Yeshe Saldrön

Jamyang Khyentse in heruka form according to the practice of Nyingtik Saldrön from Shechen Archives

Yeshe Saldrön (Tib. ཡེ་ཤེས་གསལ་སྒྲོན་, Wyl. ye shes gsal sgron) 'The Bright Lamp of Wisdom' — a commentary to the Nyingtik Saldrön guru yoga practice composed by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö. The text is formed of extensive notes on the Nyingtik Saldrön practice and is preceded by a general discussion of guru yoga and the importance of following a teacher.

It contains the following explanation of the 'inner teacher':

"It is not only at this moment, now, that the root lama is with us. In all his kindness, he has never been apart from us in any single one of our lives throughout beginningless time, because he is the manifestation of our mind’s true nature, appearing externally in all kinds of guises, pure and impure, in order to help us, either directly or indirectly. Right now, on account of all the merit we have accumulated in the past, he has taken on the form of our spiritual friend, and because of the strength of this karmic connection, we have been able to meet him, he has given us the nectar of the profound and vast instructions, and he has enveloped us in his tremendous kindness. From now on too until enlightenment, he will never be separate from us for even a single instant. However, just as the moon is not reflected in cloudy or turbulent water, when there are faults in our samaya, it can appear to us as if there is some separation between us and the master. Yet this is merely due to our own minds, and there is never any question of distance on the part of the master." (From JKCL sungbum vol. II, pp. 43-44)

English Translation

• Translated by Adam Pearcey (2020), with reference to a provisional translation from Rigpa Translations (2009), available here: The Bright Lamp of Wisdom (Yeshe Saldrön): A Guide to the Practice of Guru Yoga

Further Reading

• Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, page 138.

Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

• Sogyal Rinpoche, Robertsbridge, Vinehall, UK, April 1982
• Sogyal Rinpoche, Berkeley, USA, 8th February 1987
• Sogyal Rinpoche, London, UK, May 1987
• Sogyal Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, France, June 2009
• Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, France, 8 October 2023

Oral Transmissions Given to the Rigpa Sangha

• Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, France, 7 November 2024.