One morning before dawn, as Pema Lingpa was in a dream-like meditative state, three ḍākinīs came to him, leading a white horse. They invited the tertön to mount the horse and follow them to Zangdok Palri, and so they journeyed to the summit of a snow mountain…
Ratna Lingpa’s Visionary Journey to the Copper-Colored Mountain
New Translation | "A Synopsis of the Vajra-Guru Mantra" by Tertön Sogyal
Jamgön Kongtrul’s Visionary Journey to the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain
New Translation | “Three Reasons for Confidence“ by Taranatha
Tāranātha (1575–1634) composed this biography of Padmasambhava in 1610. It is unique insofar as it does not follow the version of the life-story recounted in numerous terma texts. Instead, it follows the historical perspective of the Testimony of Ba, as well as several Nyingma tantras and their commentaries.
The Benefits of the Tenth Day of the Lunar Month
At the age of sixteen, Khyentsé Wangpo went to the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain in a pure vision. There, he met with Guru Rinpoche, who was surrounded by a host of ḍākinīs. Guru Rinpoche introduced him to the three kāyas, and prophesied that he would become the holder of the seven transmissions: the unbroken oral lineage from the scriptures, profound actual treasures, mind treasures, rediscovered treasures, recollected treasures, pure visions, and whispered lineages.
2019: A Year of Journeys to the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain
Every Guru Rinpoche day for the last 12 years or so, Phakchok Rinpoche has been sending out letters to remind his students to be mindful, and to bring them back on the path.
This whole year, Rinpoche will cover the visionary journeys of great practitioners to Copper-Colored Mountain, and Nekhor will be sharing them every Guru Rinpoche day. This first month’s letter is on Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa’s visionary journey to this pure realm.
New Translation | "Garland of Night-Blooming Water Lilies"
New Translation | “The Invocation of Uḍḍiyāna on the Tenth Day”
In this treasure from Ratna Lingpa (1403-1479), Padmasambhava prophesizes the many ways in which he will reveal himself to disciples in the future. He encourages his students to supplicate him every 10th day of the month, and then gives specific instructions on how to practice the gaṇacakra on these days. It ends with information on the identity of the destined revealer of this treasure, that is, Ratna Lingpa.
New Translation | "A Garland of Vajra Gems"
We at Nekhor wish you an auspicious Guru Rinpoche Day!
Today we offer a new translation, on the day when we commemorate Guru Rinpoche’s wrathful form, Guru Dorje Drolö:
A Garland of Vajra Gems: The Life and Liberation of the Guru, by Jamgön Kongtrul.
This epic of Guru Padmasambhava, as recorded by Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal, was revealed by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye as a “siddhi”. The text consists of ten short chapters, each related to a different aspect of the master’s life and activities.
Translated by Nekhor's Pema Jungne Translations.