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===Four Stakes to Bind the Life-force ([[srog sdom gzer bzhi]])===
<noinclude>[[Longchen Nyingtik]]</noinclude><br>
These four stakes are a key principle in the tantric practices of the [[Nyingma]] tradition. Though they are most often taught in the context of [[development stage]], they are said to subsume all aspects of the [[view, meditation and conduct]] of the [[Vajrayana]]. The source for these teachings is the [[Tantra of the Perfect Secret]] ([[gsang ba yongs rdzogs]]).
<noinclude>[[klong chen snying thig]]</noinclude><br>
 
<noinclude><span class=TibUni16>[[ཀློང་ཆེན་སྙིང་ཐིག]]</span></noinclude><br>
*The four stakes are:
{{:Longchen Nyingtik}}
**[[The Stake Of Absorption]]
[[Category:Key Terms]][[Category:Glossary]][[Category:Teachings]]
**[[The Stake Of Essence Mantra]]
**[[The Stake Of Unchanging Realization]]
**[[The Stake Of Projection And Absorption]]
 
 
==Explanation==
*[[four stakes to bind the life-force]] ([[srog sdom gzer bzhi]]) - [detailed expl., ''[[The Light of Wisdom]]'', Vol. 2, page 108]. Furthermore: To explain the ''four stakes to bind the life-force,'' the object to be purified is the state of affairs of a [[sentient being]]'s [[body, speech and mind]] as well as its activities. The result of purification is the [[Body, Speech, Mind, Qualities and Activities]] of [[buddhahood]]. Even though this basic state of affairs of any [[sentient being]] is [[primordially pure]] as these aspects of [[buddhahood]], in the apparent state these are seen as being impure and involved in the [[cause and effect]] of [[samsaric existence]]. The [[means]] which purify are to apply these [[key points of instruction]] to these four stakes which bind this life-force and herein you come to realize the way it ultimately is. Thus, by binding [[samsara and nirvana]] with the life-force of their purity in being completely equanimous, both the basic and the apparent aspects - the practitioner's [[three gates]] and [[Activities]] and the deity's Body, Speech, Mind and Activities - are brought into the path as the [[great primordial purity]]. This is therefore the extraordinary key point of the nonseparateness of [[development stage]] and [[completion stage]] and the special feature of the Old School of the [[Early Translations]], [[Ngagyur Nyingma]]. [[Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche]] [RY]
 
*As Tenpé Nyima explains, these four stakes subsume all aspects of Tantric practice: “All of the key points of the Vajrayāna path of Secret Mantra are included in these four.” [KR 59] Explaining further, Khenpo Ngaga writes, “It is traditionally said that these four stakes bring together our own ordinary body, speech, mind and actions with the enlightened form, speech, mind and activities of the wisdom deity. They are like stakes that bind these together…In other words, these key instructions on the four stakes that bind the life-force purify the three gates and actions, which seem to obscure from the perspective of the way things appear. Consequently, enlightened form, speech, mind and activities—the way things really are—actually manifest. This is why these four are necessary.” [ST 29] [CJD]
 
 
[[Category: Key Terms]] [[Category: Vajrayana]][[Category: Tantra]] [[Category:Development Stage]]

Latest revision as of 13:53, 15 November 2008

Longchen Nyingtik
klong chen snying thig
ཀློང་ཆེན་སྙིང་ཐིག


Brief History

Longchen Nyingthig Tshogshing

The Longchen Nyingthig is a Terma cycle revealed by the master Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa. Since its inception in the late 18th century, it has become one of the most widespread sets of teachings in the Nyingma tradition. It is particularly known and loved for its extensive commentarial literature, which includes practice manuals such as the famed Yeshe Lama.

These teachings were originally transmitted by the master Padmasambhava to King Trisong Deutsen, the Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal and the Lotsawa Vairochana at Samye Monastery in central Tibet. As the time for these teachings to spread was not yet right, they were then written in symbolic script by [[Yeshe Tsogyal], entrusted to the Dakinis, and hidden to be revealed at a later time. The king later reincarnated as the Treasure Revealer Jigme Lingpa, who recalled the teachings he had received and, recognizing the time was ripe for them to be practised, put them down in writing and began to teach.

Jigme Lingpa, the Terton who revealed this cycle of teachings, was a reincarnation of two important masters, Vimalamitra and King Trisong Deutsen. As the embodiment of these two figures, Tibet's two primary Dzogchen lineages were combined in Jigme Lingpa -- the Vima Nyingthig and Khandro Nyingthig, both of which are contained in the Nyingthig Yabshi. Hence, the Longchen Nyingthig terma cycle is considered a condensation of these profound teachings.

