No More Learning

he course of the dynastic
accession of Nyat h' T O . Ibet, reckoned from the BC) Lha Th . I senpo In the wood tiger year (247 yea;. oton yentsen was born during the wood dog
From the BuddhaJs Final Nirvana 949
the inanimate vessel, includin and Its ammate contents ev I d h
-
g a Sal forest,
I
hove
n t e 111th year of the decease that of'th .
. , Tsenpo emerged as w'th ars ago, the lord Nyatrhi
00 tIger year 2209 ye
The 881st f
I power over all Tibet.
Buddha's d
year 0 iron monkey 1963
the
ecease, that of the birth of the i . years ago, was the first year prior to the
orelgn teacher, Jesus Christ. 1347 Henceforth [the years] may be easily computed'In sequence:
During his sixtieth year that of the .
Secret fell onto his and th in Tibet for the first
In the iron dragon yea Wh' h t years of the Buddha'srd IC
bI:d, the Awesome e true octnne thus emerged
the passage of 1500
gious king (433), the reli- In the 25th year the f h .
the Rasa at of. the iron ox, he founded
introduced the true d ! ang In Lhasa], et cetera, and
In the 150th year a system writing.
religious king Trhisong D ' that of the Iron horse, the I h etsen was born
n t e 21st year thereafter th f master [Padmasambhav ' at 0
. ' .
the ! fon tIger, the great
assembly of glorious Saa] came Tibet, and the doctrinal mye was lounded.
950
History: A Chronology ofthe Doctrine
827
864
866 892 901 906 929 953
958
978
982 1004 1012
1014 1027
In the 18th year thereafter, that of the fire sheep, the seven trial monks [i. e. the "seven men who were tested"] were ordained as novices, so that the ground for the teaching of the translation, exegesis, and attainment of the true doctrines of the sutras and mantras was established.
In the 38th year thereafter, that of the wood monkey, the great master [Padmasambhava] departed for the island of Camara.
In the 3rd year thereafter, that of the fire dog, the sovereign Trhi Relpacen was born.
In the 27th year thereafter, that of the water mouse, Lacen Gongpa Rapsel was born.
In the 10th year thereafter, that of the iron bird, the teaching was persecuted in Central Tibet and Tsang by Langdarma.
In the 6th year thereafter, that of the fire tiger, Langdarma was "liberated" by Lhalung Pelgi Dorje.
In the 24th year thereafter, that of the earth ox, the kingdom of Tibet disintegrated owing to internal rebellions.
In the 25th year thereafter, that of the water ox, Lacen and the ten men from Central Tibet and Tsang began the later propagation ofthe teaching in Central Tibet from Kham. 1352 In the 6th year thereafter, that of the earth horse" the great translator Rincen Zangpo, the first ofall the new translators, was born.
In the 21 st year thereafter, that of the earth tiger, the learned and accomplished scholar Khyungpo Neljor Tshtiltrim Gonpo was born. 1353
In the 5th year thereafter, that ofthe water horse, the glorious lord Atisa was born.
In the 23rd year thereafter, that of the wood dragon, Drom- tOn Gyelwei Jungne was born.
In the 9th year thereafter, that of the water mouse, the translator Marpa and the treasure-finder Trapa Ngonshe were born.
In the 3rd year thereafter, that of the wood tiger, Zurcungpa was born.
In the 14th year thereafter, that of the fire hare, the Comment- ary on the Kalacakra Tantra, [the Taintless Light,] reached Tibet for the first time. The first sexagenary cycle is counted from this year onwards.
4 From the Beginning ofthe First Sexagenary C'Jcie to the p resent
J
[823. 4-832. 4] Henceforth it will b sexagenary cycle down th
'
e readIly understandable if, in each
we
11 k
e present, the age f j:'
nown and great personag b j:' s 0 a lew of the most
es e set lorth c " d '
on}OIne WIth an aCCOunt
f h
o t e greatest historical changes.
FIRST CYCLE [1027-1087]
When the first cycle be [W gan
ednesday 11 January 1027]: Kh : e great translator, was in his 70th
RincenZangpo th
Nel}or was in his 50th year Lord in his 46th year Dromton was In his 24th year
Marpa was in his 16th year
Trapa Ngonshe was in his 16th year Zurcungpa was in his 14th year
year
[958-1055J [978- ? ] [982-1054] [1004-1063J
[1012-1097] [1012-1090J [1014-1074J
D'
unng first cycle, the tradition d
'
of lord Atlsa and his disciples fi ' from the doctnnallineage
, "Kadampa" after the name of Its adherents were called
r'
P ecepts and Instructions"].
octnne [bka f " ,
fants 0 the g
elr In addition, though the descend
J -
d",
who had been the dl'rect d' '1
h lSClP e 0
t ' master [Padmasambhava]
ad been adherents of th N '
down to Khonrok Sher:p mantras for about ten
nm
y! 'elpo received many doctrinesuf:
Sakya Yeshe and was thu om such new translators as Drokmi
lation schools. He built /0the of the new trans- first cycle) on a slope of Mount 0 Gorum In 1073 (water ox year, the centre. So emerged th t d" gpo, where the earth was white in
then on, the doctrine ItlOn called Sakyapa (Pale Earth) from een named after the location.
transmItted Khon LiiIwangpo Sungwa 1354
rea
g ams,
, none the less, Khon Koncok
952 History: A Chronology oj the lJoctnne
During the same period, the learned and accomplished Khyungpo Neljor introduced to Tibet the golden doctrines of the and the translator Marpa introduced the sources of the Kagyu teachIng.
From the First Sexagenary Cycle 953
SECOND CYCLE [1087-1147]
When the second cycle began [Friday 8 January 1087]:
Macik Lapdron, born iron sheep, was in 57th year
[1031-1126]
Nyibum the scholar, born earth tiger, was in his
50th year
Tsangpa Gyare, 1359 born iron snake, was in his 47th year Sakya PaI). cen, born water tiger, was in his 26th year Taklung Sangye Yarjon, born water pig, was in his 5th year
[1158-1213] [1161-1211] [1182-1251] [1203-1272]
L· . Kesar 1355 born earth tiger, was in hIS 50th year [1038-1124] IngJe , . h'48h
[1040-1123] [1059-1109]
[1074-1135] 53]
[1079-11
After the kingdom of Tibet had disintegrated in the aforementioned year 929 (earth ox), the government was partially preserved in Ngari by minor descendants of the royal family. After remaining thus for 311 years, the army of Dorta the Black arrived in Tibet from China in 1240
(iron mouse year, fourth cycle), and Tibet, the Land of Snows, was brought under China. 1360
From 1253 (water ox year, fourth cycle), the great lamas of the Sakyapa school held power over all three provinces of Tibet. 1361
able Milarepa, born iron dragon, was In IS t year 1356 . h' 29h
V
Ngok Lotsawa, born earth pig,
Dropukpa, lord of secrets, born wood tiger, was In hIS
ener
was In IS t .
