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[[Image:RigdzinDupaSm.JPG|frame|A [[thangka]] showing the deities of Longchen Nyingtik, including the lama [[Rigdzin Düpa]], the yidam [[Palchen Düpa]], the khandro [[Yumka Dechen Gyalmo]], along with [[Dukngal Rangdrol]], [[Takhyung Barwa]], Senge Dongma and the protective deities.]]
[[Image:Jikme Lingpa from 12 Dzogchen Teachers.jpg|frame|Rigdzin [[Jikmé Lingpa]], who revealed the Longchen Nyingtik]]
'''Longchen Nyingtik''' [Tib.] - a [[Nyingma]] cycle of teachings and practice, which was discovered by [[Jikmé Lingpa]] as mind ter.
'''Longchen Nyingtik''' (Tib. [[ཀློང་ཆེན་སྙིང་ཐིག་]], [[Wyl.]] ''klong chen snying thig'') — a [[Nyingma]] cycle of teachings and practice, which was discovered by [[Jikmé Lingpa]] as [[mind terma]].


==The Revelation of Longchen Nyingtik==
==The Revelation of Longchen Nyingtik==
The Longchen Nyingtik cycle of teachings was discovered by [[Jikmé Lingpa]] as mind ter (a category of [[terma]]).
Regarding the revelation of the Longchen Nyingtik teachings, [[Tulku Thondup]] writes:


===Mind Ter===
:While Guru Rinpoche was visiting Tibet…he conferred the Longchen Nyingtik teachings on [[King Trisong Detsen]], [[Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal]], and [[Vairotsana|Vairochana]]… He gave prophetic [[empowerment]]s by saying that the teachings would be discovered by Jikmé Lingpa, an incarnation (''[[tulku]]'') of King Trisong Detsen.
[[Tulku Thondup]] explains the [[terma]] tradition of Tibet as follows:


:In a number of spiritual traditions of the world there are many instances of the discovery of teachings and objects through mystical power. Similarly, in various traditions and lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, in India as well as Tibet, numerous mystical discoveries of teachings and objects have taken place.
:So centuries later, when the prophetic empowerments of Guru Rinpoche ripened and the favorable circumstances came to fruition, the concealed Longchen Nyingtik teachings were accordingly awakened in the enlightened mind of Jikmé Lingpa as mind ter.<ref>''Masters of Meditation and Miracles'', by Tulku Thondup, pages 43-44.</ref>


:In the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, the tradition of concealment and revelation of teachings and materials of religious value through the mystical power of enlightened beings is most prevalent by far. This tradition of mystical discovery is known in Tibetan as Ter (''Treasures'') [or] Terma (''Treasured Ones'')…<ref>''Enlightened Journey: Buddhist Practice as Daily Life'', by Tulku Thondup, page 93.</ref>
Jikmé Lingpa discovered the Longchen Nyingtik teachings as mind ter at the age of twenty-eight. Tulku Thondup writes:


:The main source of the Terma tradition of the Nyingma school is [[Guru Padmasambhava]]. <ref>''Enlightened Journey: Buddhist Practice as Daily Life'', by Tulku Thondup, page 95.</ref>
:In the evening of the twenty-fifth day of the tenth month of the Fire Ox year of the thirteenth [[Rabjung]] cycle (1757), Jikmé Lingpa went to bed with an unbearable devotion to [[Guru Rinpoche]] in his heart; a stream of tears of sadness continuously wet his face because he was not in Guru Rinpoche’s presence, and unceasing words of prayers kept singing in his breath.


:While transmitting esoteric teachings to his realized disciples in Tibet, Guru Padmasambhava concealed many teachings with the blessings of his enlightened mind stream in the nature of the intrinsic awareness of the minds of his disciples through the power of “mind-mandated transmission” (gtad rgya); thereby the master and disciple became united as one in the teachings and realization. Here, the master has concealed the teachings and blessings, the esoteric attainments, as ter in the pure nature of the minds of his disciples through his enlightened power, and he has made aspirations that the ter may be discovered for the sake of beings when the appropriate time comes.<ref>''Enlightened Journey: Buddhist Practice as Daily Life'', by Tulku Thondup, page 97.</ref>
:He remained in the depths of that meditation experience of clear luminosity for a long time. While being absorbed in that luminous clarity, he experienced flying a long distance through the sky while riding a white lion. He finally reached a circular path, which he thought to be the circumambulation path of Jarung Khashor, now known as [[Boudhanath]] Stupa, an important Buddhist monument of giant structure in Nepal. <ref>''Masters of Meditation and Miracles'', by Tulku Thondup, pages 122-123.</ref>