The texts that were revealed by Jigme Lingpa, in their present-day form, comprise three volumes, known as the Nyingthig Tsapod (snying thig rtsa pod). The numerous treatises, sadhanas and prayers it contains deal primarily with tantric practice, in particular the stages of Development Stage and Dzogchen.

Lineage

  • The Present day lineages transmitted down from the many students of Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa have spread and are practice throughout every corner of this realm, however there where four main "Heart Sons" that became crucial to the dissemination of the lineage, which in turn created a number of lineages of transmission down to present masters.

The primary lineage is as follows

The Four Main Lineage Holders

From Jigme Lingpa's heart son Jigme Trinle Ozer to the present Dodrupchen Rinpoche

From Jigme Lingpa's heart son Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu to the present Chatral Rinpoche

From Jigme Lingpa's heart son Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu to the present Penor Rinpoche

Other Lineage Masters

Primary Sadhanas

Guru

The Longchen Nyingthig cycle relates primarily to the teachings of Dzogchen, particularly the Innermost Essence teachings. Though there are various practices and Sadhanas found in this tradition, such practices are often approached from this Dzogchen perspective. These practices include:



Takyung Barwa


Dechen Gyalmo




Primary Texts


The main Tantras and Pith-instructions

Preliminary Practice Instructions

    • The Steps to Liberation (thun mong gi sngon 'gro sems sbyong rnam pa bdun gyi don khrid thar ba'i them skas thar ba'i them skas)
    • Establishing Practice (rdzogs pa chen po klong chen snying thig gi thun mong gi sngon 'gro khrid kyi lag len la 'debs lugs)
    • Establishing Mindfulness (rdzogs pa chen po klong chen snying thig gi thun mong ma yin pa'i sngon 'gro'i khrid yig dran pa nyer gzhag)

Development Stage Instructions

Completion Stage Instructions

Prayers and Aspirations

Present Day Teachers of the Longchen Nyingthig

Longchen Nyingthig Literature in Translation

  • Works on the Longchen Nyingthig Ngondro:
    • Patrul Rinpoche (1994). Words of My Perfect Teacher. Translated by the Padmakara Translation Group. San Francisco: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-1570624124
    • Ngawang Pelzang, Khenpo (2004). A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher. Translated by the Padmakara Translation Group. Boston: Shambhala Publications. ISBN 978-1590300732
    • An Elucidation of The Path To Excellent Omniscience. Translated by the Vajravairochana Translation Committee. Halifax: Vajravairochana Translation Committee, 1996.
    • Thondup, Tulku (1982). Dzogchen: Innermost Essence Preliminary Practice. India: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.
  • Works on Dzogchen:
    • Yeshe Lama. Translated by Sangye Khandro.
    • Van Schaik, Sam (2004). Approaching the Great Perfection. Boston: Wisdom Publications.
  • Sadhana Practices:
    • The Queen of Great Bliss of Long-Chen Nying-Thig. Translated by Tulku Thondup. Sikkim: Published by Dodrup Chen Rinpoche, 1992. A translation of the Yumkha Dechen Gyalmo sadhana.
    • The Assemblage of Vidyadharas of Long-Chen Nying-Thig. Translated by Tulku Thondup. Sikkim: Published by Dodrup Chen Rinpoche, 1992. A translation of the Rigdzin Dupa sadhana.

Other References

  • Thondup, Tulku (1996) Masters of Meditation and Miracles. Boston: Shambhala Publications. - The most complete reference on the lineages and practices of the Longchen Nyingthig in the English language.
  • Gyatso, Janet (1998). Apparitions of the Self. Princeton: Princeton University Press. - Contains translations of two biographies of Jigme Lingpa.
  • The Dzogchen Lineage of Nyoshul Khenpo

Alternate Names and Spellings

  • Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse
  • Heart Essence of the Great Expanse
  • Heart Essence of Longchenpa

Internal Links

Wylie text from the Longchen Nyingtik

External Links

  • TBRC page on the Longchen Nyingthig
  • TBRC listing of the treatises contained in the Longchen Nyingthig root texts
  • The Tibetan versions of many of the Nyingtig prayers and sadhanas. The ones from [BL] are RTF also a very nice collection in TibDoc. [2]
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