The Three Levels Of Spiritual Perception

The Three Levels of Spiritual Perception is a revised edition of the classic guide to the Lamdre, a key system of meditation of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Written by one of the first Tibetan masters to live and teach in the United States, it is rendered in a lyrical style that entertains, inspires, and motivates the reader. A key work for all those who are eager to develop and deepen their meditation practice.

The Three Levels of Spiritual Perception is the revised second edition of the classic guide to a key system of meditation of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Written by one of the first Tibetan masters to live and teach in the United States, it is written in a lyrical style that entertains, inspires and motivates the reader. A key work for all those who are eager to develop and deepen their meditation practice.

Even more significant for Christianity in the long run than the twentieth-century Dead Sea and Nag Hammadi discoveries is the growing North American awareness of Rudolf Steiner's works. Virtually unavailable until the end of the twentieth century, English translations from the German archives are gradually coming into print. Both Steiner and his works have thus far been virtually unknown in traditional theological circles. No Bible commentary has yet reflected the remarkable spiritual insights of Anthroposophy. Now, ten years after first encountering a written comment about Rudolf Steiner, Ed Smith combines his own extensive traditional biblical knowledge with his years of concentrated study and reflection on hundreds of assembled works by Steiner. The result is the first Bible commentary in the light of anthroposophic insight. This is the first volume of a series of Bible commentary by the author. It is based on the "anthroposophic" understanding given to humanity by Rudolf Steiner during the first quarter of the twentieth century. Bible commentaries have always reflected the general line of thinking of their authors. However, the dramatic newness of anthroposophic thought means that perhaps the usual method of using a Bible commentary is not appropriate here. A large part of The Burning Bush is necessarily devoted to laying an anthroposophic, or spiritual-scientific, groundwork. A major assumption indulged in most Bible commentaries--that one can go directly to portions dealing with given passages of scripture and understand what is being said about them--does not fit.

Examines the state of those experiencing suffering, those engaged in the methods leading towards freedom from unhappiness and misery, and those fully enlightened ones who have attained the highest goal of omniscient awakening.

The Yogini's Eye: Comprehensive Introduction to Buddhist Tantra, Volume I: Systemization and Interpretation introduces a new translation series, Classics of the Early Sakya, which will focus on the extensive literature of the Sakya Lamdre lineage of the Hevajra Tantra cycle of revelation. This first volume of introduction is the earliest book of its type and comprehensive treatment of the subject matter to have been written, and initiated the scholarly study of Tibetan Buddhist Tantra. Subsequent studies in all lineages were built on the foundation established by this book. The Yogini's Eye has served as the introductory textbook for the study of Sakya Tantra continuously for over 800 years. Over the centuries, the textbook has been supplemented by a total of fifteen commentaries and study guides written by the most learned scholars of the Sakya tradition, including Lama Dampa Sonam Gyaltsen (1312 1375), Yeshe Gyaltsen (1300's 1406), Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo (1382 1450), Lowo Khenchen Sonam Lhundrup (1456 1532), Ngorchen Konchok Lhundrup (1497 1547), Amezhap Ngawang Kunga Sonam (1597 1659), and Dezhung Chopel Jamyang Kunga Namgyal (1880's mid-1950's). This first English edition contains the translation of thirteen of these study guides, excluding all repetitive sections, inserted into the original book in the appropriate context.

Luminous Mind is a remarkable compilation of the oral and written teachings of the late Kalu Rinpoche - who was called "a beacon of inspiration" by the Dalai Lama. A master of meditation and leader of the Shangpu Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, Kalu Rinpoche taught with an inviting, playful and lucid style that was just one natural manifestation of his own profound realization. The teachings presented in Luminous Mind are immediate and timeless. As the Dalai Lama notes in his foreword, Luminous Mind covers "the full range of Buddhist practice from the basic analysis of the nature of the mind up to its ultimate refinement in the teachings of Mahamudra." This anthology of Kalu Rinpoche's writings and oral teachings resonates with his wisdom and compassion. Comparing Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche with Milarepa, the greatest mediation master Tibet has ever known, His Holiness the Dalai Lama extols the author of Luminous Mind as a "beacon of inspiration" for spiritual practitioners of all traditions. Noting that "there have been few like him before or since," His Holiness urges us to delve into this remarkable anthology of the late Kalu Rinpoche's essential instructions so that we may encounter "the full range of Buddhist practice from the basic analysis of the nature of the mind up to its ultimate refinement in the teachings of Mahamudra." Drawn from both his lucid writings and his eloquent oral presentations, this unprecedented book lays bare the full grandeur of Kalu Rinpoche's legacy. At the same time, the gentle words and playful stories of this master of meditation are filled with a depth of clarity and warmth that could only arise from a profound realization of both wisdom and compassion.