14th year
Takpo Dao Zhonu, born earth sheep, was in his 9th year
[During this cycle] the Kagyu tradition gradually four great and eight minor subsects, derived from Takpo's dIscIples, ing the "three men from Kham" , and these were propagated extensIvely.
THIRD CYCLE [1147-1207]
When the third cycle began [Saturday 4 January 1147]:
Ca Dtildzin Chenpo, born iron sheep, was in his That same year [1091] Phadampa Sangye went to Sacen Kunga Nyingpo, born water monkey, was In hIS
56thyear . .
Phakmotrupa, born iron tiger, was In hIS 38th year. Karmapa Tusum Khyenpa, born iron tiger, was In hIS
38th year . . Katok Tampa Deshek, born water tiger, was In hIS
26th year . . Zhang Tarmatra, born water tiger, was In hIS
26th year
Lingje Repa Perna Dorje,1357 born earth monkey,
was in his 20th year . . Ngadak Nyang-rel,1358 born iron dragon, was In hIS
12th year
Jetsun Sonam Tsemo of Sakya, born water dog,
was in his 6th year . . Pel Taklung Thangpa, born water dog, was In hIS
6th year .
Drigung Kyopa, born water pig, was in hIS 5th year
FIFTH CYCLE [1267-1327]
When the fifth cycle began [Thursday 27 January 1267]:
Guru Chowang, born water monkey, was in his 56th year Orgyenpa, the great accomplished master, born iron
tiger, was in his 38th year
Chogyel Phakpa, the lord of living creatures, born wood sheep, was in his 33rd year
Melong Dorje, the great accomplished master, born wood hare, was in his 25th year
Como Menmo, born earth monkey, was in her 20th year Rikdzin Kumaradza, born fire tiger, was in his 2nd year
SIXTH CYCLE [1327-1387]
When the sixth cycle began [Saturday 24 January 1327]:
Karmapa Rangjung Dorje, born wood monkey, was in his 44th year
YungtOn Dorjepel, born wood monkey, was in his 44th year
PutOn, the all-knowing, born iron tiger, was in his 38th year
Conang Ktinzi Tolpopa, born water dragon, was in his 36th year
.
[1091-1166]
[1092-1158] [1110-1170]
[1110-1193]
[1122-1192]
[1122-1193]
[1128-1188]
[1136-1204]
[1142-1182]
[1142-1210] [1143-1217]
[1212-1270] [1230-1309] [1235-1280]
[1243-1303] [1248-1283] [1266-1343]
[1284-1339] [1284-1365]
[1290-1364] [1292-1361J
FOURTH CYCLE [1207-1267]
When the fourth cycle began [Tuesday 30 January 1207]:
954 History: A Chronology ofthe Doctrine
Longcen Rapjampa, the all-knowing, born earth monkey, was in his 20th year

From the First S
From 1349 (earth ox year, sixth cycle), Ta'i Situ Cangcup Gyeltsen of Phakmotru held power over Tibet and Kham. 1362
SEVENTH CYCLE [1387-1447]
When the seventh cycle began [Monday 21 January 1387]: Sangye Lingpa, the great treasure-finder, born iron
Korampa, the doctrin
his 19th year e master, born earth bird, was in
Chokyong Zangpo h
iron bird, was of Zhalu, born
NINTH CYCLE [1507-1567]
When the ninth cycle be an
o g [Thursday 14 January 1507]'
[142
8-1507] [1429-1489]
[1441-1538]
dragon, was in his 48th year
Dorje Lingpa, born fire dog, was in his 42nd year Jamgon Lozang Trakpa, born fire bird, was in his 31st year Podong Ktinkyen Jikdrel, born wood hare, was in his
13th year
Karmapa V, Tezhinshekpa, born wood mouse, was in
his 4th year
Thangtong Gyelpo,1363 the great accomplished master,
born wood ox, was in his 3rd year
[1340-1396] [1346-1405] [1357-1419]
[1375-1451] [1384-1415] [1385-1509]
Pema Lmgpa th
. , e great treasur -fi d
.
From 1435 (wood hare year, seventh cycle), Tibet and Kham were governed by the Rinpungpa administration. 1364
The venerable Tsongkapa [Jamgon Lozang Trakpa] vastly increased the enlightened activities of exegesis and attainment, combining the Kadampa textual tradition with the tantras of the way of the mantra according to the new translations. In 1409 (earth ox year, seventh cycle), he founded the doctrinal centre of Drok Riwo Ganden, whence origin- ated the tradition known as the Geluk, the doctrinal lineage of which [Gandenpa] was named after its seat.
