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Born in a period of political uncertainty and religious efflorescence, the late seventeenth-century master of the Northern Treasures (Byang-gter) tradition, the mahavidyadhara Pema Tinley (Padma ´phrin-las) is widely renowned for his perceptive insight, his boundless concern for the welfare of others and his scholarly excellence. The Great Fifth Dalai Lama himself repeatedly refers to Pema Tinley in his autobiographical writings, calling him "the best of reincarnations" and "spiritual son of supreme virtue."

In this masterful guide to the full spectrum of vajrayana practice, Pema Tinley leads the reader along an exciting path of self re-discovery towards the all-encompassing state of deep natural awareness - the completely perfect condition of buddhahood, endowed with wisdom, compassion and abundant joyful energy. Moving from a simple series of daily contemplative practices that gradually bring the errantly wandering mind under control and train it to focus upon the true meaning of life, the author skilfully encourages his audience eventually to abandon all meditation on "objects with signs" until it can rest easily without supporting props in the vast expanse of blissful awareness in which all appearances are recognised as the spontaneous display of non-dual emptiness.

All Buddhists have something to learn from this book, a complete guide to the innermost path of secret mantra, written by one of its foremost authorities.

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Foreword

I 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 Pema Tinley, Rev Dr Boord made many necessary changes and added much new material to bring the book into this present form. Without his help, the book would not have been ready for publication so soon. Thanks a million.
I´m also thankful to the publisher for making the book available to all those who may be stimulated by these teachings, and to the artists Robert Beer and Nick Dudka for their valuable contributions.
May this book deepen the understanding of those who practise the Jangter Ngo ndro Zer Nga and the profound instructions of Dzogchen. May it also encourage many others to practise these teachings, and may it prove to be a beneficial guidebook to the experience of lasting happiness and the attainment of supreme enlightenment.
18th May 2014
Dr. Khenpo Chowang Gonjang Monastery, Gangtok, Sikkim
Associate Professor in Buddhist Philosophy Sikkim Nyingma Institute Government of Sikkim Gangtok Sikkim

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