慈悲心=Loving Kindness=Compassion=Maitri=Metta; 觀音菩薩=觀世音菩薩=Avalokiteshvara; 佛子行三十七頌=The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva
摘要
This work includes translations of key Kagyu lineage meditation manuals for the practice of the deity of compassion，Avalokiteshvara, in addition to a fresh translation of the famed Mahayana text Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva.
The Avalokiteshvara texts were authored by the renowned 19th century master Jamgon Kongtrul and the 15th Gyalwang Karmapa, Khaykhayab Dorje. The book includes an introduction by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche detailing background information about the practice of Avalokiteshvara and histories of the authors of the texts.
● Part One："The Benefit of Others that Fills All of Space" by Jamgon Kongtrul The meditation and recitation practice of Avalokiteshvara is a practice of loving kindness, compassion and wisdom that has been a staple of spiritual life for followers of the Buddhism of Tibet for hundreds of years.
The first text，written by the great nineteenth century master Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye，contains instructions for the practice of the meditational liturgy of Avalokiteshvara composed by Thangtong Gyalpo entitled All-Pervading Benefit of Beings (Tib. 'gro don mkha' khyab ma). Written in the manner of an intruction manual for teachers, it lays out for teachers and students clear and moving instructions for the practice of dharma in general and the meditation of Avalokiteshvara in particular.
Teachers and students are guided with precision through each phase of Avalokiteshvara's meditation liturgy. They are also guided through each phase of dharma practice that serves as the larger backdrop for this particular meditation. Beginning with a stirring presentation of the need for dharma practice and culminating with pithy instructions on resting in the essential nature of mind text presents a consice explanation of how to practice the dharma within the context of one of vajrayana Buddhism's most cherished icons.
● Part Two："The Continuous Rain of Benefit to Beings" by Karmapa XV Khaykhyab Dorje Commenting on the same meditation liturgy as Jamgon Kongtrul，who was his own guru，Khakhyab Dorje beautifully amends the points set forth by Kongtrul，guiding the practitioner word-by-word through the practice of Avalokiteshvara in fluid poetic tones. If the text of Jamgon Kongtrul has its strength in its uncompromising and penetrating exegesis of the staple elements of dharma practice commentary of Khakhyab Dorje excels in its mellifluous instruction on the main body of deity meditation practice，as well as its lucid exposition of the significance of the famed mantra, OM MANI PADME HUM.
● Part Three："The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva" by Ngulchu Thogme This text，43 verses long，has for years been used as a pithy method of habituating the minds of students to the altruistic path of mahayana Buddhism. The verses abound with concise，colloquial，and heartfelt advices on how to transform adversity into virtue through the practices of the six perfections and others.
● Significance of this compilation Avalokiteshvara is one of the main introductory meditation practices presented in scores of Tibetan Buddhist centers across North America and Europe，and such pithy classical commentaries of lineage masters on the practice have to date been unavailable. The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva makes a wonderful companion to the two above commentaries because of its emphasis on the development of compassion in accordance with mahayana Buddhist training. A publication containing these three works all together would be sought after by countless practictioners of Tibetan Buddhism as well as by many beginners.
