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"The sixteenth volume of The Treasury of Precious Instructions contains works that could not be included among those of the eight major schools presented in the earlier volumes-hence their designation in Tibetan as khrid sna tshogs, literally "miscellaneous instructions." This title should not, however, be taken to suggest that that they are texts of minor interest, or that they consist of a variety of texts having little in common with each other, or even that they have nothing to do with the eight schools. Indeed, the first text in this volume, has everything to do with them: it is a ritual honouring the teachers of all eight lineages, which makes its inclusion at the beginning of this volume entirely appropriate. As for the other texts, they are all concerned with the Indian mahåasiddhas, either severally or individually, and two thirds of the volume are devoted to the works of one mahåasiddha in particular, Mitrayogin, whose profound teachings on introducing the nature of the mind can hardly be considered of minor interest even if they are comparatively less well known"--
About the author
Jamgon Kongtrul was a versatile and prolific scholar. He has been characterized as a "Tibetan Leonardo" because of his significant contributions to religion, education, medicine, and politics.
The Padmakara Translation Group, based in France, has a distinguished reputation for its translations of Tibetan texts and teachings. Its work has been published in several languages and renowned for its clear and accurate literary style.
Summary
In this volume of The Treasury of Precious Instructions, Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye compiles teachings and practices by and about the renowned Indian Buddhist masters known as mahāsiddhas, recognized in all eight practice lineages of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Treasury of Precious Instructions by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye, one of Tibet's greatest Buddhist masters, is a shining jewel of Tibetan literature, presenting essential teachings from the entire spectrum of practice lineages that existed in Tibet. In its eighteen volumes, Kongtrul brings together some of the most important texts on key topics of Buddhist thought and practice while also authoring significant new sections of his own.
This volume presents a selection of teachings and practices centered on the mahāsiddhas, Indian masters of tantric Buddhism, some of whom were of vital importance in transmitting the Vajrayāna teachings to Tibet. The mahāsiddha Mitrayogin, whose work forms the majority of this volume, visited Tibet in the late twelfth century. His ritual texts and instructions are translated from Tibetan, including sādhanas, empowerments, guru yogas, authorization rituals for protector deities, and detailed compositions on Mahāmudra practice, or resting in the nature of mind.
In addition to instructions given by mahāsiddhas, this volume includes ritual practices to visualize them and transmit their blessings, including a devotional text composed by Jamgön Kongtrul himself. This translation, which may be engaged as a practice manual, preserves ancient teachings significant to the literature and history of world religions.
Additional text
“In his vast work The Treasury of Precious Instructions, Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye, that most eminent of Tibetan Buddhist masters, collected together all the empowerments, instructions, and practices of the eight great chariots of the practice lineages. Not only that, but he himself received the complete transmissions for all the practices, accomplished them including the retreats, and preserved them in his own mindstream. He then passed on the transmissions to his own students and all who requested them. The Treasury of Precious Instructions exemplifies how Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye’s whole life was dedicated to teaching and spreading the Dharma, whether it be sutra or mantra, kama or terma, old or new translation school, free of sectarian bias. Without his supreme efforts, many traditions of Tibetan Buddhism would have been lost.”—from the foreword by His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje
