Ebook: Meditator’s Guide to Great Completion

Meditator's Guide to Great: Teachings of Mingyur Rinpoche

A complete set of teachings on the path of Great Completion as given by Mingyur Rinpoche. The teaching covers every topic, from beginning to end, for a person wanting to do the practice.

The book starts with an explanation of the truth of suffering and proceeds through the basic sutra teachings that have to be contemplated in order to re-orient the mind so that it turns away from cyclic existence towards enlightenment. The teachings here are simple but precise and very clear. The teaching then goes through the basics of the Vajra Vehicle: the preliminary practices, followed by the need for empowerment, followed by the practice of development stage. In these teachings, Mingyur Rinpoche gave and taught the practice of Vajrasatva, which is the most universal practice that works for the whole Vajra Vehicle. This practice is also closely tied to the teaching of Great Completion so it is very fitting. Each of the subjects involved is again taught very clearly and precisely. The teaching then spends considerable time on the practices of shamatha and vipashyana which are taught in a way that is consistent with the Parting Sides (Tib. rushen) practice of Great Completion. This part of the teaching is very extensive. It can be understood equally as the general practice of emptiness that is taught in the Great Vehicle as well as a particular precursor to the main practices of Great Completion. The teachings here correspond exactly to what Mingyur Rinpoche has set out as the first level of practice for all of his students. The teaching then proceeds to the main practice of Thorough Cut (Tregcho) of Great Completion. The teachings here are well set out and taught in a way that eliminates the doubts that people who have practised the Lesser Vehicle often have when confronted with these higher teachings. This style of teaching happened because most of the students in the audience were the students of Tsoknyi Rinpoche who had been practising the Vipassana system taught by Jack Kornfield and his group. The teachings here are not diluted but are taught in a way that clears away misconceptions about the practice. The book ends with various subjects related to the practice of Thorough Cut. The teaching does not include teachings on Direct Crossing (Tib. thod rgal).

This teaching was Rinpoche’s first teaching in the West. It was given in California in 1997 with Lotsawa Tony as the translator. Tsoknyi Rinpoche asked Lotsawa Tony to go to translate for Mingyur Rinpoche because of Tony’s many years of experience with the whole of the Buddhist teaching in general and particularly with translating Great Completion. Tony offered to make a book out of the teachings for Mingyur Rinpoche who was pleased with the idea. The book is unusually clear and complete because of the combined abilities of the teacher and translator.

Mingyur Rinpoche asked that the book be restricted because of the explicit teachings on Thorough Cut. It can be purchased from us by contacting us and indicating that you are qualified to receive the book. To qualify, you have to have heard Mingyur Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, or Tulku Ugyen’s teachings on Thorough Cut or you have a letter or other proof of authorization from Mingyur Rinpoche himself. Those who have obtained complete instruction in Thorough Cut from another teacher can also apply.