The latest offering from a renowned translator in the Buddhist world of one of the most important texts in the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. This translation was made at the request of the head of the Sakya tradition. Ornament to Beautify the Three Appearances is the first book of a two-volume set of works written by Ngorchen Könchok Lhundrup (1497–1557) to explain the Lamdré teachings, the most important system of tantric theory and practice in the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The Lamdré, or Path with the Result, is based on the Vajra Lines of the great Indian adept Virupa (ca. seventh–eighth centuries). The first topic is the fundamental meditative practices of Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism. In the Lamdré teachings, these preliminary instructions are known as the Three Appearances. The guiding instructions on impure appearance are for the purpose of developing renunciation. These focus on the defects of samsara; the rarity, benefit, and transience of human life; and the nature of positive and negative actions and results. The guiding instructions on the appearance of the experiences are for the purpose of producing the altruistic intent. These focus on developing love, compassion, and bodhicitta, and on cultivating joy now about the uncommon experiences that will arise later when practicing the Vajrayana teachings. The guiding instructions on pure appearance are for the purpose of producing enthusiasm for the ultimate result of complete awakening. These briefly describe the inconceivable nature of a buddha’s enlightened body, speech, and mind. Having absorbed these preliminary instructions, the practitioner may go on to the second volume of Ngorchen’s works, a restricted text that explains the main tantric practices of the Three Continua, intended for students who have at least received the great initiation of Hevajra. Volume 2 is available in a restricted box set that includes this first volume and may be obtained only on the Wisdom Publications website.

"Box set is not being sold through Simon; volume 1 is The latest offering from a renowned translator in the Buddhist world, of one of the most important texts in one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism (the Sakya school). This translation was done at the request of the head of the Sakya school. Ngorchen Könchok Lhundrup's Ornament to Beautify the Three Appearances is the most extensive explanation of the Three Appearances ever written. Ornament to Beautify the Three Continua is the most extensive explanation of the Three Continua in a single text. This 2-volume set contains translations of the Vajra Lines of the great Indian adept Virūpa (ca. seventh-eighth centuries), the basic text of the Lamdré tradition, the most precious system of tantric theory and practice in the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, and extensive explanation and guidance by Ngorchen Könchok Lhundrup (1497-1557). The translations have been made at the personal request and approval of His Holiness the Sakya Trichen with certainty that they will benefit all beings who desire liberation. The Vajra Lines represents the distilled essence of the Hevajra Tantra and its two explanatory tantras, and is almost entirely concerned with esoteric tantric practice. The first topic, however, is the fundamental teachings of Hinayāna and Mahāyāna Buddhism, which are the essential basis for the main tantric practices of Vajrayāna. In the Lamdré system, this first topic of preliminary instructions is known as the Three Appearances. The second topic, the main Vajrayāna practices, is known as the Three Continua. The preliminary practices presented in the first volume, Ornament to Beautify the Three Appearances, may be practiced by anyone, without specific, required preparation. The guiding instructions on impure appearance are for the purpose of developing renunciation, and this volume focuses on three main topics: the defects of saṃsāra, in order to produce renunciation; the rarity, benefit, and transience of life as a human being, in order to arouse diligence; and the nature of positive and negative actions and results, in order to understand what types of behavior to accept and reject. The guiding instructions on the appearance of the experiences are for the purpose of producing the altruistic intent. This section concerns two main topics: meditation until the common experiences have arisen, which focuses on cultivating love, compassion, and bodhicitta; and cultivating joy now about the uncommon experiences that will arise later when practicing the Vajrayāna teachings. The guiding instructions on pure appearance are for the purpose of producing enthusiasm for the ultimate result of complete awakening. This section briefly describes the inconceivable nature of a buddha's enlightened body, speech, and mind. The second volume explains the main tantric practices of the Three Continua. It is a restricted text, intended only for students who have at least received the great initiation of Hevajra. It is the most extensive explanation of the Three Continua in a single text. These three are the causal continuum [the abiding mode of phenomenon, which involves meditation on the view of the indivisibility of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa for the purpose of eliminating all conceptual elaborations], the method continuum [the precise way to meditate-the main practice of the Teaching, the method for guiding the true nature of the mind, primordially free of conceptual elaborations, the ground of everything, to the four kāyas-which involves instructions on each of the four initiations, the various sacred commitments associated with the four initiations, the propitiation of the ḍākas and ḍākinīs if these commitments have been damaged, and the initiations at the time of the path, which is the main topic of the method continuum], and the resultant continuum [buddhahood]. Dependent on the causal continuum of the mind, or universal ground, which is like a field, being purified by the method continuum of the body, which is like water and manure, the resultant continuum of mahāmudrā (the four resultant kāyas), which is like the ripened fruit, is actualized"--