, 2025
A giant in spiritual wisdom that keeps reframing the practice of Dzogchen both through experience and practice. Reading this book is almost like a Tantra initself since it repeats itself throughout the entire book but for deeper purpose - to get you in the state of Dzogchen. Very interesting how the spiritual elements listed correlate with ones mentioned in Alchemy, Judaism, and the Kyballion almost one-to-one.
July 1, 2018
Brilliant.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews