Great Sakya Books

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Virgo
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Great Sakya Books

Post by Virgo »

I practice mostly in the Nyingma tradition; however, I like to read across all schools because of the wealth of knowledge and blessings contained in each of the schools. There have been some great books from the Sakya tradition. What great Sakya books have you read and which do you recommend here?

Some great ones that I have read are:

A Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes, by Sapan (Sakya Pandita)

Ordinary Wisdom, by Sapan

Parting from the Four Attachments (which I've received teachings on), by Chogye Trichen Rinpoche

Can anyone help create a list?
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Josef
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by Josef »

Virgo wrote:I practice mostly in the Nyingma tradition; however, I like to read across all schools because of the wealth of knowledge and blessings contained in each of the schools. There have been some great books from the Sakya tradition. What great Sakya books have you read and which do you recommend here?

Some great ones that I have read are:

A Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes, by Sapan (Sakya Pandita)

Ordinary Wisdom, by Sapan

Parting from the Four Attachments (which I've received teachings on), by Chogye Trichen Rinpoche

Can anyone help create a list?
Those are excellent books.
I would also recommend The Three Levels of Spiritual Perception by Deshung Rinpoche.
"All phenomena of samsara depend on the mind, so when the essence of mind is purified, samsara is purified. Since the phenomena of nirvana depend on the pristine consciousness of vidyā, because one remains in the immediacy of vidyā, buddhahood arises on its own. All critical points are summarized with those two." - Longchenpa
Ngawang Drolma
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by Ngawang Drolma »

"Treasures of the Sakya Lineage-Teachings From the Great Masters"
by Migmar Tseten, forwarded by H.H. Sakya Trizin
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Mr. G
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by Mr. G »

A Saint in Seattle

Visions - Volumes 1 - 4 put out by Manjushri Press

Three Visions by Ngorchen Kongchog Lhundrub
  • How foolish you are,
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    - Vasubandhu
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Virgo
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by Virgo »

Nangwa, Ngawang Drolma, and Mr. Gordo, those sound like great suggestions.

In particular, A Saint in Seattle looks really good.

Kevin
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Josef
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by Josef »

Virgo wrote:Nangwa, Ngawang Drolma, and Mr. Gordo, those sound like great suggestions.

In particular, A Saint in Seattle looks really good.

Kevin
yes. that is a very good book as well.
"All phenomena of samsara depend on the mind, so when the essence of mind is purified, samsara is purified. Since the phenomena of nirvana depend on the pristine consciousness of vidyā, because one remains in the immediacy of vidyā, buddhahood arises on its own. All critical points are summarized with those two." - Longchenpa
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Mr. G
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by Mr. G »

Also:

Taking the Result as the Path: Core Teachings of the Sakya Lamdre Tradition (Library of Tibetan Classics) by Cyrus Stearns

The Dharma's Gatekeepers: Sakya Pandita on Buddhist Scholarship in Tibet by Jonathan C. Gold

The History of the Sakya Tradition by Chogay Trichen
  • How foolish you are,
    grasping the letter of the text and ignoring its intention!
    - Vasubandhu
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kirtu
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by kirtu »

"Biography of the Great Mahasiddha Virupa", Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen
"Brief Illumination of the View: Dispelling the Cataract of Darkness", Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk
"Opening the Door of Liberation: A Collection of Buddhist Morning Practices with Commentaries"

These are not publicly available in terms of being able to buy them at a bookstore but are part of the works that Khenpo Kalsang Gyaltsen and Ani Chodron translated at Sakya Phuntsok Ling.

I do have all three of these at home but can only find the biography at this very moment. Brief Illumination is a brief exposition on the Sakya view and Opening the Door is a collection of general Tibetan Buddhist prayers and short (generally) recitations but this is also clearly a Sakya text.

Also did anyone mention "Luminous Lives, the Story of the Early Masters of the Lam'bras Tradition", by Stearns?

There is also "Hermit of Go Cliffs, Timeless Instructions from a Tibetan Mystic" also by Stearns. These are the poems of Godrakpa Sonam Gyaltsen. While not a Sakya text per se Godrakpa was an important Lam Dre teacher.

Kirt
Kirt's Tibetan Translation Notes

"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche

"Most all-knowing Mañjuśrī, ...
Please illuminate the radiant wisdom spirit
Of my precious Buddha nature."
HH Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
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Mr. G
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by Mr. G »

Great stuff Kirt!

I haven't been up to Walden in two years, though I live on Long Island. Does Khenpo Gyaltsen send those selections you mentioned out?

Also,

BODHISATTVACHARYAVATARA - Engaging in the Conduct of the Bodhisattvas by Shantideva with a
Commentary by Sazang Mati Panchen, translated by Khenpo Kalsang Gyaltsen and Ani Kunga Chodron (which can be purchased at the site)
  • How foolish you are,
    grasping the letter of the text and ignoring its intention!
    - Vasubandhu
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kirtu
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by kirtu »

mr. gordo wrote:I haven't been up to Walden in two years, though I live on Long Island. Does Khenpo Gyaltsen send those selections you mentioned out?
I'm pretty sure he will. Biography of Virupa and Dispelling the Cataract of Darkness were given out several years ago at the end of a teaching by HHST.

