Report July 2025: The Catalogue and Eight Branch Infractions
This month we published two new texts and added several new pages to our website.
It has been more than 5 years since we started the project! We've translated over 700 pages of the Longchen Nyingtik Shechen Tsapo (the Core Texts) and more than 300 pages from Longchen Nyingtik texts outside of that collection, totaling over 1000 pages. If you're curious, please check out our yearly reports. A big THANK you to all our supporters; your continued contribution makes our work possible!
Lhundrup Teng temple in Derge (Treasury of Lives)
We are pleased to present An Illuminating Ornament of Brilliant Sunlight: A Catalogue of the Heart-Essence of the Vast Expanse, by Jigme Losal. This catalogue of the treasures of the Longchen Nyingtik was written in 1802 at the Lhundrup Teng temple in Derge, after the printing blocks had been carved at Derge's famous printing house. The text includes (1) a history of how the Dzogchen teachings came to this world, (2) an account of how they flourished in Tibet, and (3) the actual catalogue in eight sections.
Our second text this month is Confession of the Eight Branch Infractions and Downfalls, based on the writings of Mañjuśrīkīrti. This edition, as recited in the Longchen Nyingtik tradition, corresponds mostly to Branch Commitments (yan lag gi dam tshig), which is found in the Tengyur (Toh 2483), but features an extra line of confession after the description of each downfall. These extra lines appear to have been taken from the commentary by Mañjuśrīkīrti.
We frequently receive requests from practitioners for tangkas and mandalas, which can be difficult to obtain. Additionally, incorrect images and paintings are sometimes shared. To address this issue, we have gathered various images on our website. We've added new pages in the 'resources' section for tangkas, tormas, and mandalas. We are particularly pleased to have finally obtained drawings made by Tulku Rigdzin Pema Rinpoche, based on old drawings from Tibet and created with the direct guidance of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. These pages are still under construction and will be updated regularly in the coming months.
As a reminder, these are Vajrayāna images and should only be viewed and used after receiving empowerment and transmission from your guru.