EIGHTH CYCLE [1447-1507]
When the eighth cycle began [Tuesday 17 January 1447], the astrological treatise entitled the Oral Transmission ofPU'fJq,anka (skar-rtsis-kyi bstan- bcos pad-dkar zhal-lung) was composed by those renowned as the "Three Gyamtsos" . 1365
b
a al ama II] the
orn fire monkey was 0 h 0 ' great pa1)<;iita,
Gendtin Trupa [Dalai Lama I], the great paIf9ita, born iron sheep, was in his 57th year
Golo Zhonupel, born water monkey, was in his 56th year Ratna Lingpa, the great treasure-finder, born water
sheep, was in his 45th year
Karmapa VI, Thongwa Tonden, born fire monkey, was
in his 32nd year
gye, born water monkey o er, t e great treasu -fi d
. , was m
? ]
[1308-1363]
,
great pandna b
orn eart
monkey,
[1391-1474] [1392-1481]
[1403-1478] [1416-1453]
year Sherap Oz h
p Was m his 51st year
ema the all-knowin Was m his 4Ist year
re m er, born fire ox, g Drukpa, born fire pig,
. )akya Chokden
was in his 20th year 0 0 ,
exagenary Cycle 955
h
the
0
was m his 58th year e mer, born Iron horse,
Sangye Tshencen, the madman of
monkey, was in his 56th Tsang, born water K" year
nra 1et, IS 50th year
unga Lekpa, the Druk a m in his 53rd year P
[1450-1521] [1452-1507] [1455-1529]
[1458- ? J [1476-1542] [1504-1566]
Kunga Zangpo 1366 th d ,e
born earth tiger wa Gendiin Gyamtso ['D I s omL
h
0
adman, born wood pig, ma manofCe t 1TOb
0
II, Tsuklak year
hIS 4th year orn wood dog, was in
Karmapa VIII Mikyo D 0
, orJe was born 0 h' fi
o f t h e c y c l e ] ' m t I S I r e h a r e Jetsun Kunga Drolcok was also born in th' fi h
[1507-1554] [1507-1566]
From 1565 (wood ox year 0 h Tibet and Kham. 1368 ,nmt
TENTH CYCLE [1567-1627]
When the tenth cycle be an
LOdro G g [Saturday 11 January 1567J :
yamtso, the physician dragon, was in his 60th year 0
f Z
k
ur ar, born earth
Gampopa Trashi Nam
1
[1508- [1512-1587]
[15 I 7-1584] [1527-1592] [1552-1624? ]
his 56th
Sodokpa Lodro Gyeltsen b
his 16th year ' orn water mouse, was in
0
IS Ire
cycle), the Tsangpa governors ruled
are year
956 History: A Chronology ofthe Doctrine
K IX W angcuk Dorje, born wood was in armapa ,
his 14th year
From the First Sexagenary Cycle 957
ELEVENTH CYCLE [1627-1687]
When the eleventh cycle began [Monday 18 January 1627]:
[1654-1717] [1676-1702] [1680-1728]
Jetstin Taranatha, born wood pI. g, was in his 53. rdhy. ear Rikdzin Jatson Nyingpo, born wood bird, was m IS
43rd year 1 1369 born wood Lhodruk Zhapdrung Ngawang Namgye ,
horse was in his 34th year . . Lhatsii; Namka Jikme, born fire bird, was m hiS 31st
[1575-1634] [1585-1656]
[1594-1651] [1597-1650] [1598-1669] [1599-1633] [1605-1674] [1611-1662]
In 1717 (fire bird year, twelfth cycle) the Dzungar army severely per- secuted the Nyingmapa teaching and monasteries. 1371
THIRTEENTH CYCLE [1747-1807J
When the thirteenth cycle began [Friday 10 February 1747]:
year . b thdogwasin
Sungtrtil III, Tshiiltrim Dorle, his 30th year
orn e a r , . .
h. IS
Rikdzin Tshewang Norbu, born earth tiger, was in his 50th year
Situ Choki Jungne, born iron dragon, was in his 48th year Dalai Lama VII, Kelzang Gyamtso, the supreme
conqueror, born earth mouse, was in his 40th year
Rikdzin Jikme Lingpa, born earth bird, was in his 19th year
Karmapa XIII, DiidUl Dorje, born water ox, was in his 15th year
Dodrup Jikme Trhinle Ozer, born wood ox, was in his 3rd year
FOURTEENTH CYCLE [1807-1867]
Gampopa Norbu Gyenpa, born earth pIg, was m 29th year
,
[1698-1755J [1700-1774]
[1708-1757] [1730-1798] [1733-1797]
[1745-1821]
. Karmapa X, Choying Dorje, born wood snake, was III
his 23rd year
Sangdak Trhinle Lhtindrup, born iron pIg, was III
h. IS
17th year fi d Dtidtil Dorje, the great treasure- Iller,
was in his 13th year
b wood hare orn
, [1615-1672] [1617-1682]
Dalai Lama V, Lozang Gyamtso, born fire snake, was in his 11th year
h i ) the Mongolian army inflicted In 1641 (iron snake e , 1 domains of the Karmapa-
great damage on the spIrItual an tempora 1370
TWELFTH CYCLE [1687-1747]
When the twelfth cycle began [Thursday 13 February 1687]:
Tsangpa government.
From 1642 (water horse year,
) the Ganden Palace held dominion over the whole of Tibet and Kham.
When the fourteenth cycle began [Sunday 8 February 1807J:
Choling Karwang Chime Dorje, born water sheep, was
in his 45th year [1763- ? ]
Gampopa Orgyen Drodiil Lingpa [born 1757] and Rikdzin Dorje
Thokme [1746-1797] were both his contemporaries. These are re-
nowned as the "three emanational awareness-holders who opened the secret land of Pemako as a place of pilgrimage". 1372
. Cangdak Perna Trhmle,
b . orn Iron
nake wasinhis s,
[1641-1717] '[1641- ? ] [1646-1714]
Gyelse Zhenpen Thaye of Dzokcen, 1373 born iron monkey, was in his 8th year
Dalai Lama IX, Lungtok Gyamtso, the supreme conqueror, born wood ox, was in his 3rd year
47th year
Peling Thukse Tendzin Gyurme Done,
[1800- ? ]
[1805-1815]
. wasinhis47thyear fM· d . T g
Gyurme Dorje, the great treasure-finder 0 III fO born fire dog, was in his 42nd year
I l l ,
. .
b orn
iron snake
[1554-1603]
Locen DharmasrI, born wood horse, was in his 34th
year
Karmapa XI, Yeshe Dorje, born fire dragon, was in his
12th year
Khamtriil III, Ngawang Kiinga Tendzin, born iron
monkey, was in his 8th year
In 1855 (wood hare year, fourteenth cycle) the Gurkha army attacked
Tibet. 1374
958 History: A Chronology ofthe Doctrine
FIFTEENTH CYCLE [1867-1927]
When the fifteenth cycle began
Ch"k W ngpo born earth
Peltriil Orgyen Jikme 0 1 a ,
in his 60th year , h' 1375 b water bird was m 1S
In 1939 (earth hare year, sixteenth cycle), the Second World War began, In 1950 (iron tiger year), the turmoil of the Chinese Communist
hostility in Tibet began.
SEVENTEENTH CYCLE [1987-2047]
When the twenty-four years from the next one, 1963 (mdzes-byed, water
hare), through to 1986 (zad-pa, fire tiger) have passed,1378 the seven- teenth cycle [1987-2047] will start. At that time:
Ktinzang Wangyel, the ancestral throne-holder of Mindroling, born in the iron sheep year (1931) will be in his 57th year.
Dalai Lama XIV, Tendzin Gyamtso, the supreme conqueror Padmapa1)i, the crown jewel of us all, born in the wood pig year (1935), will be in his 53rd year.
Ktinga Trhinle Wangyel, the lord and throne-holder ofthe DrolmaPalace of Sakya, born in the wood bird year (1945), will be in his 43rd year.
I pray that the lotus feet of those great individuals survive for an ocean of aeons, and that their great enlightened activities on behalf of the teaching and living creatures be everlasting, all-pervasive, and spontane- ouslyaccomplished!