[[Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche]] writes:
In this vision, the wisdom dakinis gave Jikmé Lingpa a casket containing five yellow scrolls and seven crystal beads. One of the scrolls contained the prophetic guide of Longchen Nyingtik, called ''Nechang Thukkyi Drombu''. At the instruction of a [[dakini]], he ate the yellow scrolls and crystal beads, and all the words and meaning of the Longchen Nyingtik terma were awakened in his mind.


:In propagating the Buddha’s teachings amid the shamanistic society that dominated Tibet at that time, Padmasambhava saw clearly that some teachings would have to wait for a more appropriate time to take root. He concealed them until certain great practitioners…would reveal them and bring them to fruition. [LD 11]<ref>''Lord of the Dance'', by Chagdud Tulku, page 11.</ref>
Jikmé Lingpa kept this terma secret for years, and he did not even transcribe the terma until he entered another retreat in which he had a series of visions of [[Longchen Rabjam]]. Tulku Thondup explains:


===Longchen Nyingtik Revelation===
:In the earth-hare year (1759) he started another three-year retreat, at [[Samye Chimphu|Chimpu]] near [[Samye monastery]]. During that retreat, because he was inspired by three successive pure visions of Longchen Rabjam, and he was urged by repeated requests of dakinis, he transcribed his terma as the cycle of Longchen Nyingtik. On the tenth day of the sixth month (monkey month) of the monkey year (1764) he made his terma public for the first time by conferring the transmission of empowerment and the instructions upon fifteen disciples. <ref>''Hidden Teachings of Tibet, An Explanation of the Terma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism'', by Tulku Thondup, pages 122-123.</ref>
Regarding the revelation of the Longchen Nyingtik teachings, [[Tulku Thondup]] writes:


:While Guru Rinpoche was visiting Tibet…he conferred the Longchen Nyingtik teachings on [[King Trisong Detsen]], [[Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal]], and [[Vairochana]]… He gave prophetic empowerments by saying that the teachings would be discovered by Jikmé Lingpa, an incarnation (tulku) of King Trisong Detsen.  
The Longchen Nyingtik terma consists of tantric sadhanas and teachings.


:So centuries later, when the prophetic empowerments of Guru Rinpoche ripened and the favorable circumstances come to fruition, the concealed Longchen Nyingtik teachings were accordingly awakened in the enlightened mind of Jikmé Lingpa as mind ter.<ref>''Masters of Meditation and Miracles'', by Tulku Thondup, pages 43-44.</ref>
==The Nyingtik Teachings==
The Nyingtik teachings are the innermost secret teachings of [[Dzogchen]]. The Dzogchen teachings were revealed to [[Garab Dorje|Prahevajra (Tib. Garab Dorje)]] by [[Vajrasattva]], and passed down through an unbroken lineage to present day masters. Within the Dzogchen teachings, there are [[three categories]] of teachings suitable to students of different capacity. The Nyingtik is the innermost secret cycle of teachings of the [[Category of Pith Instructions]]; this cycle is the most direct approach for students of the highest capacity.


Jikmé Linga discovered the Longchen Nyingtik teachings as mind ter at the age of twenty-eight. Tulku Thondup writes:
Within the Nyingtik teachings, there are tantras and instructional texts. Regarding the instructional texts, [[Tulku Thondup]] explains:


:In the evening of the twenty-fifth day of the tenth month of the Fire Ox year of the thirteenth Rabjung cycle (1757), Jikmé Lingpa went to bed with an unbearable devotion to Guru Rinpoche in his heart; a stream of tears of sadness continuously wet his face because he was not in Guru Rinpoche’s presence, and unceasing words of prayers kept singing in his breath.
:The instructional teachings are elucidated and condensed in two major traditions of Nyingtik. The first one is the detailed teachings for/of the scholars, brought to Tibet by [[Vimalamitra]] and known as [[Vima Nyingtik]]. It is mainly based on the [[Seventeen Tantras]] and the Troma tantra. The second one is the profound teachings for/of mendicants [or yogis], brought to Tibet by Guru Padmasambhava and known as [[Khandro Nyingtik]]. It is mainly based on the Longsal Barma tantra. <ref>''Masters of Meditation and Miracles'', by Tulku Thondup, page 33.</ref>


