Barchey Künsel Cycle of Teachings

(bar chad kun sel kyi chos skor) - Here is a short introduction to the Barchey Künsel cycle: The Barchey Künsel is the heart essence of the accomplished master Padmasambhava who perceives the three times in the entirety. It is the quintessence of one billion heart sadhanas of the Guru, the most unique terma buried in the land of Tibet; and it is the first among the Four Cycles of Guru Sadhana. This Guru's Heart Practice that Dispels all Obstacles contains in completeness all the profound key points of the view, meditation and conduct of the Three Inner Yoga Tantras. It manifested from the secret treasury of the great wisdom, the vast realization of the Second Buddha of Uddiyana, as the self-existing natural vajra sounds in perfect melodious tones. Its expressions that are unmodified by the intellect of ordinary people, its words that are without delusion, and its meaning that is unmistaken, are exclusively due to the kindness of the three powerful knowledge-holders [Khyentse, Kongtrül, and Chokling], the great beings of the three families, who incarnated as masters to compile and propagate an ocean of secret teachings. It is exclusively through their kindness that this teaching was established in writing as the splendor of unending welfare and happiness for the disciples in the Land of Snow, and propagated to flourish everywhere. This pure and perfect teaching, which effortlessly bestows, in accordance with one's wishes, the all-encompassing supreme and common siddhis, temporaily and ultimately, was an unprecedented diffusion of the gemstones of the profound meaning, like opening up for the treasury of the universal monarch. DILGO KHYENTSE] About the Barchey Künsel practice, which is the first and most extensive of the Four Cycles of Guru Sadhana, Jamgön Kongtrül says in his Seed of the Great Sal Tree: "Generally, for the basic descriptions of how to practice this, take the third chapter taught in the Sheldam Nyingjang as basis and apply them, following your teacher's oral advice, in the extensive, medium or short version, whichever is appropriate, and in accordance with the situation in terms of place, time, and type of person. Whether you begin development or completion, first perform the general preliminaries of the fourfold mind-training and the four special preliminaries. For the main part, according to the system of Terchen Chokgyur Lingpa, take Sheldam Nyingjang as basis, and first practice Dharmakaya Amitayus followed by the Lotus Magical Net of Sambhogakaya, the Great Compassionate One Avalokiteshvara. After that, combine the extensive or medium version with the Nirmanakaya Padmasambhava, whichever is suitable, and complete the set number [of recitations] for approach and accomplishment. Following that, it is necessary to perform successively the specific approaches, combining the twelve manifestations with Trinley Nyingpo, and complete the four activities and the four ancillary practices as well as the practice of the teaching guardians. According to the system of the omniscient master, Padma Ösel Do-Ngak Lingpa [Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo], perform, as the beginning of the main part, the single mudra according to the Gyüngyi Köljang, the Daily Practice Manual, as 'approach'; the condensed outer mandala of Trinley Nyingpo as the 'full approach;' Trinley Dringpo, the Medium Practice Manual, as 'accomplishment;' and Trinley Gyepa, the Extensive Practice Manual, together with Dzapkyi Köljang, the Recitation Manual, and so forth in a detailed way for the 'great accomplishment.' The samadhis and visualizations for recitation of these should conform with the root text of the third chapter [of Sheldam Nyingjang]. Having properly performed the four aspects of approach and accomplishment, perform then the 'specific practices' such as those for Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya and so forth, whichever is suitable. There is no difference between following either of these two systems since they both are lords of these profound teachings." [RY]