In-depth explanations of sadhana & yidam practice according to Maha and Ati. The Light of Wisdom is a famous set of teachings covering the entire Buddhist path to enlightenment, especially that of Vajrayana. Based on Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, a spontaneous song by the ninth-century Indian master Padmasambhava.
The Light of Wisdom Vol. II contains the root terma or hidden treasure text of Padmasambhava, The Gradual Path of the Wisdom Essence and its commentary The Light of Wisdom by Jamgon Kongtrul the Great. Annotations on the commentary Entering the Path of Wisdom spoken by Jamyang Drakpa and recorded by Jokyab Rinpoche are included as well as clarifcations from other masters.
Volume II presents in-depth explanations of the Vajrajana Buddhist perspective. It begins with the nature of empowerment and the tantric commitments followed by the two stages of the path, development and completion.
To purify one’s being prior to entering the path of the natural state, one combines the development stage to the preliminaries for the path. To practice the actual natural state after having purified one’s being, the completion stage is the main part of the path.
Jamgon Kongtrul the Great
The root text of Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, a terma revealed by the great treasure-finder Chokgyur Lingpa, and its commentary by Kongtrul Rinpoche, the great translator in person, form together a complete scripture that embodies all the tantras, statements and instructions of the Nyingma School of the early translations, which is most rare to find in the past, present, or future.
Kyabje Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche, February 24, 1991
Let me tell you about the extraordinary scripture the Light of Wisdom. This basic text by Padmasambhava reads like a poetic song. As a guidance manual for practice, it is strikingly clear all by itself. The Light of Wisdom is immense in its scope, including virtually every aspect of the Buddhist path to enlightenment. Old Khyentse described it in these words: “This single volume, the size of my forearm, is worth more than one hundred yak-loads of scriptures.”
Accompanying this root text is an extensive commentary by the great Kongtrul. This document is truly a mind treasure, a revelation in its own right, written in incredible depth and detail—studded with abbreviations that require copious cross-referencing to numerous other scriptures.