:He remained in the depths of that meditation experience of clear luminosity for a long time. While being absorbed in that luminous clarity, he experienced flying a long distance through the sky while riding a white lion. He finally reached a circular path, which he thought to be the circumambulation path of Charung Khashor, now known as Bodnath Stupa, and important Buddhist monument of giant structure in Nepal. <ref>''Masters of Meditation and Miracles'', by Tulku Thondup, pages 122-123.</ref>
In the fourteenth century in Tibet, the great master [[Longchen Rabjam]] became the lineage holder of both of these Nyingtik traditions, and wrote a commentary on each tradition.


In this vision, he received the symbolic scripts of the Longchen Nyingtik from a Dakini. In this way, the concealed Longchen Nyingtik teachings, consisting of tantric [[sadhana]]s and teachings, were awakened in Jikmé Lingpa as a mind ter.  
==Longchen Rabjam, Jikmé Lingpa, and the Longchen Nyingtik Lineage==
[[Image:LongchenRabjam.JPG|thumb|left|Longchen Rabjam (1308-1364)]]
[[Longchen Rabjam]] (1308-1364), also known as Longchenpa, was one of the greatest Dzogchen masters in the Nyingma tradition, and amongst the most brilliant and original writers in Tibetan Buddhist literature. He brought together into a cohesive system the teachings of Vima Nyingtik and Khandro Nyingtik, on which he wrote the ‘Three Yangtik’ or Inner Essencess.


===The Nyingtik Teachings===
Four centuries later, Jikmé Lingpa was tremendously inspired by the teachings of Longchenpa. After Jikmé Lingpa discovered the terma of Longchen Nyingtik (which included tantric sadhanas and teachings) he entered into a three-year retreat in the caves of Chimphu in which he fervently invoked Longchenpa with a [[Guru Yoga]] he had composed. Longchenpa appeared to him in three visions, through which he received the blessing and transmission of the wisdom body, speech and mind of Longchenpa, empowering him with the responsibility of preserving the meaning of the teachings of Longchenpa, and of spreading them. As a result, Jikmé Lingpa’s mind became one with the wisdom mind of Longchenpa.
The Nyingtik teachings are the innermost secret teachings of [[Dzogchen]]. The Dzogchen teachings were revealed to [[Garab Dorje|Prahevajra (Tib. Garab Dorje)]] by [[Vajrasattva]], and passed down through an unbroken lineage to present day masters. Within the Dzogchen teachings, there are [[three categories]] of teachings suitable to students of different capacity. The Nyingtik is the innermost secret cycle of teachings of the [[Category of Pith Instructions]]; this cycle is the most direct approach for students of the highest capacity.
 
In this way, Jikmé Lingpa became the lineage holder of Longchenpa’s teachings on the Vima Nyingtik and Khandro Nyingtik. Jikmé Lingpa was a reincarnation of both King Trisong Detsen and Vimilamitra. Therefore, the Nyingtik teachings of these two major lineages flowed together in Jikmé Lingpa.  
 
The Longchen Nyingtik lineage includes both the terma of Longchen Nyingtik discovered by Jikmé Lingpa, and teachings of Longchen Rabjam on Vima Nyingtik and Khandro Nyingtik that were revealed to Jikmé Lingpa in a series of visions.


Within the Nyingtik teachings, there are tantras and instructional texts. Regarding the instructional texts, [[Tulku Thondup]] explains:
Most of the rituals and [[mudra]]s of the Longchen Nyingtik tradition find their source in the [[Lama Gongdü]], on which Jikmé Lingpa wrote his famous commentary, called a ''[[Detailed Commentary on the Lama Gongdü]]''. The Lama Gondü is therefore held in high regard.