There are all kinds of disagreements regarding the year-signs and ele- ments from the time when Nyatrhi Tsenpo emerged as the lord ofTibet until the later propagation of the teaching, owing to erroneous records in some of the past doctrinal histories and chronologies of the teaching, or negligence which allowed for discrepancies in temporal sequence, or whatever other reasons. Here, counting from the year ofthe Buddha's decease and checking against the original sources for Tibetan royal genealogy and doctrinal history, I have set down the exact determination which has thus been obtained.
Although, in general, there have been many changes in the political life ofTibet during the past, as far as the doctrine is concerned, the veracity of the Teacher's own prophetic declaration that his teaching would increas- ingly spread northwards has been actualised, Due to the merits ofthose to be trained in Tibet, and by the power of the timely penetration of [the world by] the Conquerors' compassion, individuals who have held the teaching and have shown mastery in inconceivable careers oflearning, dignity and accomplishment, have successively appeared from the time of the teach- ing's inception in the past down to the present day. Because they preserved the most precious teaching and continue to preserve it, the continuity of the doctrine in Tibet has never been impaired, Therefore, there is no reason for errors to have crept into these enumerations of years past.
dragon, was Jamgon Lodro Thaye,
[1808-1887] [1813-1899] [1820-1892]
[1829-1870] [1835-1904]
[1846-1912] [1853-1919] [1856-1926]
[1871-1922]
' d 'n Tibet
,
was a conflict between Bntam
55th year Jamyang Khyentse
W
orn '
born iron dragon, was in
his 48th year, Chogyur Decen Lmgpa,
earth ox, was in his
39th year
,,' L' Du)om mgpa,
fi d the great treasure- mer,
born wood
15th year '
born fire was born four years
Lerap Lmgpa,
fi d the great treasure- m er,
'n his 12th year dragon, was 1 D '
Karmapa XV, Khakyap ,of)e, after the inception of th1s cycle
, '
cle) the BnHsh arnve 1
angpo, b
orn
sheep, was in his 33rd yearborn fire horse, was in his Mipham Namgyel Gyamtso,
22nd year ' his Trupwang Sakyasrl, born water ox, was 1n
[T d ues ay
5 February 1867]:
h
T'b ' d 1377 and 1 et, ) h Chinese army 1nvade '
In 1910 (iron do,g year,)t e F' st World War began. In 1914 (wood Hger year, the 1r
SIXTEENTH CYCLE [1927-1987]
When the sixteenth cycle began [Friday 4 March 1927]:
"11 u V Thupten Choki Dorje, born water Dzokcen Tru <:: ,
monkey, was in his 56th the supreme
Dalai Lama XIII, Thupten Y " h ' 52nd year b fi mousewasm1S
conqueror, 1re b' n iron dragon, would
888 (earth mouse year, In1 ,1376
for the first Hme,
fif
1 teent
cy In 1904 (wood dragon year , t ere
''
Katok Situ Chok1 Gyamtso,
or
[1872-1935] [1876-1933] [1880-1925]
) h
have been in 48th year
45th year " D ' born wood mouse, was in [1924-1981]
Karmapa XVI, Rlkpel of)e, his 4th year
t Pa1). cen Choki NY1ma, born wa er
sheep was in his ,
[1883-1937]
From the First Sexagenary Cycle 959
5 Some Prophecies
[833. 5-835. 4] In the future, when four hundred and sixty-three years
have passed counting from the present one, 1962 (water tiger), then at
the beginning of the wood male monkey year (2424/5) Rudrakulika,
the "Iron Cakravartin" will invade our realm from Shambhala with his
"
emanational armies and destroy all traces of the barbarian forces, none excepted. 1379 Then the krtayuga of the next four ages will begin. 1380
Now there are predictions concerning the duration of the secret mantra traditions of the vehicle of indestructible reality in general, and of the teaching of the Great Perfection with its secret transmitted precepts in particular. In general, it is said that the time for teaching through buddha-body begins when [sentient beings] have an infinite life-span and lasts until the life-span is one thousand years; the time for teaching through buddha-speech lasts from then until the life-span is seventy years; and the time for teaching through buddha-mind lasts from then until there is a ten-year life-span. But that is a general statement. As for the duration of the actual teaching [of the Great Perfection] in particular, it is said that the teaching through buddha- body lasts for fifteen thousand periods of five hundred years, and the teachings through buddha-speech and mind for one thousand periods of five hundred years each. 1381
Concerning the holders of this illuminating doctrine [of the Great Perfection] during this present late age, it says in the Root Tantra of the Penetration of Sound (sgra thal-'gyur rtsa-ba'i rgyud, NGB Vol. 10):
After I have passed into nirva1). a,
In the western land of O<;l<;liyana,
The divine lady of Dhanakosa
Will bear a fatherless son, Vajra-He, Who will uphold the genuine teaching.
Beginning thus with Garap Dorje, the last ofthese successive prophecies reads as follows:
Rudrakulika
Then, the <;lakinI SrIdhara
Will maintain this teaching and propagate it
During the age when life lasts ten years.
Thereafter it will not endure, but subside whence it arose.
. 1US! age when life lasts only ten years the disciples of thIs [Snd. hara] WIll have reached perfection and, with the harvest of her teachmg, will gradually fly off to the Beauteously Arrayed realm the realm of Vast Conduct, and the realm of the Melodious Crown' When the teaching has also been brought to perfection seven times each of. those realms, then the world system or field of the emanational
sItuated in front ofthe heart orb of[Vairocana] the Great Lake, WIll be emptied, and the deeds of the great Vajradhara have completed one cycle. 1382 Thereafter, in the world system ,:hlch follows: t? e doctrine will remain without increase or decline for hundred bIlhon aeons. In such ways, it is said, enlightened activity
IS mcessant, lasting just as long as does space. Indeed, its manner is not to that of a sky which is without creation and cessation despIte the presence of clouds, which are created and cease.
Some Prophecies 961
962 History: A Chronology ofthe Doctrine
This provisionally ends my exegesis which comprises a brief examina- tion of the various chronological determinations associated with the descent of the vehicles and so forth, and a statement of the teaching's duration, [the eighth part of this book], Thunder from the Great Conquer- ing Battle-Drum ofDevendra, which is a history of the precious teaching of the vehicle of indestructible reality according to the Ancient Trans- lation School.
Closing Statements
1 Primary Sources
[835. 6-837. 1] The sources for what is expounded herein have been well-gathered from reliable documents including most of the histories of the Transmitted Precepts of the Nyingmapa (rnying-ma bka'-ma) in general and, in particular, the following:
(i) The all-knowing Longcenpa's Great Lecture on the History of the Innermost Spirituality, Mother and Son (snying-thig ma-bu'i lo-rgyus gtong- thun chen-mo). .
