Giving the Nyingma Scriptures to Mongolia

MBRP staff members have searched throughout Mongolia and are fairly certain that the fundamental collections of uniquely Nyingma scriptures are simply not present in the country. Jetsunma wants to change that.

She has asked that one of the top priorities of the MBRP be to print quality editions of this canon to distribute at appropriate Mongolian monasteries. This is no small task. The collections to be printed are as follows:

The Nyingma Kama (collection of the ancient tantras translated and disseminated by Padmasambhava and others in the 8th c.): 58 Volumes, $1450 to sponsor entire collection.

The Nyingma Gyudbum (collection of the most secret tantras): 46 Volumes, $1150 to sponsor entire collection.

The Rinchen Terdzöd (19th c. collection of the extant terma, or revelations of Padmasambhava): 111 Volumes, $2775 to sponsor entire collection.

Tertön Migyur Dorje’s Nam Chö Revelation Cycle (primary terma cycle practiced in the Palyul monastic system): 13 Volumes, $325 to sponsor entire collection.

Longchen Rabjam’s Seven Treasuries (incomparable 14th c. explication of the Nyingma’s highest teaching, Dzogchen, or the Great Perfection): 7 Volumes, $175 to sponsor entire collection.

Mipham Rinpoche’s Collected Works (19th c. Nyingma master's commentaries offering precise clarification of the Nyingma view of the entire Buddhist path): 27 Volumes, $675 to sponsor entire collection.

Total: 262 Volumes

$6550 to sponsor entire collection.

Special thanks to Gene Smith and the Tibetan Buddhism Resource Center, as well as the Bodhi Foundation, for the donation of all the texts on CD, as well as start-up funds.

These volumes must be carefully hand-printed one by one. Many of the cloth covers will be hand-sewn by a local women’s sewing cooperative. The cost to print and wrap each volume is approximately $25. If you can sponsor a whole collection, 10 volumes ($250), four ($100), or even just one, you are making an invaluable contribution to the health of Mongolian Buddhism. Click the "Donate to the Mongolia Fund" button at left to make a secure online donation and make sure to type “MBRP Nyingma Text Printing” in the comment box.

We also intend to print and offer a complete collection to each Nyingma monastery of tsakle, the images necessary for Vajrayana empowerment ceremonies. With these two collections present – texts and tsakle – qualified lamas can come and perform and empowerments to restore practice lineages were lost during the Communist years.

Mongolian Buddhism Revival Project

RE-INTRODUCING DHARMA TEXTS

Before the Communist revolution, Mongolia’s monastic libraries housed some of the most impressive collections of Buddhist literature in the world. Most of these were burned or trampled under horses’ hooves.

A monk examines old texts in the

Danzan Ravjaa Museum, Sainshand, East Gobi.

A critical component of Mongolia’s Buddhist revival is the translation, printing, re-introduction and dissemination of Buddhist texts.

One of the first acts of the MBRP in Mongolia was to have the Seven Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche translated into Mongolian, with the original Tibetan transliterated for chanting. The prayer has been printed on the back of 1000 cards with the image of Guru Rinpoche, and distributed throughout the country.

Much more needs to be done. While there is some promising work being done by Mongolians in this arena, virtually no one is focused on the Nyingma literature. This is where MBRP comes in. Jetsunma has asked that our first task be to print and offer the unique Nyingma canon, in its entirety, to monasteries where it will be studied and used for practice transmissions (see sidebar).

Funds raised by the MBRP will also be channeled into supporting translation of classic texts and the works of contemporary masters into colloquial Mongolian editions, as well as the creation of practice texts for people’s own devotions.

A full set of the Nyingma texts arrive by camel on the occasion of Khamar Monastery's Annual Prayer Festival at the Northern Shambhala site, September, 2007.

Thank you for supporting

KPC's Mongolian Buddhism Revival Project!

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