The Buddha from Dölpo is a revised and enlarged edition of the only book about the most controversial Buddhist master in the history of Tibet.  Dölpopa Sherab Gyaltsen (1292–1361), who became perhaps the greatest Tibetan expert of the Kalacakra or Wheel of Time, a vast system of tantric teachings. Based largely on esoteric Buddhist knowledge from the legendary land of Shambhala, Dölpopa’s insights have profoundly influenced the development of Tibetan Buddhism for more than 650 years. Dölpopa emphasized two contrasting definitions of the Buddhist theory of emptiness. He described relative phenomena as empty of self-nature, but absolute reality as only empty of other (i.e. relative) phenomena. He further identified absolute reality as the buddha nature or eternal essence present in all living beings. This view of an “emptiness of other,” known in Tibetan as shentong, is Dölpopa’s enduring legacy. The Buddha from Dölpo contains the only English translations of three of Dölpopa’s crucial works. A General Commentary on the Doctrine is one of the earliest texts in which he systematically presented his view of the entire Buddhist path to enlightenment. The Fourth Council and its Auto-commentary (which was not in the first edition of this book) were written at the end of his life and represent a final summation of his teachings. These translations are preceded by a detailed discussion of Dölpopa’s life, his revolutionary ideas, earlier precedents for the shentong view, his unique use of language, and the influence of his theories. The fate of his Jonang tradition, which was censored by the central Tibetan government in the seventeenth century but still survives, is also examined. This revised edition of Cyrus Stearns’s The Buddha from Dölpo is a must read for all interested in the intellectual history of Tibet. New translations of some of the key works of Dölpopa open philosophical and cosmological ideas of one of the great thinkers of the Tibetan tradition. This is a marvellous piece of scholarship.” —E. Gene Smith, founder and senior research scholar of the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center “Cyrus Stearns’s The Buddha from Dölpo is among the major contributions to the history

By Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama Having perfectly meditated upon generating the enlightened mind for incalculable eons, The incomparable sovereign of the Shakyas wisely brought down the rain Of sublime teachings in order to fulfil the wishes of illimitable beings. To you who protects beings through glorious virtue, I pay homage! The intended meaning of the three successive Wheels of Dharma Was explicated from multiple realisations derived from study and practice. This is what distinguishes the one from the many gates of the Buddha’s Dharma. May the teachings of the Jonang flourish!  Amidst the vast lotus grove of the victor’s teachings in the Land of Snow, Hundreds of petals of Buddhist exposition and meditation systems bloomed. Among them, the dynamic intent of the final Wheel of Dharma was revealed. May the teachings of the Jonang flourish! You uphold and transmit an unparalleled oral transmission, A commentarial tradition distinct from other sutras and tantras On the great chariot tradition of the Kalachakra Tantra. May the teachings of the Jonang flourish! From Yumo Mikyo Dorje, through Dolpopa, Kunga Dolchok, the protector Jetsun Taranatha, And successive masters, your lineage has gracefully disseminated. May the teachings of the Jonang flourish! The timelessly ultimate residing, stable, enduring Enlightened essence is the indivisible ground and fruition. This is the way elucidated in the Essence Sutras and the meaning beheld by Nagarjuna. May the teachings of the Jonang flourish! Your Middle Way zhentong view of the sutras And your practice of the Six Yogas which unfolds the meaning of the tantras Are great traditions of explanation that activate the actual dimension of reality. May the teachings of the Jonang flourish! Through the great blessings of the sources of refuge, the victor and the victor’s children, Through the power of the unalterable ultimate nature of reality, Through the force of divine virtue, and through our devotion, May this aspiration prayer be fulfilled accordingly! This “Aspiration Prayer for the Flourishing of the Jonang Tradition” was requested by Khenpo Ngawang Dorje and other Jonang practitioners. It was