(ii) Locen DharmasrI's Lamp which Illuminates the Essence of Tantra, Transmission, and Esoteric Instruction: a General Exposition ofthe Empow- erment of the Sutra which Gathers All Intentions Cdus-pa mdo'i dbang-gi spyi-don rgyud-lung man-ngag-gi gnad sel-byed sgron-me).
(iii) Yakde Dtildzin Khyenrap Gyamtso's Answers to Queries on Doc- trinal History, a Storehouse of Gems (chos-'byung dris-lan nor-bu'i bang- mdzod).
(iv) Khecok Ngawang Lodro's Origin of the Doctrines of the Ancient Translation School) a Scholar's Delight (snga-'gyur chos-kyi byung-khungs mkhas-pa dga'-byed).
(v) The chapter on the Nyingmapa found in Golo Zhonupel's Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po).
(vi) The chapter on the Nyingmapa found in Pawo Tsuklak Trhengwa's Scholar's Feast ofDoctrinal History (chos-'byung mkhas-pa'i dga'-ston).
(vii) The all-knowing Drukpa Perna Karpo's Doctrinal History which is Sunlight Extending the Teaching (chos-'byung bstan-pa rgyas-pa'i nyin- byed).
(viii) Jetstin Taranatha's Life of Orgyen with Three Reasons for Con- fidence (o-rgyan rnam-thar yid-ches gsum-Idan).
(ix) The all-knowing Jikme Lingpa's Narrative History ofthe Precious Collected Tantras ofthe Ancient Translation School, the Ornament Covering All Jambudvrpa (rnying-rgyud dkar-chag 'dzam-gling tha-grur khyab-pa'i rgyan).
966 History. ' ostng ,
kd 's Catalogue of t e TshewangCho rup , (d-
CI ' Statements h
(x) Katok Pal). <:\lta Gyurme
bZ' g a Great Divtne Drum rgyu Discourse Resem tn
Collected Tantras, a, I -bu'i gtam), ,
'bum dkar-chag Iha't if the Hundred Treasure-ftnders" a
2 Concluding Benedictions
(xi) Jamgon Lodro brgya-rtsa'i rnam-thar nn- Of Precwus
Beauteous R osary 'J , chen bai-durya'i phreng-mdzes), , 1 quence of Mipham Namgyel (l. e,
, f the oceanlC e 0 (xii) Excerpts rom
from his Collected Works). 'dered in detail are: h' h I have also conSl
Among other works w lC ' R ' d (gsan-yig chen-mo) of rd . f Teachtngs ecetve
,,') The Great Reco 0)
Great (gsan-yig) of (Gyurme Dorje),
[837. 1-845. 4] Totally unadulterated by rough conjectures, egotistical fancies, and other stains of exaggeration and depreciation, I have long abandoned the base-mindedness of such impure motivations as the desire to seem learned, or to achieve fame. Nowadays, owing to the exigencies of place and time, it is difficult to obtain the texts of all the doctrinal histories of the past, and even the accounts [of events] up to the present day have not been clearly compiled. Therefore, I have been motivated only by the hope that this may benefit those seekers who follow the doctrine, without its vanishing like the tracks of a bird in the sky, as well as by the higher aspiration embodied in the thought that there would be no harm if, during this final age, just an account of the origins of the most secret teaching were to be preserved in writing so as to remain on earth. So, I have written this book during my sojourn in the southern land of India, following my expulsion as a refugee from the Land of Snows to the north. Composed with great endeavour and sincere mind, it boasts of purity, conciseness, and clarity. Hence, it merits the confidence of all.
Again, may it be said:1383
Praised as the summit of the Conqueror's whole doctrinal store, appearing with difficulty in this world, but famed in an ocean of world systems,
The jewel-like teaching of the definitively secret supreme vehicle is so wondrously and perfectly illuminated that it vies with the udumbara.
Covered over with numberless attributes as stems and leaves, it is entwined by millions ofvines ofmaturation and liberation, and is laden with the two accomplishments' fine fruits.
To sustain those to be trained, the cool land obtained a pleasure garden of marvellous, holy wish-granting trees.
(xiv) The Record 0 of Mindroling.
the precious, . great treas Norbu's Definitive Order of the C
hronology
(xv) of the Teachtng (bstan-rtsts ky
i rnam-bzhag).
E MA! What abundant, meritorious fortune!
968 History: Closing Statements
After the heavenly stream
of the most secret awareness-holders'
Had curled up in the locks
of the three ancestral lineages,1384
It was conducted to the Land of Snows,
to become good fortune's nectar stream,
By a hundred aspiration-born labours
of the preceptor, master, and religious king.
Who would surpass the kindness, which extends to the very horizon, Of the promulgators who've revealed
the sun of the supreme doctrine,
Blazing with accomplishment's thousand rays,
born of the true lineage, Disclosed on the wondrous highway
of exegesis and attainment?
It is said that all those who have good fortune
and so have enjoyed
The essential elixir-like savour
of esoteric instruction,
That is brewed with the yeast of the lineage
whose intention is directly perceived, Become drunk with experience and realisation,
and delight in supreme transformation's dance. 1385
The teachings of the Ancient Translation School are not just empty expressions,
Broadcast by the prattle of fools,
who think only their fathers' bowls clean. 1386
They are excellent and complete, undeluded essentials of the sutra and mantra paths,
Taught by those who've appeared in the wake
of millions of learned and accomplished masters.
Water-lilies blemished
by dark ignorance fold themselves up
In that garden, when they are struck by the necklace of illumination;
But from the reservoir of the three faiths,
Certainty's white lotus has blossomed.
of the ear which receives Even part of the nectar
Behold the good fortune
Concluding Benedictions 969
of this discours
A n d ' e on
d .
octnnal history
so IS embraced b attributes of excelley one
Th' . nee. IS IS a priceless item
h
' undred thousand
not subject to
Now that this unbearable storm the age's depredation
Has dnven the craft of th C '
right to t h e ' l . e onqueror's teaching
. pen ous bnnk, As unknowledgeable captain
! ve dO. ne what I have here, a hIgh aspiration to promote
skIlful means' artistry.
Though in the cool land
the heavenly Sage's teaching
Has been beautified b . .
learned and accomJ· a constellations,
Still, to raise the h . IShe III the ancient translations onzons '
of this most degenerate age
A star remains wishing to speak:
Though she be no wondrous beauty figure of literary form, '
seductress, brimming
WIth fine meaning's youthful vi our
May well steal the thoughts g , of lucid young scholars
When flashes the smile of deceItless utterance.
