Beyond the Ordinary Mind

A unique collection of essays, instructions, letters, and personal advice on Dzogchen, Rimé, and other topics by famous Tibetan Buddhist masters of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

This selection features profound, provocative, and at times humorous texts from some of the leading figures associated with the Rimé tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The emphasis of these works is on the esoteric path of Dzogchen, or the Great Perfection, through which the nature of reality is pointed out directly, just as it is.

Throughout the book the translator provides clear, succinct introductions to the individual translations, expertly setting the scene and guiding the reader through a world of intellectual renaissance, intersectarian debate, and the imparting of cherished insights. Through this, one truth above all becomes apparent: that genuine wisdom means transcending the limited confines of the ordinary mind.

Contributors include:

• Patrul Rinpoche
• Jamgon Mipham
• Dongak Chökyi Gyatso
• Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol
• Amdo Geshe Jampal Rolwe Lodrö
• Jigme Tenpe Nyima
• Khenpo Pema Vajra

“This anthology of some of the greatest scholar-saints of Tibet makes absolutely clear that Dzogchen, Mahamudra, and Madhyamaka practices come to the same point of realization. This is a great contribution to the understanding of Rimé and a wonderful translation.”
—Ringu Tulku, author of The Ri-Me Philosophy of Jamgön Kongtrul the Great
 
“Among the wealth of precious texts translated from Tibetan, Adam Pearcey’s Beyond the Ordinary Mind stands out. Here is a wisely chosen collection of instructions from some of the most eminent masters of recent times, clarifying crucial points related to the nature of mind and the union of emptiness and appearances—a book to be cherished, especially by those who aspire to deepen their understanding of Buddhist practice.”
—Matthieu Ricard, author of Enlightened Vagabond: The Life and Teachings of Patrul Rinpoche
 
Beautiful. Meaningful. A rich array of key texts that carry us past the limitations of ordinary mind. These works are clear portals to the Great Middle Way, to the heart of Dzogchen, touching also on Mahāmudrā, and displaying an open, non-biased perspective. This readable translation brings new access to some of the greatest and most original minds of the last two centuries in Tibet.
—Anne C. Klein, translator of Khetsun Rinpoche’s Strand of Jewels: My Teachers’ Essential Guidance on DzogchenADAM PEARCEY is a full-time translator of Tibetan Buddhist texts. He is the founder of Lotsawa House, an online library featuring several hundred translations. His previous publications include (as translator) Mind in Comfort and Ease by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ga Rabjampa's To Dispel the Misery of the World.