Full translations
Gongchig: The Single Intent, the Sacred Dharma
The Gongchig of the Tibetan master Jigten Sumgon conveys clearly the essence of the Buddha's teachings. It delineates the causal law of the universe, Nagarjuna's philosophy of interdependence, and opens one's mind to principles of ethics that help to guard oneself against confusion and deceit. Thus the Gongchig is a guide for every Dharma practitioner - for both study and application in daily life. This edition comprises translations of the Gongchig root text by Jigten Sumgon and of the commentary by Rigdzin Chokyi Dragpa, as well as the original Tibetan texts. It makes the work accessible even for readers who are not well versed in Buddhist philosophy. (Source Accessed Sept 18, 2020)
Book
The Single Intention: The Root Text, a Commentary by Khenpo Kunpal, and an Overview by Rinchen Jangchub
The Single Intention by Jigten Sumgön (1143–1217), the founder of the Drikung Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, is a key philosophical text for the whole Kagyu tradition. It contains Jigten Sumgön’s special teachings in 150 pithy “vajra statements” and their 40 additions.
It is about the fundamental intention that underlies all the Buddha’s teachings and unites all the categories of Buddhist concepts within one central principle – the “actual reality of the nature or state of all phenomena.” One of the main messages is the universal validity and unchangeable nature of virtue and non-virtue, which means that no one can bypass the foundational practices and the observance of disciplined conduct..
(Source: Garchen Stiftung)Book
Commentaries
Dam pa'i chos dgongs pa gcig pa'i gsal byed lung rigs snying po'i gter
Khenpo Kunpal's commentary on Jigten Gönpo's The Single Intention.
Text
Scholarship
'Jig rten mgon po and the Single Intention
Abstract
This study hopes to contribute to the field of Tibetan intellectual history and to the understanding of Buddhist vows through the investigation of the Bodhisattva vow as seen from the perspective of Tibetan scholars, using 'Jig rten mgon po as an example.
Research by scholars in the past has led to a better understanding of the contents and importance of the Bodhisattva vows in Mahāyāna Buddhism. While some have focused on the earlier explanations found in Buddhist sūtras, others have concentrated on the later development of the Bodhisattva vows discussed in Indian Buddhist commentaries. However, within the field of Tibetan intellectual history, modem scholars have begun to recognize the importance of the so-called "Three Vows" (sdom gsum) genre found in Tibetan Buddhist writings. To date, there has been no in-depth investigation of the complex historical development of the Bodhisattva vows of Tibetan Buddhism, in which the transformation of the concept of bodhicitta (enlightenment attitude) has played a significant role.
In this dissertation, I seek to provide a thorough investigation of the Bodhisattva vows from the period of Indian Buddhism to that of Tibetan Buddhism. Secondly, by analyzing the views held by 'Jig rten mgon po, based chiefly on that part of his work, "Single Intention" (Dgongs gcig), which concerns the Bodhisattva vows, I will highlight his distinctive concerns regarding this subject. In collating the numerous arguments between the Sa skya pa and the Bka' brgyud pa scholars around this topic, I will attempt to decipher and resolve some points which will contribute to a further understanding of medieval Tibetan intellectual history. In the second part, I will provide translations of two commentaries on the chapter of the Bodhisattva vow of the Dgongs gcig.
In general, the intent of this dissertation is to pursue these investigations utilizing a philological and historical perspective while taking into account both Indian and Tibetan traditions.
Research by scholars in the past has led to a better understanding of the contents and importance of the Bodhisattva vows in Mahāyāna Buddhism. While some have focused on the earlier explanations found in Buddhist sūtras, others have concentrated on the later development of the Bodhisattva vows discussed in Indian Buddhist commentaries. However, within the field of Tibetan intellectual history, modem scholars have begun to recognize the importance of the so-called "Three Vows" (sdom gsum) genre found in Tibetan Buddhist writings. To date, there has been no in-depth investigation of the complex historical development of the Bodhisattva vows of Tibetan Buddhism, in which the transformation of the concept of bodhicitta (enlightenment attitude) has played a significant role.
In this dissertation, I seek to provide a thorough investigation of the Bodhisattva vows from the period of Indian Buddhism to that of Tibetan Buddhism. Secondly, by analyzing the views held by 'Jig rten mgon po, based chiefly on that part of his work, "Single Intention" (Dgongs gcig), which concerns the Bodhisattva vows, I will highlight his distinctive concerns regarding this subject. In collating the numerous arguments between the Sa skya pa and the Bka' brgyud pa scholars around this topic, I will attempt to decipher and resolve some points which will contribute to a further understanding of medieval Tibetan intellectual history. In the second part, I will provide translations of two commentaries on the chapter of the Bodhisattva vow of the Dgongs gcig.
In general, the intent of this dissertation is to pursue these investigations utilizing a philological and historical perspective while taking into account both Indian and Tibetan traditions.
Dissertation
Gongchig: The Single Intent, the Sacred Dharma
The Gongchig of the Tibetan master Jigten Sumgon conveys clearly the essence of the Buddha's teachings. It delineates the causal law of the universe, Nagarjuna's philosophy of interdependence, and opens one's mind to principles of ethics that help to guard oneself against confusion and deceit. Thus the Gongchig is a guide for every Dharma practitioner - for both study and application in daily life. This edition comprises translations of the Gongchig root text by Jigten Sumgon and of the commentary by Rigdzin Chokyi Dragpa, as well as the original Tibetan texts. It makes the work accessible even for readers who are not well versed in Buddhist philosophy. (Source Accessed Sept 18, 2020)
Book
