Ebook: Practicing the Great Perfection: Instructions on the Crucial Points

A collection of essential instructions on the practice of Dzogchen, or The Great Perfection, from one of the great early 20th century Buddhist masters.

Shechen Gyaltsap (1871-1926) was widely recognized as one of the greatest meditation masters and most compassionate bodhisattvas in the history of Tibetan Buddhism. He lived a life of complete devotion and commitment to monastic discipline and study, and became the root teacher of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, who said of Shechen Gyaltsap's teachings that they were "worth more than all the gold in the entire world."

This collection, intended for the advanced Buddhist practitioner who has received initiation from a qualified master, provides the essential instructions of Dzogchen, or Great Perfection, practice. Written with a clear simplicity that belies their profundity, the teachings give practical and pointed advice on how students should meditate and behave in ordinary life. The work begins with an extensive reflection on the problem of self-clinging and the analytical meditation designed to uproot it and proceeds to more specific instructions for the mind practice itself.

About the Author
Shechen Gyaltsap Gyurmé Pema Namgyal (1871-1926), the fourth Shechen Gyaltsab (Gyaltsab IV), also known as Gyurme Pema Namgyal, was one of Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche's closest disciples and was the root lama of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He was recognized at a very young age to possess the qualities of a bodhisattva and went on to become a devoted scholar, monastic, and teacher. He was known for his warmth and simplicity, and was referred to by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche as Kadrinchen, "the one who was most kind".

From Shambhala Publications
Shechen Gyaltsap IV
Shechen Gyaltsap (1871–1926), also known as Gyurmé Pema Namgyal and the fourth Shechen Gyaltsap, was one of Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche’s closest disciples and the root teacher of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He was recognized at a very young age to possess the qualities of a bodhisattva and went on to become a devoted monk, scholar, and accomplished master of the Great Perfection, known for his warmth and simplicity. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche said Shechen Gyaltsap’s teachings were “worth more than all the gold in the entire world.” He is often referred to as Shechen Gyaltsap the IVth. However, while he is the fourth in the line of incarnation, the title “Gyaltsap”, or regent, was naturally applied first to the second in the line. Thus our author here is really the third “Shechen Gyaltsap”. We have made this confusing as several of our books (Vajra Wisdom; A Practice of Padmasambhava) also refer to this author as the IVth.