Table of Contents
Editor's Introduction xiii
Pronunciation of Sanskrit and Tibetan xxxi
Part 1 Approaching the Vajrayana
Introduction 3
1 The Dawning of the Great Eastern Sun 19
2 The Transition to Vajrayana 27
3 Entering the Diamond Path on a Solid Foundation 43
4 Uncovering Indestructible Goodness and Wakefulness 55
5 The Multifaceted Diamond Path 64
6 Seven Aspects of Vajrayana: The Space before First Thought 80
Part 2 The Teacher-Student Relationship
7 The Role of the Guru or Vajra Master 91
8 The Root Guru as the Epitome of Freedom 103
9 A Total Surrendering of Samsaric Logic 119
10 The Power of Devotion 125
Part 3 The Tülku Principle and the Trungpa Tülkus
11 The Tülku Principle 137
12 The Early Trungpas 144
13 The Later Trungpas 159
Part 4 Essential Teachings
14 Unconditional Ground 173
15 Transcending Mental Concepts 189
16 Fundamental Magic 194
17 The Play of Space and Form 206
18 The Eight States of Consciousness and the Trikaya Principle 215
Part 5 Complete Commitment
19 Samaya: Making a Commitment 227
20 Positive Entrapment 239
21 The Different Types of Samaya 244
22 Maintaining the Samaya Vow 256
23 Enlightenment and Its Opposite 267
24 Perfecting the Samaya Vow 274
Part 6 The Mandala Principle
25 The Sphere of Self-Born Wisdom 285
26 The Mandala of the Five Buddha-Families 293
27 The Outer Mandala 313
28 The Inner Mandala 323
29 The Secret Mandala 333
Part 7 Preliminary Practices
30 The Four Reminders 343
31 The Four Preliminaries 354
32 Guru Yoga 366
Part 8 Empowerment
33 Transmission 375
34 Surrendering 384
35 Entering the Vajra Mandaia 395
36 Stability, Luminosity, and Joy 400
37 The Four Main Abhishekas 407
Part 9 Vajrayana Practice
38 Visualization and Sadhana Practice 417
39 The Importance of a Nontheistic View 433
Part 10 The Tantric Journey: Lower Tantra
Kriyayoga: The Yana of Purity
40 Kriyayoga: Trust in Reality 441
41 Kriyayoga: Purification 454
42 Kriyayoga: Empowerment 463
43 Kriyayoga: Practice 472
Upayoga: The Yana of Conduct
44 Upayoga: Unadorned Perception 485
45 Upayoga: Empowerment 493
46 Upayoga: Practice 499
Yogayana: The Yana of Union
47 Yogayana: Complete Union 505
48 Yogayana: Empowerments and Practice 512
Part 11 The Tantric Journey: Mahamudra
Anuttarayoga: Highest Yoga
49 The Great Symbol 523
50 Devotion: The Essential Prerequisite for Mahamudra 533
51 Taking a Fresh Look at the Phenomenal World 546
52 Uniting with Open Space 554
53 The Challenge of Keeping Samaya 562
54 The Divisions of Anuttarayoga 571
55 Manifesting Mahamudra 577
56 Ground Mahamudra: Understanding Things as They Are 588
57 Path Mahamudra: The Experience of Meditation 599
58 Fruition Mahamudra: Realizing One's Mind as Buddha 614
Part 12 The Tantric Journey: Higher Tantra
Mahayoga: The Yana of Great Union
59 Mahayoga: The Dawning of the Wisdom of Self-Existence 625
60 Mahayoga: Meditation and the Mandala Principle 633
61 Mahayoga: The Eight Logos 645
62 Mahayoga: Nondual Practice 665
Anuyoga: The Yana of Passion
63 Anuyoga: Joining Space and Wisdom 671
64 Anuyoga: Empowerment 678
65 Anuyoga: Practice 684
66 Anuyoga: No Boundaries 691
Atiyoga: The Great Completion
67 Atiyoga: Continuous Awake 699
68 Atiyoga: Primordial Enlightenment 708
69 Atiyoga: Fathomless Mind 717
70 Atiyoga: Mind, Space, and Instruction 724
71 Atiyoga: Meditation Practices 739
72 Atiyoga: Heightened Experience 752
73 Atiyoga: Everything and Nothing 762
Appendix 1 Kamalashila and the Great Debate 769
Appendix 2 The Song of Lodrö Thaye 771
Appendix 3 The Charnel Ground 783
Appendix 4 Notecards 785
Appendix 5 Outline of Teachings 793
Glossary 825
Sources 863
Resources 879
About the Author 881
Credits 887
Index 891