This way is a seeing eye for those with devotion
An ornament for the
of the learned and hoIY
And,forthosewh hId'
it' h 0 0 the true lineage
. IS t e nectar of my heart I it may well be
a wIsh-fulfilling gem.
'
Thou. gh the burden of many years weIghs on this physical frame,
.
970
History: Closing Statements
The youthful power of intelligence remains undiminished.
So now it is my heartfelt desire
to play at skilful teaching and composition
In that pleasure grove
in which supreme doctrine appears.
The wish-fulfilling gem of the supreme vehicle's definitively secret tradition
Was well sought with a hundred efforts by the host of our forebearers.
Now the burden falls to us followers to worship it as the pinnacle
Of the banner of exegesis and attainment.
Of this I pray you be knowing!
The good that has come from this little endeavour is like the Manasarovar Lake: 1387 May limitless merits arise from its depths as masses ofclouds and fill the entire extent of the celestial expanse of reality!
Let there be brought down a wondrous, plentiful rain of temporal and spiritual well-being, to moisten the hard soil of the world's depredations and give rise to a heavenly, medicinal grove of perfect glory and wealth.
There, may the joyful perfume ofthe dense groves ofpure white-anthered, pollen-drenched lotuses of holiness, which float on the authentic view's lotus pools, waft in a hundred directions.
So that, nurtured by the sunlight of the Three Precious Jewels, the re-emergence ofworldly auspices and those of peace, like heavy golden corn, might sustain the krtayuga's feast.
By wielding the vajra of threefold reason1388 as their great weapon, the lords among divine promulgators, the proponents ofthe taintless tradition ofthe Guide, Supreme Sage, Man-lion,
Have at once crushed the brains ofbarbarians, who harbour perverse notions, wrong views; with the staffofthe view that is free from extremes, they have vanquished flower- arrowed Kama with his army,
And beat the drum of profoundly significant doctrine. May all ofthe many creatures who grope in the great darkness of thick ignorant slumber be wakened!
J . Concluding Benedictions 971 ust heanng the divine melody ofthe th
and having abandoned that dl under ofscripture,
th· f en essstate mayth b· eJOY0 greatintelligence d. . ' . ey0 tam
May this transformation of the ex
oceanic doctrinal tradition'
from the lute of my throat s:n. gms mto :vritten form,
reality's tune
Not decline until that . e drum1389 resounds I·tnlmth. w
' hlch plays mdestructible
,
ISCernmg reality.
.
of the most secret
.
e1n the FIfth Guide's doctrinal
h
ISrea mtorem 1··
afflictions; but may the glor of. ImItless beings'
blaze everlastingly and 11 y enlIghtened activity A d a -pervasIvely
n may the golden wheel ofthe . . .
whose celestial axis consists nucleus - spontaneously present th h h vISIOnary appearances,
vehicles wh h roug t e effortless king of , ose t ousand resplend k
unelaborate primordial. ent spo es are
is the conduct of tran whose all-embracing rim
Ascend through th 1. scen ental perfections - e s <Ies above the fo .
Sage's teaching 1390 h . ur contments of the and fine within'the :t that IS blissful
Mount Meru!
p es become lIke unwavering
3 Colophon
escn ewhosetdownth '. .
a logician and teacher ofm t e [ongmal. copy was Chodrak Gyamtso
Thus this work called Thunder from the Great Conquering Battle-Drum ofDevendra gives clear and lucid expression to the history ofthe precious teaching of the vehicle of indestructible reality according to the Ancient Translation School, the first of all of the teachings of the Conqueror in the Land of Snows.
It was composed by Sakyamuni's lay disciple, the holder of gnostic mantras Jikdrel Yeshe Dorje Gelek Nampar Gyelweide (Fearless In- destructible Reality of Pristine Cognition, the Victorious Army of All that is Good), or, to use my name as a grammarian, Tshojung Gyepei Langtso Tsuklak Mawei Nyima (Joyous Youth ofthe Lake-born Lotus, the Sun amongst Proponents of Scripture), though my countrymen in the village lanes universally know me as Dujom Trtilku. I was conceived in the taintless family line descended from the religious king ofKanam, the lord of the realm of Puworong, who became so known because Catri Tsenpo, a deity of the Radiant Heaven, had taken possession of that land;1391 but my umbilical cord was cut in the secret land of Pemako. The sunlight of [Padmasambhava] the great master of O<;i<;iiyana's compassion having penetrated my heart, I may boast that the lotus of my intellect did blossom a little.
After being greeted by the onset of my fifty-eighth year, I began this work on Saturday 19 May 1962 (full moon day, Caitra, dge-byed water male tiger year, sixteenth cycle),1392 which has the good fortune of being the anniversary of the original reception of [the J<alacakra Tantra] , that king of Non-Dual tantras and nectar of secret injunctions. It was entirely completed on the most powerful tenth day of the waxing half of the monkey month [i. e. the anniversary of Guru Rinpoche's birth, which in 1962 fell on Thursday 12 JUly],1393 sustained by that season in which mobile and motionless creatures enjoy the summer's perfect feast and fruits swell with sap, in the city of Ratnapurl, Sahor, India, a supreme 10cation. 1394 It was there that Padmasambhava, as Dewa- chenpo, the embodiment of great bliss, had conferred maturation on
d.
an cIrcUmstances' and m . b . y, m a places, times
su. stained all be the basIs for all living beings to be blIss and goodness! y the fine feast of perfect auspices,
May the great tradition of the preceptor I the master and the religious king ,
ncrease until it pervades
A the three spheres of]ambudvlpaf
the three times there be
King in the maJ). Qala of the glorious Ocean of Doctrine, the
Gathering of Transmitted P Colophon 973 d recepts compl t . h .
an played out the apparitional dramae e ,as mal). <;iala clusters,
Great Seal, so as to embrace 11 f of pnstme cognition or the Th'b a 0 space '
fM" 1395 o on,
anras romShmgl t 1 h ' whowellaccomplishedth' ? se:t esoutherndistrict
and diligence. IS task WIth hIS offering of devotion
M h'
ay t IS cause the precious teachin
and the taintless tradition f ' g of the Conqueror in general
d . 0 Its most secret sprea WIthout decline and t .
l'
,
Th
e VIrtue and goodness wh b
. d ere y
,0
nuc eus m particular to surVIve perpetuall . 11 '
e mm s of creatures are never without
the appearance of the Three Precious Jewels!
]ayantu/ May they be victorious!