:The instructional teachings are elucidated and condensed in two major traditions of Nyingtik. The first one is the detailed teachings for/of the scholars, brought to Tibet by [[Vimalamitra]] and known as [[Vima Nyingtik]]. It is mainly based on the [[Seventeen Tantras]] and the Troma tantra. The second one is the profound teachings for/of mendicants [or yogis], brought to Tibet by Guru Padmasambhava and known as [[Khandro Nyingtik]]. It is mainly based on the Longsal Barma tantra. <ref>''Masters of Meditation and Miracles'', by Tulku Thondup, page 33.</ref>
==The Stages of Practice==
[[Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche]] said:
:The cycle of the Longchen Nyingtik is composed of many sections. It includes the [[Ngöndro|preliminary]] and main practices, the [[Kyerim|development]] and [[Dzogrim|completion]] stages, and, most important, the practice of Ati Yoga, or [[Dzogchen]]. It thus constitutes a complete path to enlightenment.<ref> ''The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel: The Practice of Guru Yoga According to the Longchen Nyingtik Tradition'', by Dilgo Khyentse, Shambhala Publications, page 8. </ref>


In the 1300’s in Tibet, the great master [[Longchen Rabjam]] became the lineage holder of both of these Nyingtik traditions, and wrote a commentary on each tradition. Four centuries later, Jikmé Lingpa was tremendously inspired by the teachings of Longchenpa. At the age of thirty-one, after he received Longchen Nyingtik tantric sadhanas and teachings as mind ter, he entered into a three-year retreat in the caves of Chimphu between 1759–62; in this retreat he fervently invoked Longchenpa with a [[Guru Yoga]] he had composed. Longchenpa appeared to him in three visions, through which he received the blessing and transmission of the wisdom body, speech and mind of Longchenpa, empowering him with the responsibility of preserving the meaning of the teachings of Longchenpa, and of spreading them. As a result, Jikmé Lingpa’s mind became one with the wisdom mind of Longchenpa.
In the Longchen Nyingtik tradition, the preliminary (or [[ngöndro]]) practices are commonly referred to as the [[Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro]].  


In this way, Jikmé Lingpa became the lineage holder of the Vima Nyingtik and Khandro Nyingtik teachings. Jikmé Lingpa was a reincarnation of both King Trisong Detsen and Vimilamitra. Therefore, the Nyingtik teachings of these two major lineages flowed together in Jikmé Lingpa. So in addition to the terma revelation of the Longchen Nyingtik trantric sadhanas and teachings, the teachings of the Vima Nyingtik and Khandro Nyingtik are also considered as part of the Longchen Nyingtik teachings and lineage.
After completing the ngondro, training in the development and completion stages is done through [[sadhana]] practices such as [[Rigdzin Dupa]]. Traditionally, a student trains in a series of three sadhanas known as the [[Three Roots]].  


==The Stages of Practice==
Finally, if the student is sufficiently prepared, a qualified teacher may give the students instructions in [[Dzogchen]], which focus on the direct realization of the nature of mind.
The Longchen Nyingtik cycle of teachings contains a complete [[Vajrayana]] path. The stages of the path are:
:*[[Ngöndro]], the preliminary practices. See [[Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro]]
:*The main practice, which consists of:
:::[[Kyerim]], the generation phase
:::[[Dzogrim]], the perfection phase
:::[[Dzogchen]], the Great Perfection


==The Major Texts==
==The Major Texts==
[[Image:RigdzinDupaSm.JPG|frame|A [[thangka]] showing the deities of Longchen Nyingtik, including the lama [[Rigdzin Düpa]], the yidam [[Palchen Düpa]], the khandro [[Yumka Dechen Gyalmo]], along with [[Dukngal Rangdrol]], [[Takhyung Barwa]], [[Senge Dongma]] and the protective deities.]]
The major texts of Longchen Nyingtik are as follows:
The major texts of Longchen Nyingtik are as follows:


Line 66: Line 67:


===Sadhanas===
===Sadhanas===
1. Male vidyadharas<br>
1. Male [[vidyadhara]]s<br>
:a. Peaceful: outer: [[Guru Yoga]] <br>
:a. Peaceful:
::outer: [[Guru Yoga]] <br>
::inner: [[Rigdzin Düpa]] <br>
::inner: [[Rigdzin Düpa]] <br>
::secret: [[Dukngal Rangdrol]]<br>
::secret: [[Dukngal Rangdrol]]<br>
::innermost secret: Ladrup [[Tiklé Gyachen]]<br>
::innermost secret: Ladrup [[Tiklé Gyachen]]<br>
:b. Wrathful: blue: [[Palchen Düpa]]<br>
:b. Wrathful:
::blue: [[Palchen Düpa]]<br>
::red: [[Takhyung Barwa]]<br>
::red: [[Takhyung Barwa]]<br>
2. Female vidyadharas<br>
2. Female [[vidyadhara]]s<br>
:a. Peaceful: root sadhana: [[Yumka Dechen Gyalmo]]<br>
:a. Peaceful: root sadhana: [[Yumka Dechen Gyalmo]]<br>
:b. Wrathful: secret sadhana: Senge Dongchen<br>
:b. Wrathful: secret sadhana: [[Senge Dongma|Senge Dongchen]]<br>


==Lineage of the Longchen Nyingtik==
==The Detailed Longchen Nyingtik Lineage==
Some of the main lineage holders of the Longchen Nyingtik lineage are listed below.
Some of the main lineage holders of the Longchen Nyingtik lineage are listed below.


