Shangpa Kagyu: The Tradition of Khyungpo Naljor, Part One

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. Volumes in this series may be engaged as practice manuals, while also preserving ancient teachings significant to the literature and history of world religions.

Volume 11 of the series, Shangpa Kagyu, is the first of two volumes that present a selection of teachings and practices from the Shangpa practice lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. This tradition was established in Tibet by the eleventh-century yogi Khyungpo Naljor, who had received profound esoteric teachings from many great Indian masters, especially the two yoginīs Niguma and Sukhasiddhi, as well as Maitrīpa, Rāhula, and Vajrāsana. He established a monastery in the Shang region of Tibet, from which the lineage derives its name. Much of the ancient source material for these practices focuses on Dākinī Niguma’s Five Golden Dharmas: yogic practices of the Six Dharmas, nature of mind teachings called Amulet Box Mahāmudrā, meditations to integrate appearances on the spiritual path, goddess practices, and instructions to realize the deathlessness of body and mind. Also in this volume are the tantric bases of the tradition: the combined practice of the Five Tantras’ Deities and the Five-Deity Cakrasamvara practices. The six parts of this volume include source scriptures, liturgies, supplications, empowerment texts, instructions, and practice manuals.