M a w o c o k i n e a s t r e s i d e n c e o f N y a n g - r e l N y i m a O z e r
Sinmo Parje Rock) a treasure site of Nyang-rel Nyima Ozer
The Guru Temple in Layak, west Lhodrak,Jounded by
Lhalung, residence of the Peling Sungtriil
The Nyingma School o/Tibetan Buddhism Section Two: Reference Material
The Nyingma School ofTibetan Buddhism Its Fundamentals and History
Volume Two: Reference Material
Gyurme Dorje and Matthew Kapstein
WISDOM PUBLICA TIONS Boston
First Edition 1991
WISDOM PUBLICA TIONS
361 Newbury Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
I if Tibetan Buddhism, Volume Two The Nyingma Schoo d Matthew Kapstein 1991
Text © Gyurme an d Michael Farmer 1991 Maps © Gyurme DOfJe an
Introduction vii
Guide to Pronunciation xi Abbreviations for Section Two xv
NOTES
Fundamentals 3 2 History 27
GLOSSARY OF ENUMERATIONS Introduction 103
Glossary of Enumerations 105
BIBLIOGRAPHY Introduction 191
Part One: Works Cited by the Author Works Cited by the Author 199
Part Two: Works Referred to by the Translators 1 Indic Texts 293
2 Tibetan Texts 297
3 Secondary Literature 301
4 Addenda to the Bibliography 316
ARTIFACTS AND MATERIAL TREASURES Introduction 320
Artifacts and Material Treasures 321 INDEX OF TECHNICAL TERMS
Introduction 331
Index of Technical Terms 333
Library ofCongress Catalogt. ng-t. n-Publication Data , . -' s-rdo-rje, 1904--87.
Bdud-'joms Jlgs-? ral-ye se ' English]
[B Pa'l rnam-gzhag. .
stan- . h I fTibetan BuddhIsm: The Nymgma Sc tory/Dudjom Rinpoche:
Its Fundamentals. by Dorje translated and hew Kapstein.
in collaboration with Matt Ad
d Book Blue Series)
p. cm. -(Wisdom ,. vance h 'and 'Chos-byung. . of' Bstan-pa 1 rnam-gz ag .
. ' h' I eferenees and mdex. Includes blbhograp lea r
ISBN 0-86171-087-8 T I II. Series. III. Series:
1. Riiin-ma-pa (Sect) I. , It e. . 1904--87. 'Chos-byung.
Bdud-,. Joms 'Jigs-bral-ye-ses-rdo-fJe, English.
BQ7662. 2. B3913 1990 89-4053
294. 3'923-dc20
eIP
. h b Character GraphI·CS of Somerset, England; and Bothwm PromotIon
.
Text set in Plantm t y . Ltd of Hong Kong.
Contents
vi Contents
INDEX OF PERSONAL NAMES
Introduction 391
Index of Personal Names 393
INDEX OF LOCA TIONS
Introduction 453
Index of Locations 455
MAPS
Introduction 489
1 Buddhist India and Adjacent ReglO
2 North-Central India 492
3 Tibet 494 496 4 Western Tibet and Nepal
5 North-Central Tibet 498
6 South-Central Tibet and Bhutan 500
7 North-West Kham 502
8 South-West Kham 506
9 Amdo 508
10 North-East Kham 510 11 South-EastKham 512
Introduction
. ns 490
This book contains a variety of reference material compiled to assist the reader in understanding the many unexplained references, allusions and enumerations found in the treatises in Volume One, and thus to give access to the vast wealth of information which these contain. The need for such a volume emerged during our discussions of technical problems with His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche and with the other scholars mentioned in the Preface, who then encouraged its compilation. It consists of eight parts: Notes, Glossary of Enumerations, Biblio- graphy, Artifacts and Material Treasures, Index of Technical Terms, Index of Personal Names, Index of Locations and Maps.
The Notes supply brief glosses on occasional obscure points, and direct the reader either to relevant explanatory passages found in the present texts themselves, or to significant discussions found in other works. Since they are not exclusively for the use of experts in Tibetan studies, we have sought to emphasise authoritative western language works. Where reference is made to primary sources of Tibetan or Sanskrit origin, the titles of these texts are untranslated unless they have already appeared in translation in Volume One, in which case this translated title is retained. Points of interest mainly to specialists will be our notes on the use of unusual terminology, the problems of dating, citations from Sanskrit or Tibetan sources, and so forth.
Enumerated categories appear in the Glossary of Enumerations. This lists in numerical order categories such as the "two truths", "four rites", "twenty-five great pilgrimage places of Kham and Amdo", and so forth, detailing the specific elements of each - many of which have never before been defined in western works on Buddhism - using information derived from the Mahavyutpatti and other multilingual Buddhist glossaries.
The Bibliography is divided into two parts. The many Indian and Tibetan texts and teaching cycles mentioned by the Author have been researched and documented in Part One. The complexity of categorising much of this literature and the associated problems entailed in identify-
viii Introduction
ing specific texts within such categories are explained in the to the Bibliography. The accurate identification of texts mentIoned In Tibetan historical and doctrinal literature is a necessary step towards acquiring an understanding of Tibetan literary history, and we hope our research will contribute to this little explored field. The second part of the Bibliography details the specific editions of Indian and Tibetan texts to which we have referred in locating quotations found in Volume One. It also lists Indian, Tibetan and secondary language sources consulted for the purpose of annotation.
The list of Artifacts and Material Treasures serves as an index to the many sacred objects mentioned in the text - images, paintings, gemstones, ritual implements, and so forth - and complements the series of treasure doctrines (gter-chos) documented in the Bibliography.
The Index of Technical Terms is in effect a trilingual glossary of Buddhist philosophy according to the diverse schools or traditions com- prised by the nine vehicles, and also of the "outer sciences" - art, medicine, grammar, logic, and so forth.
The Index of Personal Names has been compiled in an extensive way for the benefit of those unfamiliar with the many epithets by which a single personality can be known, particularly in the narrative of the History. The many variations of these names have been lIsted individually and also collectively under one main entry, to which the reader is referred.
In the Index of Locations particular attention has been given to the actual identification of the places mentioned, and the reader has fre- quently been referred to available secondary sources which document the sites in question. In addition, precise grid references have been given wherever possible and are correlated to a series of newly prepared, computer-generated maps, which form the concludIng section of this volume.
With the exception of the Notes and the Bibliography of Works Referred to by the Translators, entries in Volume Two have been followed by their exact Tibetan transliteration as this appears I? the original treatises of Dudjom Rinpoche and/or by their San. sknt equivalent. In listing entries, we have used the following conventIOns: Parentheses indicate elements commonly omitted in abbreviated refer- ences. An oblique dash separates variant forms or spelling. Square brackets have been avoided, or replaced by parentheses. Given the complexity of the material, however, it has not been possible to apply these distinctions exhaustively.