Line 97: Line 100:
:*[[King Trisong Detsen]], received Nyingtik teachings from Guru Rinpoche and Vimalimitra
:*[[King Trisong Detsen]], received Nyingtik teachings from Guru Rinpoche and Vimalimitra
:*[[Yeshe Tsogyal]]
:*[[Yeshe Tsogyal]]
:*[[Vairochana]]
:*[[Vairotsana]]
:*[[Longchen Rabjam]]
:*[[Longchen Rabjam]]
:*[[Jikmé Lingpa|Ridgzin Jigmé Lingpa]], revealed the Longchen Nyingtik teachings
:*[[Jikmé Lingpa|Rigdzin Jigmé Lingpa]], revealed the Longchen Nyingtik teachings


'''Later stages'''<br>
'''Later stages'''<br>
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'''Present day teachers'''<br>
'''Present day teachers'''<br>
There are many present-day masters of the Longchen Nyingtik lineage; the list below includes some of the teachers most familiar to [[Rigpa]] students.
There are many present-day masters of the Longchen Nyingtik lineage; the list below includes some of the teachers most familiar to [[About Rigpa|Rigpa]] students.
:*[[Chatral Sangye Dorje]]
:*[[Chatral Sangye Dorje]]
:*[[Trulshik Rinpoche]]
:*[[Trulshik Rinpoche]]
:*[[Dodrupchen Rinpoche|Dodrupchen IV]]
:*[[Dodrupchen Rinpoche|Dodrupchen IV]]
:*[[Penor Rinpoche]]
:*[[Sogyal Rinpoche]]
:*[[Sogyal Rinpoche]]
:*[[Khangsar Tenpé Wangchuk]]
:*[[Khangsar Tenpé Wangchuk]]
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:*[[Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche]]
:*[[Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche]]
:*[[Khenpo Chöga]]
:*[[Khenpo Chöga]]
==Alternative Translations==
*Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse
*Innermost Spirituality of Longchenpa (Gyurme Dorje)
==Teachings Given to the [[About Rigpa|Rigpa]] Sangha==
*[[Steven Goodman]], Rigpa Berkeley, 28 February-2 March 1997, ''The Longchen Nyingtik Revelations—Historical, Textual and Experiential Dimensions''
*Steven Goodman, Berkley, U.S.A., 24 January 1998
*[[Tulku Thondup]], Munich, Germany, 25 April 2006, ''Longchen Nyingtik—The Heart Essence of Infinite Expanse''
*[[Khenchen Pema Sherab]], [[Lerab Ling]], 18, 25 & 28 April 2021: the Longchen Nyingtik lineage<ref>Using a text of [[Getse Mahapandita]]: ''Full Discernment of Phenomena: A Catalogue of the Complete Collected Works of the Omniscient King of Dharma Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa'' (Wyl. ''kun mkhyen chos kyi rgyal po rig 'dzin 'jigs med gling pa'i bka' 'bum yongs rdzogs kyi bzhugs byang chos rab rnam 'byed'')</ref>


==Further Reading==
==Further Reading==
*[[Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche]], ''The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel: The Practice of Guru Yoga According to the Longchen Nyingtik Tradition'', Shambhala Publications
*Anne C. Klein, ''Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse: A Story of Transmission'' (Snow Lion Publications, 2009)
*[[Patrul Rinpoche]], ''[[The Words of My Perfect Teacher]]'', translated by the Padmakara Translation Group, Shambhala 1994, revised ed. 1998
*[[Patrul Rinpoche]], ''[[The Words of My Perfect Teacher]]'', translated by the Padmakara Translation Group, Shambhala 1994, revised ed. 1998
*Sam van Schaik, ''Approaching the Great Perfection: Simultaneous and Gradual Methods of Dzogchen Practice in the Longchen Nyingtig'', Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2003
*Steven D. Goodman, 'Rig-'dzin Jigs-med gling-pa and the kLong-Chen sNying-Thig' in ''Tibetan Buddhism: Reason and Revelation'' edited by Steven D Goodman and Ronald M. Davidson, SUNY, 1992
*[[Tulku Thondup]], ''Enlightened Journey'', Boston & London, Shambhala, 1995
*[[Tulku Thondup]], ''Enlightened Journey'', Boston & London, Shambhala, 1995
*[[Tulku Thondup]], ''Masters of Meditation and Miracles'', Shambhala, 1996
*[[Tulku Thondup]], ''Masters of Meditation and Miracles'', Shambhala, 1996