Kirt
Kirt's Tibetan Translation Notes

"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche

"Most all-knowing Mañjuśrī, ...
Please illuminate the radiant wisdom spirit
Of my precious Buddha nature."
HH Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
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Sonam Wangchug
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by Sonam Wangchug »

Biography of virupa? That sounds like a fun read.
:anjali:
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muni
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by muni »

Teachings about awareness is been bundled in this book: Development of Awareness and Conduct. (from Good Sayings by Sa Skya Pandita) Edited by Lozang Jamspal in Leh, Ladakh.

It is in Tibetan and English. The translation is by Lozang Jampspal and Ngawang Sonam Tenzin.

ISBN-81-901230-3-3
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Virgo
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by Virgo »

So many great books. . .

V
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by Rafael Maurin »

"Rain of Clarity" by Lama Jampa Thaye.

Rain of Clarity is a guide to all aspects of the Buddhist path according to the glorious Sakya tradition, including a detailed presentation of the Madhyamaka system of Sakya, known as 'Madhyamaka free from extremes'. The text is one of the first English-language treatises which, as well as possessing the qualities of a traditional shastra, also addresses issues facing contemporary Western practitioners of Buddhadharma.
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kirtu
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by kirtu »

"To Dispel the Misery of the World: Whispered Teachings of the Bodhisattvas", by
Ga Rabjampa, translated by Rigpa Translations. The late Khenpo Appey has a foreword.
Kirt's Tibetan Translation Notes

"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche

"Most all-knowing Mañjuśrī, ...
Please illuminate the radiant wisdom spirit
Of my precious Buddha nature."
HH Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
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Karma Dorje
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by Karma Dorje »

To the list I would add:

Freedom from Extremes: Gorampa's "Distinguishing the Views" and the Polemics of Emptiness

The Two Truths Debate: Tsongkhapa and Gorampa on the Middle Way

These discuss what we call around here the "schooling" of Tsongkhapa by Gorampa.
"Although my view is higher than the sky, My respect for the cause and effect of actions is as fine as grains of flour."
-Padmasambhava
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kirtu
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by kirtu »

Karma Dorje wrote:To the list I would add:

Freedom from Extremes: Gorampa's "Distinguishing the Views" and the Polemics of Emptiness

The Two Truths Debate: Tsongkhapa and Gorampa on the Middle Way

These discuss what we call around here the "schooling" of Tsongkhapa by Gorampa.
I would agree, but Freedom from Extremes was written by Jose Cabezon and deals primarily with a commentary by Geshe Lobsang Dargyay ,a Gelug scholar, on Gorampa's "Distinguishing the Views". So I'm not sure how much schooling got done in that.

Is there anything by Shakya Chokden available or was he just completely banned?

Kirt
Kirt's Tibetan Translation Notes

"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche

"Most all-knowing Mañjuśrī, ...
Please illuminate the radiant wisdom spirit
Of my precious Buddha nature."
HH Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
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Karma Dorje
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by Karma Dorje »

kirtu wrote: Is there anything by Shakya Chokden available or was he just completely banned?

Kirt
Three Texts on Madhyamaka includes: the Wish Fulfilling Meru, Drop of Nectar of Definitive Meaning, and Great Ship of Discrimination That Sails into the Ocean of Definitive Meaning.
"Although my view is higher than the sky, My respect for the cause and effect of actions is as fine as grains of flour."
-Padmasambhava
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by ratna »

kirtu wrote:[

Is there anything by Shakya Chokden available or was he just completely banned?

Kirt
24 volumes of his collected works survive (in Tibetan). In addition to the book Karma Dorje mentioned, there's Visions of Unity.
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Re: Great Sakya Books

Post by ratna »

I'll add a few:

- Although unpublished, Khenpo Ngawang Jorden's PhD thesis Buddha-nature: Through the Eyes of Go Rams Pa Bsod Nams Seng Ge in Fifteenth-Century Tibet is a great study of the Sakya understanding of the Uttaratantra. It can be ordered from Proquest or perhaps found somewhere on the web by Googling around.
- Anything by David Jackson, really: Enlightenment by a Single Means, The Entrance Gate for the Wise. A Saint in Seattle has already been mentioned.
- Also by David Jackson, the forthcoming translation of Elucidating the Intention of the Sage (in the volume Stages of the Buddha's Teachings in the Library of Tibetan Classics, was supposed to have been out by now but has apparently been postponed till November)
- Mind training: the great collection in the Library of Tibetan Classics series includes a number of texts on the Parting from the Four Attachments.

R
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