Khandro Nyingthig

Khandro Nyingthig (mkha' 'gro snying thig). A Terma revealed by Padma Ledreltsal that contains Dzogchen teachings from the lineage of Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal. These teachings form part of the Nyingthig Yabshi, along with the Dzogchen teachings of Vimalamitra, which was compiled by the master Longchenpa.

Two groupings of texts form the core of the Khandro Nyingthig cycle: The Six Tantras of Liberation through Wearing (btags grol rgyud drug) and the Three Testaments of the Buddha (sangs rgyas kyi 'das rjes gsum pa). The former are the root tantras of the Khandro Nyingthig. The latter contains a series of three short texts with instructions on the Great Perfection given by Vajradhara to the master Garab Dorje.

In addition to those written by Longchenpa himself, important commentaries on the Khandro Nyingthig were written by Terdak Lingpa and the third Dzogchen Rinpoche, Ngedon Tendzin Zangpo.

Khandro Nyingtig means Heart Essence of the Dakinis. A profound collection of Dzogchen teachings transmitted through Padmasambhava to Princess Pema Sal, King Trisong Deutsen's dying daughter, at Samye Chimphu.

Lineage

• Samantabhadra
  
• Vajrasattva
  
• Garab Dorje
  
• Shri Singha
  
• Padmasambhava
  
• Yeshe Tsogyal
  
• Princess Padmasal
  
• Padma Ledrelstal
  
• Longchenpa
  

The following passage from the The Essence of Liberation through Wearing explains the lineage transmission of the Khandro Nyinghtig:

"The teacher, Samantabhadra and Samantabhadri in union,
Blessed their own embodiment , the vessel Vajrasattva;
Through wearing, a single understanding that liberates all—
Beyond the extremes of bondage and liberation.
Through the blessings of Vajrasattva,
This arose naturally in the heart of Garab,
Who entrusted the lineage to Singha.
The supreme, perfect fruition—
The Tantra of Liberation through Wearing—
Was then entrusted to Oddiyana Padma.
Teach this to a son endowed with the five!"

In his commentary on the Khandro Nyinthig, The Excellent Chariot, Ngeton Tendzin Zangpo, the 3rd Dzogchen Rinpoche, explains further:

"In the perfect place of Ghanavyuha, the palace of reality’s expanse, the perfect teachers, glorious Samantabhadra and Samantabhadri, spontaneously arose out of the dharmakaya, a state free from conceptual projections, manifesting perfectly as the five sambhogakaya families. The perfect teaching, the natural Great Perfection, the doctrine of the spontaneously present five-fold rainbow light, was then taught through natural blessings to the perfect retinue, the sambhogakaya Vajrasattva, in the unchanging moment of fundamental perfection, the perfect time. Vajrasattva taught this to the incarnation Garab Dorjé at the vast Charnel Ground of the Blazing Mountain in the form of a beautiful poem. Garab Dorjé then taught it to the great master Srí Singha at the Charnel Ground of the Dense Forest through his own direct realization. Srí Singha went on to teach Padma Tötreng-tsal of Oddiyana at the great Charnel Ground Sosa Ling, where, in a non-conceptual way, he taught him the way things really are. Padmasambhava then used what he had directly ascertained to teach Yeshé Tsogyal, a Dakini inseparable from Vajravarahi, at the White Rock of Zhotong Tidro. The blessings of the clear and profound realization of Master Padma and consort—the actual wisdom to be revealed—was then transmitted to the fortunate master of this teaching, Princess Pemasel, and then sealed with aspirations and empowerments. The lineage of coded verse was then set down in writing as the vehicle [for this realization], entrusted to the Dakinis and treasure guardians, and hidden at Taklung Tramo Rock. Later on, once the five degenerations and fifty rendings had become rampant, past aspirations reawakened and this treasure, the root cycle of The Heart Essence of the Dakinis, was removed by the incarnation Pema Ledreltsal. The lineage was then gradually transmitted and passed on to Prince Lekpa, Rinchen Lingpa, and others.

In accordance with the treasure’s prophecy, the actual form of this treasure revealer was to succumb to the influence of obstacles. Consequently, his work for the benefit of beings was left unfinished. His subsequent incarnation then traveled throughout the sambhogakaya pure realms, eventually becoming the prophesied embodiment of wisdom. This emanation was known by many names, including Longchen Rabjam and Drimé Özer. He was blessed directly by both Padmasambhava and his consort at Chimpu Rimochen, and then went on to clarify the key instructions they taught him concerning the profound points of the root Heart Essence. These instructions were given to Guru Yeshe Rabjam."

Then, listing the lineage masters of the Dzogchen Monastery line of transmission, he writes:

"The lineage was then passed down through the following masters:

• the learned and accomplished Samtenpa • the great saint Jinpa Zangpo • the one known as Dzogchen Shakya • Sonam Rinchen • Chakyungwa Ngakwang Padma • Dzogchen Sonam Wangpo • Rigdzin Chökyi Gyatso • the great saint Padma Rigdzin

Padma Rigdzin gave these teachings to a master who was the sovereign of all classes and mandalas and who was inseparable from the all-pervasive, primordial protector. It is difficult to refer to such a supreme, sacred guide using words, but since it is necessary, I will refer to him as Namkha Osel, (“Luminous Space”). This sacred individual, protector of all beings including the gods, was given these teachings as if pouring liquid from one vase into another. He then opened the door of this excellent treasure, a wealth of instructions that was the very essence of this holy master’s enlightened mind, and in so doing ripened and liberated those who were fortunate."

Alternate Spellings

Khandro Nyingtig, Khandro Nyingthik, Khandro Nyingtik