by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö Homage to the guru! Glorious one, pervading all the world and its inhabitants,Vajrasattva, who binds the whole of reality in great bliss,Omnipresent guru, in your illusory wisdom form—Great Jetsün Kunga Nyingpo, to you I offer praise. A pure and magical manifestation beyond imagining,A protector who guides the oceanic multitudes of beings,A great Bodhisattva heir of the victorious, Lord of Secrets,Appearing as this great Jetsün guru—to you I bow down. With your vast intellect, the result of prior training,You studied the outer and inner fields of knowledgeAnd comprehended them all perfectly right away,With your fully developed strength of wisdom—to you I bow. Above all, for the profound and vast meaning of sūtra and tantra,You did not rely on others but used your own discernment,To perceive clearly and unerringly the ultimate intentOf the genuinely learned and accomplished of India and Tibet—to you I bow. The Lord of Sages, the Close Sons, Tārā, Padmākara,Ḍombīheruka and the noble Candragomin,The goddess Sarasvatī, a hundred adepts, Abhaya,And the Kulika kings all cared for you—to you I bow. Dark red Mañjuśrī Vajrabhairava,Kālacakra, Guhyasamāja, Vārāhī, and othersAppeared to you in visions, empowered you and issued prophecies.To you, the infinite and inconceivable light of wisdom, I bow. As the glorious Heruka VajrasattvaAnd Vajrayoginī, mother of the victorious ones,Granted, you’re the secret treasury of ocean-like tantras,You are inseparable from Vajradharma—to you I bow. During this final age of fivefold degeneration,You stand tall, as prominent as Mount SumeruAmidst hundreds of learned and accomplished ones—Glorious and mighty Vajradhara, to you I bow. When those with honest, impartial minds investigate,No one can compare to you throughout the three worldsAt revealing definitive secrets in this turbulent age—Guru Kṛṣṇācārya, to you I respectfully bow down. Abhayākara in the land of the Āryas,And Tāranātha in the land of snows—In the act of compiling the oceanic tantra teachings,There is no difference between you—to you, I bow. Through applying the supreme vajra path to the vajra body,You traversed the vajra stages according to the vajra vehicle,And gained the four vajra kāyas of vajra sovereignty—Vajra guru, Vajrasattva, to you I bow. To you, who in the future, in

1. Bow with respects to Jamgon Lama Spread advice to intelligent disciple Of all thoughts and behaviors around the world Assembled to benevolence and malevolence 2. Benevolent actions bring happiness to this life and the next life Malevolent actions destroy self and others Small benevolence is the way of human And the great malevolence is the way of utmost divinity  3. Teachers and friends lead To benevolence and purity in heart and practice Bad friends deceive and confuse With malevolence and evil thoughts  4. Dependent on goodness and badness of friend Arising goodness and badness of person’s nature Depending on the education of children Arising distinctions between goodness and badness on thoughts and behaviours  5. From virtuous and non-virtuous thoughts and behaviors Are results of pleasure and suffering in this life and the next life. If you want to obtain pleasure and be free from suffering Cautious to abandon and acceptance of evil and virtues in some cases 6. Although it is always rare that people Possessed of all accomplishments and without any faults Examine your own conduct through Three Media Devoted to abandon evil and accept virtues  7. Knowledge about this should be known flawlessly   To beloved father and merciful mother To grateful teachers, siblings and friends Learn to be respectful, friendly, and kind  8. If you want to be one with knowledge and capability Devoted to learn knowledge If you want to get rid of defects and increase knowledge Study with teachers and good friends 9. If you want to live healthily It is important to keep healthy and clean. If you want to have happiness in your heart, Always devoted to purify the heart.  10. Selfless without knowledge Like one-wing-broken bird Knowledge without higher altruism Like soulless  11. For valuable time Value it meaningfully For splendid future Change the way with knowledge and compassion.  12. In accordance with current circumstance Clever one obey regulations and follow the law From the ocean of knowledge and text Nourish the essence of knowledge in your heart. 13. Wish this