The Path of Secret Mantra

ForewordI am forever indebted to H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, the supreme head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, who is so kind to all of us in bestowing the empowerments and oral transmissions of the complete cycle of Northern Treasures and many other hidden treasure teachings of Guru Padmasambhava, at Drophan Ling, the Khordong Dharma Centre in Poland, over the course of the last few years.Among the many profound teachings we received from His Holiness, this is the Jangter Ngo¨ndro Zer Nga commentary.It was my privilege to be able to give these Jangter Ngo¨ndro Zer Nga teachings and explanations in English during the course of a three-year Jangter retreat at Gonjang Monastery, Gangtok, Sikkim.The recorded teachings of this Ngo¨ndro were transcribed by Ananda Badet, of Colorado, USA. She is a disciple of Serdo Tulku, and her great interest in the project was the start of the formation of this book. I am really thankful to Ananda. I deeply appreciate all the hard work and time she took to transcribe this particular teaching with great patience. Later, the text was carefully checked and edited by me so this present book here is not only the translation of the text by Pema Tinley but contains also teachings given by H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche and from my own classes.I'm also thankful to Brian Noell, New Haven, USA, who helped me in editing the text further. And to Madam Sara Zedeler of Denmark, and many of my Dharma friends in Europe who are disciples of C.R. Lama Rinpoche and of H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, all of whom have shown a deep interest in this particular English translation work. Due to their undying enthusiasm and inspiration, it has become my pleasant duty to make these profound teachings available and handy to all those who are interested.I will always be indebted to Lama Martin Boord, a renowned scholar and disciple of C.R. Lama Rinpoche, for his invaluable editing work. Thoroughly revising the text according to the commentary of Rigzin

ContentsFive categories of skilful practice(1) Yoga for waking 3 (2) Yoga for sleeping 7 (3) Bathing yoga 17 (4) Eating yoga 18 (5) Yoga of daily practice 18Two aspects of practice(a) During meditation sessions 9(i) Preliminary practices of the body 10 (ii) Preliminary practices of the speech 11 (iii) Preliminary practices of the mind 16(b) Creating the suitable vessel 19 Praying to one's root guru as Padmasambhava 19PART ONEA commentary on the Northern Treasures Five Nails ESTABLISHING THE ESSENTIAL POINTS OF THE ROOT TEXT WITH CRYSTAL CLEAR MEANINGThe preparation(a) The special reason for doing prostrations 30 (b) The kind of person that should do the practice 30 (c) The qualities of the suitable place for practice 33 (d) The necessary items that should be gathered 35 (e) The proper posture in which to sit 36The main practice(a) A brief overview of the general points 37 (b) A detailed discussion of the specific practices 38(1) The nail of refuge and bodhicitta(i) The indispensable nature of the practices of going for refugeand generating bodhicitta, which are the root of the pathand the foundation of all good qualities 38(ii) The manner in which one should meditateupon the assembly tree of the sources of refuge 39?viii The Path of Secret Mantra(iii) The manner in which one contemplates the living beingsof the six realms when taking refuge 44 (iv) The manner in which one actually goes for refuge 45(v) Having taken refuge, the manner in which one proceedsin training 49 (vi) Contemplating the benefits and advantages of taking refuge 52(vii) The manner in which one meditates upon the development of bodhicitta in connection with taking refuge 53Relative bodhicittaAspirational bodhicitta 53 The bodhicitta of active engagement 55Ultimate bodhicitta 56 (viii) The manner in which one trains in the development of bodhicittaThe precepts of training in aspiration Meditations on the four boundless mindsImmeasurable equanimity 58 Immeasurable love toward all living beings 59

Khenpo Chowang, is mainly known through his visits to Darnkow during the summer retreats where he accompanied and translated for H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche. He did this also during the transmission of this specific teaching. He is a teacher in two Shedras in Gangtok, Sikkim, where he also teaches in detail about the "Five Nails" with the help of Pema Tinley's text. He lives at the Gonjang monastery, above of Gangtok. Khenpo-la is a sovereign scholar and teacher and most helpful during the Jangter Summer Retreats at Drophan Ling in Poland. Martin Boord is well known as a western expert of the vajrakila practice. He has translated many texts of Pema Tinley and is well versed with this teaching of the five nails. More about Martin Boord on our website.