White Lotus: An Explanation of the Seven-line Prayer to Guru Padmasambhava [Hardcover]

Jamgon Mipham (Author), Padmakara Translation Group (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 11, 2007

The commentary translated in these pages is unusual and rare. But if the commentary is a rarity, its subject matter—the seven-line invocation of Padmasambhava—is one of the best-known prayers in the Tibetan Buddhist world.

The overall significance of the Seven-Line Prayer is perhaps best appreciated in relation to a practice called guru-yoga, or "union with the nature of the guru." The purpose of guru-yoga is to purify and deepen the student's relationship with his or her teacher. It is introduced as one of the preliminary practices, and it remains crucial—in fact, its importance increases—as one progresses through the more advanced levels of the tantric path. The cultivation of devotion to the guru and the blending of one's mind with his or her enlightened mind is, in the words of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, "the most vital and necessary of all practices and is in itself the surest and fastest way to reach the goal of enlightenment."

Regarding the origin of this commentary, Mipham refers in the colophon to an event that triggered the abrupt appearance in his mind of the hidden meaning of the prayer. It is interesting to note that the language Mipham uses suggests that the commentary itself is not an ordinary composition but perhaps a treasure teaching, specifically a "mind-treasure" or gongter.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Enshrining the most sacred prayer to Guru Padmasambhava, the Vajra Seven-Line Prayer, White Lotus elucidates its five layers of meaning as revealed by the eminent scholar Mipham the Great. This commentary now makes this treasure, which has been kept secret among the great masters of Tibet for generations, available as a source of blessings and learning for all.”—Tulku Thondup, author of Peaceful Death, Joyful Rebirth

"The Seven-Line Prayer is the most majestic of all prayers to Guru Padmasambhava—the buddha for our time. It has been cherished over the centuries as the most powerful way to invoke his blessings. How wonderful that we have this commentary, one of Mipham Rinpoche's most inspiring works, to elucidate these sacred verses and reveal their profound meaning."—Sogyal Rinpoche, author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

"Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche's Pema Karpo is a beautiful and essential text describing the outer, inner, and secret ways that the wisdom in Vajrayana manifests as Padmasambhava. This new translation will be of great benefit to those traveling on the path of tantra."—The Sakyong, Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche, author of Turning the Mind into an Ally and Ruling Your World

About the Author

Jamgön Mipham (1846–1912), one of the great luminaries of Tibetan Buddhism in modern times, has had a dominant and vitalizing influence on the Nyingma School and beyond. He was an important member of the Rimé, or nonsectarian movement, which did much to strengthen and preserve the entire tradition. A scholar of outstanding brilliance and versatility, his translated works are eagerly anticipated by English-language readers.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (December 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590305116
• ISBN-13: 978-1590305119
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > History > Asia > Tibet

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lonchen Nyngingthig, January 4, 2008

By 

Greg R. Johnson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: White Lotus: An Explanation of the Seven-line Prayer to Guru Padmasambhava (Hardcover)

Anyone working their way through the Longchen Nyngthig Nyngdro could benefit from this book. The seven line prayer is, of course, an essential component of the Guru Yoga practice of this particular nyngdro. This commentary explains the prayer on four different levels, that of skillful means, Secret Mantra, Inner Most Secret and pith instructions.

The introduction also provides a very interesting analysis of how 21st century Westerners can approach the vast number of miracle-stories associated with Guru Rinpoche with out falling into the extremes of naive belief or scientific skepticism.

For those without a background in Tantra, nyngdro practice or who are not familar with the teachings of Guru Rinpoche this book will be quite baffling. Those with some previous reading or who have received teachings on the practice of guru yoga will probably benefit from this slim but thought provoking book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most extraordinary of all Buddhist books..., April 20, 2009

By 

Chris (England) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: White Lotus: An Explanation of the Seven-line Prayer to Guru Padmasambhava (Hardcover)

I've read a lot of texts over the years. This one is among the most remarkable. The 1st Mipam Rnpoche takes as his theme an explanation of the famous Seven Line Prayer to Padmasmbhava, and does so beginning with the literal, plain meaning and then proceeds to elucidate it in terms of the 9 Yanas of the Nyingma/Dzogchen system, all the up through Trekcho and Togyal in breathtakingly clear descriptive language. Finally Mipam's elucidation goes beyond the 9 Yanas, beyond Buddhism, beyond religion and philosophy to the experience itself. To really comprehend what is being said, one should read this short text aloud many times.

The cover of the book is a detail from a thangka painted by the extraordinary polymathic Dzogchen master Gonpo Tseten Rinpoche, which he gave to Thinley Norbu Rinpoche. A photo of the entire painting and a biography of Gonpo Tseten Rinpoche can be found on the Rigpa Wiki site.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars pema karpo, May 6, 2008

By 

light rays (new mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: White Lotus: An Explanation of the Seven-line Prayer to Guru Padmasambhava (Hardcover)

This is a gem of a most extraordinary commentary on the Seven Line Prayer by Mipham. I would strongly encourage reading this if you are a new or long time practitioner. Mipham opens the inner recesses of this powerful prayer many times over for us. This book will be treasured throughtout one's life and beyond.