==External Links==
==Notes==
*[http://www.lotsawahouse.org/school/snying_thig_index.html Index to the Tibetan volumes of the Longchen Nyingtik]
<small><references/></small>


==Notes==
==Internal Links==
<references/>
*[[Longchen Nyingtik Root Volumes]]


==External Links==
*{{LH|topics/longchen-nyingtik| Longchen Nyingtik Series on Lotsawa House}}
*[http://longchennyingtik.org The Longchen Nyingtik Project]
*[http://www.himalayanart.org/pages/longchen/index.html Longchen Nyingtik outline page at Himalayan Art Resources]
*[https://all-otr.org/vajrayana/32-about-longchen-nyingtik-ritual-tradition Orgyen Tobyal Rinpoche about the Longchen Nyingtik Ritual tradition]


[[Category:Key Terms]]
[[Category:Key Terms]]
[[Category:Termas]]
[[Category:Longchen Nyingtik| ]]
[[Category:Schools and Lineages]]
[[Category:Schools and Lineages]]
[[Category:Longchen Nyingtik]]

Latest revision as of 10:43, 6 September 2024

Rigdzin Jikmé Lingpa, who revealed the Longchen Nyingtik

Longchen Nyingtik (Tib. ཀློང་ཆེན་སྙིང་ཐིག་, Wyl. klong chen snying thig) — a Nyingma cycle of teachings and practice, which was discovered by Jikmé Lingpa as mind terma.

The Revelation of Longchen Nyingtik

Regarding the revelation of the Longchen Nyingtik teachings, Tulku Thondup writes:

While Guru Rinpoche was visiting Tibet…he conferred the Longchen Nyingtik teachings on King Trisong Detsen, Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal, and Vairochana… He gave prophetic empowerments by saying that the teachings would be discovered by Jikmé Lingpa, an incarnation (tulku) of King Trisong Detsen.
So centuries later, when the prophetic empowerments of Guru Rinpoche ripened and the favorable circumstances came to fruition, the concealed Longchen Nyingtik teachings were accordingly awakened in the enlightened mind of Jikmé Lingpa as mind ter.[1]

Jikmé Lingpa discovered the Longchen Nyingtik teachings as mind ter at the age of twenty-eight. Tulku Thondup writes:

In the evening of the twenty-fifth day of the tenth month of the Fire Ox year of the thirteenth Rabjung cycle (1757), Jikmé Lingpa went to bed with an unbearable devotion to Guru Rinpoche in his heart; a stream of tears of sadness continuously wet his face because he was not in Guru Rinpoche’s presence, and unceasing words of prayers kept singing in his breath.
He remained in the depths of that meditation experience of clear luminosity for a long time. While being absorbed in that luminous clarity, he experienced flying a long distance through the sky while riding a white lion. He finally reached a circular path, which he thought to be the circumambulation path of Jarung Khashor, now known as Boudhanath Stupa, an important Buddhist monument of giant structure in Nepal. [2]

In this vision, the wisdom dakinis gave Jikmé Lingpa a casket containing five yellow scrolls and seven crystal beads. One of the scrolls contained the prophetic guide of Longchen Nyingtik, called Nechang Thukkyi Drombu. At the instruction of a dakini, he ate the yellow scrolls and crystal beads, and all the words and meaning of the Longchen Nyingtik terma were awakened in his mind.

Jikmé Lingpa kept this terma secret for years, and he did not even transcribe the terma until he entered another retreat in which he had a series of visions of Longchen Rabjam. Tulku Thondup explains:

In the earth-hare year (1759) he started another three-year retreat, at Chimpu near Samye monastery. During that retreat, because he was inspired by three successive pure visions of Longchen Rabjam, and he was urged by repeated requests of dakinis, he transcribed his terma as the cycle of Longchen Nyingtik. On the tenth day of the sixth month (monkey month) of the monkey year (1764) he made his terma public for the first time by conferring the transmission of empowerment and the instructions upon fifteen disciples. [3]

The Longchen Nyingtik terma consists of tantric sadhanas and teachings.

