Luminous Heart: The Third Karmapa on Consciousness, Wisdom, and Buddha Nature (The Nitartha Institute) - Hardcover

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9781559393188: Luminous Heart: The Third Karmapa on Consciousness, Wisdom, and Buddha Nature (The Nitartha Institute)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1559393181 ISBN 13: 9781559393188

Publisher: Snow Lion, 2009

This superb collection of writings on buddha nature by the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284–1339) focuses on the transition from ordinary deluded consciousness to enlightened wisdom, the characteristics of buddhahood, and a buddha's enlightened activity. Most of these materials have never been translated comprehensively. The Third Karmapa's unique and well-balanced view synthesizes Yogacara Madhyamaka and the classical teachings on buddha nature. Rangjung Dorje not only shows that these teachings do not contradict each other but also that they supplement each other and share the same essential points in terms of the ultimate nature of mind and all phenomena. His fusion is remarkable because it clearly builds on Indian predecessors and precedes the later often highly charged debates in Tibet about the views of Rangtong ("self-empty") and Shentong ("other-empty"). Although Rangjung Dorje is widely regarded as one of the major proponents of the Tibetan Shentong tradition (some even consider him its founder), this book shows how his views differ from the Shentong tradition as understood by Dolpopa Taranatha and the First Jamgon Kongtrul. The Third Karmapa's view is more accurately described as one in which the two categories of rangtong and shentong are not regarded as mutually exclusive but are combined in a creative synthesis. For those practicing the sutrayana and the vajrayana in the Kagyu tradition, what these texts describe can be transformed into living experience.

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From the Back Cover:

The Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339), propounded a unique synthesis of Yog�c�ra, Madhyamaka, and the classical teachings on buddha nature. His work occupies an important position between its Indian predecessors and the later, often highly charged, debates in Tibet about rangtong ("self-emptiness") and shentong ("other-emptiness"). The Third Karmapa is widely renowned as one of the major proponents of the Tibetan shentong tradition. This book contains a collection of some of his main writings on buddha nature; the transition of ordinary deluded consciousness to enlightened wisdom; and the characteristics of buddhahood.

Though relying strictly on classical Indian sources, the Karmapa's texts are not mere scholarly documents. Their topics and styles bear great significance for practicing the s�tray�na and the vajray�na as understood in the Kagy� tradition to the present day, thus making what is described in these texts a living experience.

Karl Brunnh�lzl works for Tsadra Foundation, Nalandabodhi, and Nitartha Institute. He is the author/translator of The Center of the Sunlit Sky (2004), Straight from the Heart (2007), and In Praise of Dharmadh�tu (2008).

About the Author:

Karl Brunnh�lzl, MD, was trained as a physician and also studied Tibetology. He received his systematic training in Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy and practice at the Marpa Institute for Translators, founded by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. Since 1989 he has been a translator and interpreter from Tibetan and English. He is presently involved with the Nitartha Institute as a teacher and translator.

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