The Notes are numbered consecutively and are therefore easily cross-
referenced against the texts. Other entries have been followed by the
page numbers on which they appear in Section One. For to illustrations, plate numbers always precede page numbers and hne drawings are indicated by a page number in bold face. Page references/
Introduction ix for primary or secondary sources are enclosed in parenthese h
h
t ere cou
ld b
· s w enever e some confUSIOn between these and the reg I . d
u ar In ex ers. Note numbers are rarely included in the indexes and so this
b
sectIOn should be consulted separately.
atIon, and to the expanded list of abbreviations. An explanation of the c _ t· d ·th· on
ven Ions use WI m the translations themselves is given in the Techni I Note to Section One. ca
We are aware that, in the absence of a further set of indexes in which
all of these materials listed f? llowing their proper Tibetan orthogra-
phy, the us. efulness of this matenal for scholars ofTibetan is restricted. A
separate TIbetan-English index to meet specialists' requirements will be completed shortly.
Finally, it should be said that our attempt to standardise the English usage for the translations in no way represents a proposed standard vocabular,Y for Buddhism in English - though it may indeed contribute. The of such a vocabulary, if it is ever to emerge, will be the result
of an ongomg process of experimentation, dialogue and debate _ as was
the case when the technical terminology of Buddhism was first formu- lated in the Tibetan language from the Sanskrit.
f·
tI? n 0 our use of TIbetan and Sanskrit in romanisation and transliter-
.
n Ica-
Readers are also referred to the Guide to Pronunciation cIa 'fi
Guide to Pronunciation
Readers should familiarise themselves at the outset with the following four rules of pronunciation for Tibetan and Sanskrit:
(1) A final e is never silent, but is always pronounced in the manner of the French e. Thus, Sanskrit vane is pronounced vane, and the Tibetan Ghare, Kore and Dorje are pronounced, respectively, Gha- re, Kore and Dorje.
(2) C is pronounced somewhat like the English ch, but without aspira- tion. Sanskrit cakra and citta thus resernble chakra and chitta, and Tibetan Co-se, Campa and Koca are rather like Cho-se, Champa and Kocha.
(3) Ph is never pronounced like an English j, but like a p with strong aspiration, for example in Sanskrit phala and Tibetan photrang.
(4) Th is never pronounced like the English th in think or that, but always resembling a t with strong aspiration, for example in Sanskrit tathiigata and Tibetan thuk.
The following remarks explain the conventions adopted for trans- cription of Sanskrit and Tibetan in greater detail:
SANSKRIT
The Sanskrit vowels in actual use here are as follows: a,ii,i,i,u,ii,f,e,ai,0, au
A,i,u,eand0 arepronouncedasinItalian. A,iandiiarenottobe pronounced like the so-called "long vowels" in English, but like the a in father, the ea in seat and the 00 in boot respectively. Ai is similar to the y-sound of English by, and au to the ow of now. resembles the ri-sound of brick. Vowels may b( followed by 1? l and If, which respectively
xii Guide to Pronunciation
Guide to Pronunciation Xlll
indicate the nasalisation and aspiration of the vowel to which they are affixed.
The transcribed Sanskrit consonants are:
k, kh, g, gh, iz c, ch, j, jh, fi
t, th, 4, 4h, rJ t, th, d, dh, n p, ph, b, bh, m y, r, I, v
S, s, h
Of these, k, ch, j, t, d, n, p, b, m, y, r, I, v, s, and h indicate roughly the same sounds as they do in English, and c, ph and th have been explained above. The series t, th, d, dh, n is distinguished from the series t, th, 4, 4h, rJ in that the latter or "retroflex" series is pronounced with the tongue striking the roof of the mouth, and the former or "dental" series, with the tongue striking the upper incisors. Kh, gh, jh, dh, 4h and bh are similar to k, g,j, d, 4and b respectively, but with strong aspiration. N resembles the ng in English sing, and fi the ny in canyon. Sand sare both similar to the English sh-sound, but the tongue is positioned further back when pronouncing the former.
TIBET AN
The transcription of Tibetan in English introduces special problems owing to the fact that the pronunciation of the spoken language does not closely correspond to the orthography of the literary language. For this reason a transliteration of the Tibetan spellings is of little use to the ordinary reader, who will have no way of knowing that, for example, bsgrubs and dbyings are currently pronounced as drup and ying respect- ively. On the other hand, students of the chlssical Tibetan language usually prefer the literal transcriptions to simplified phonetic schemes. The solution adopted in the present work has been to give all Tibetan personal and place names occurring in the text in just such a simplified system, relegating the precise transliterations to the indexes. At the same time, book titles, technical terms and peculiarities of language which are given parenthetically or discussed in the annotations have been given in a formal transliteration of the classical Tibetan, the system used being based upon that of the late Turrell V. Wylie, which will be
familiar to specialists.
Our simplified phonetic transcription approximates the pronuncia-
tion of modern Central Tibetan, but without the subtlety or precision of a formal phonetic transcription, such as that developed by Chang and Shefts. Our intention here is merely to minimise the difficulties with which Tibetan names confront the reader.
In addition to the five vowels a, i, u, e and 0, which have the same here. that they do in Sanskrit, Tibetan introduces two more _ b" and u - whIch are pronounced as in German.
The . following. additional consonants are used, along with those also found In Sansknt: ng, ny, tr, trh,. ts, tsh, dz, w, sh, z, zh. Of these, ny, tr, w, sh and z are sImIlar to their English values. Trh is lIke tr, but with strong aspiration. Ts resembles the ts-sound in English bets, a. nd. the sound in adze. Tsh is the strongly aspirated version of
ts. ZhIS. thesinleisure,orthejofFrenchwordssuchasjamais. SpecIalIsts WIll note that this system does not reflect tone, an import- ant. featu. re of modern spoken Tibetan, and that we have dropped the In where it is not usually pronounced, even if it Occurs In the . classical orthography. Following a vowel, I is often silent, the
precedIng vowel being lengthened by way of compensation.
Abbreviations for Section Two
Auth. BB B. Budh.
BIT
Blue Annals
BMGD
BST
CL TC
Author
Bauddha Bharati Series. Varanasi.
Bibliotheca Buddhica. St. Petersburg/Leningrad, 1897-1936.
Bibliotheca Indo-Tibetica. Sarnath, UP: Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies.
G. N. Roerich (trans. ), The Blue Annals. 2nd edn. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1976. Translation of 'Gos Lo-tsa-ba Gzhon-nu-dpal, deb-ther sngon-po. Bla-rna dgongs-'dus. Disc. Sangs-rgyas gling-pa. 13 vols. NNS 44-56 (1972 onwards).