The Nyingtik Teachings

The Nyingtik teachings are the innermost secret teachings of Dzogchen. The Dzogchen teachings were revealed to Prahevajra (Tib. Garab Dorje) by Vajrasattva, and passed down through an unbroken lineage to present day masters. Within the Dzogchen teachings, there are three categories of teachings suitable to students of different capacity. The Nyingtik is the innermost secret cycle of teachings of the Category of Pith Instructions; this cycle is the most direct approach for students of the highest capacity.

Within the Nyingtik teachings, there are tantras and instructional texts. Regarding the instructional texts, Tulku Thondup explains:

The instructional teachings are elucidated and condensed in two major traditions of Nyingtik. The first one is the detailed teachings for/of the scholars, brought to Tibet by Vimalamitra and known as Vima Nyingtik. It is mainly based on the Seventeen Tantras and the Troma tantra. The second one is the profound teachings for/of mendicants [or yogis], brought to Tibet by Guru Padmasambhava and known as Khandro Nyingtik. It is mainly based on the Longsal Barma tantra. [4]

In the fourteenth century in Tibet, the great master Longchen Rabjam became the lineage holder of both of these Nyingtik traditions, and wrote a commentary on each tradition.

Longchen Rabjam, Jikmé Lingpa, and the Longchen Nyingtik Lineage

Longchen Rabjam (1308-1364)

Longchen Rabjam (1308-1364), also known as Longchenpa, was one of the greatest Dzogchen masters in the Nyingma tradition, and amongst the most brilliant and original writers in Tibetan Buddhist literature. He brought together into a cohesive system the teachings of Vima Nyingtik and Khandro Nyingtik, on which he wrote the ‘Three Yangtik’ or Inner Essencess.

Four centuries later, Jikmé Lingpa was tremendously inspired by the teachings of Longchenpa. After Jikmé Lingpa discovered the terma of Longchen Nyingtik (which included tantric sadhanas and teachings) he entered into a three-year retreat in the caves of Chimphu in which he fervently invoked Longchenpa with a Guru Yoga he had composed. Longchenpa appeared to him in three visions, through which he received the blessing and transmission of the wisdom body, speech and mind of Longchenpa, empowering him with the responsibility of preserving the meaning of the teachings of Longchenpa, and of spreading them. As a result, Jikmé Lingpa’s mind became one with the wisdom mind of Longchenpa.

In this way, Jikmé Lingpa became the lineage holder of Longchenpa’s teachings on the Vima Nyingtik and Khandro Nyingtik. Jikmé Lingpa was a reincarnation of both King Trisong Detsen and Vimilamitra. Therefore, the Nyingtik teachings of these two major lineages flowed together in Jikmé Lingpa.

The Longchen Nyingtik lineage includes both the terma of Longchen Nyingtik discovered by Jikmé Lingpa, and teachings of Longchen Rabjam on Vima Nyingtik and Khandro Nyingtik that were revealed to Jikmé Lingpa in a series of visions.

Most of the rituals and mudras of the Longchen Nyingtik tradition find their source in the Lama Gongdü, on which Jikmé Lingpa wrote his famous commentary, called a Detailed Commentary on the Lama Gongdü. The Lama Gondü is therefore held in high regard.

The Stages of Practice

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche said:

The cycle of the Longchen Nyingtik is composed of many sections. It includes the preliminary and main practices, the development and completion stages, and, most important, the practice of Ati Yoga, or Dzogchen. It thus constitutes a complete path to enlightenment.[5]

In the Longchen Nyingtik tradition, the preliminary (or ngöndro) practices are commonly referred to as the Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro.

After completing the ngondro, training in the development and completion stages is done through sadhana practices such as Rigdzin Dupa. Traditionally, a student trains in a series of three sadhanas known as the Three Roots.

Finally, if the student is sufficiently prepared, a qualified teacher may give the students instructions in Dzogchen, which focus on the direct realization of the nature of mind.

The Major Texts

A thangka showing the deities of Longchen Nyingtik, including the lama Rigdzin Düpa, the yidam Palchen Düpa, the khandro Yumka Dechen Gyalmo, along with Dukngal Rangdrol, Takhyung Barwa, Senge Dongma and the protective deities.

The major texts of Longchen Nyingtik are as follows:

Original Tantras

  1. The root tantra: Kuntu Zangpo Yeshe Longki Gyü
  2. The subsequent tantra: Gyü Chima
  3. Teachings: Kuntu Zangpö Gong-nyam
  4. Instructions
a. Instructions: Nesum Shenje and Neluk Dorje Tsigang
b. Their commentaries: Yeshe Lama with its supporting texts

Sadhanas

1. Male vidyadharas

a. Peaceful:
outer: Guru Yoga
inner: Rigdzin Düpa
secret: Dukngal Rangdrol
innermost secret: Ladrup Tiklé Gyachen
b. Wrathful:
blue: Palchen Düpa
red: Takhyung Barwa

2. Female vidyadharas

a. Peaceful: root sadhana: Yumka Dechen Gyalmo
b. Wrathful: secret sadhana: Senge Dongchen

The Detailed Longchen Nyingtik Lineage

Some of the main lineage holders of the Longchen Nyingtik lineage are listed below.

First stage

Hitting the Essence in Three Words
Six Experiences of Meditation
Seven Nails
Four Means of Abiding
Vima Nyingtik
Khandro Nyingtik

Later stages

A Brief Guide to the Stages of Visualization
The Words of My Perfect Teacher
The Mirror for Seeing Clearly
Special Teaching of the Wise and Glorious King
Illuminating the Excellent Path to Omniscience
Ngöndro Compendium
A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher
A Torch for the Path to Omniscience
The Words of the Vidyadhara which Bestow the Majesty of Great Bliss

Present day teachers
There are many present-day masters of the Longchen Nyingtik lineage; the list below includes some of the teachers most familiar to Rigpa students.

Alternative Translations

  • Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse
  • Innermost Spirituality of Longchenpa (Gyurme Dorje)

Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

  • Steven Goodman, Rigpa Berkeley, 28 February-2 March 1997, The Longchen Nyingtik Revelations—Historical, Textual and Experiential Dimensions
  • Steven Goodman, Berkley, U.S.A., 24 January 1998
  • Tulku Thondup, Munich, Germany, 25 April 2006, Longchen Nyingtik—The Heart Essence of Infinite Expanse
  • Khenchen Pema Sherab, Lerab Ling, 18, 25 & 28 April 2021: the Longchen Nyingtik lineage[6]

Further Reading

  • Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel: The Practice of Guru Yoga According to the Longchen Nyingtik Tradition, Shambhala Publications
  • Anne C. Klein, Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse: A Story of Transmission (Snow Lion Publications, 2009)
  • Patrul Rinpoche, The Words of My Perfect Teacher, translated by the Padmakara Translation Group, Shambhala 1994, revised ed. 1998
  • Sam van Schaik, Approaching the Great Perfection: Simultaneous and Gradual Methods of Dzogchen Practice in the Longchen Nyingtig, Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2003
  • Steven D. Goodman, 'Rig-'dzin Jigs-med gling-pa and the kLong-Chen sNying-Thig' in Tibetan Buddhism: Reason and Revelation edited by Steven D Goodman and Ronald M. Davidson, SUNY, 1992
  • Tulku Thondup, Enlightened Journey, Boston & London, Shambhala, 1995
  • Tulku Thondup, Masters of Meditation and Miracles, Shambhala, 1996

Notes

  1. ↑ Masters of Meditation and Miracles, by Tulku Thondup, pages 43-44.
  2. ↑ Masters of Meditation and Miracles, by Tulku Thondup, pages 122-123.
  3. ↑ Hidden Teachings of Tibet, An Explanation of the Terma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, by Tulku Thondup, pages 122-123.
  4. ↑ Masters of Meditation and Miracles, by Tulku Thondup, page 33.
  5. ↑ The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel: The Practice of Guru Yoga According to the Longchen Nyingtik Tradition, by Dilgo Khyentse, Shambhala Publications, page 8.
  6. ↑ Using a text of Getse Mahapandita: Full Discernment of Phenomena: A Catalogue of the Complete Collected Works of the Omniscient King of Dharma Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa (Wyl. kun mkhyen chos kyi rgyal po rig 'dzin 'jigs med gling pa'i bka' 'bum yongs rdzogs kyi bzhugs byang chos rab rnam 'byed)

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