Odiyana Institute Main Courses:

Words of My Perfect Teacher:
By Paltrul Jigme Choekyi Wangpo
 

Words of My Perfect Teacher introduces the fundamental spiritual practices common to all Tibetan Buddhist traditions.  It offers a complete and thourough teachings on the preliminary practices, known as Ngondro.    Most vajrayana practitioners keep Ngondro as their daily practice at all time.   The auther makes the technicalities of the subject accessible through a wealth of stories, quotations, and references to everyday life.

A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life:
By Shantideva

Shantideva's classic treatise, the Bodhicaryavatara, translated here as A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life, has been the most widely read, cited, and practiced text in the whole of the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist tradition.  Moreover, His Holiness the Dalai Lama comments that the Bodhicaryavatara is the primary source of most of the Tibetan Buddhist literature on the cultivation of altruism and the Spirit of Awakening.

The Gateway to Knowledge:
By Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche

The Gateway to Knowledge is a condensation of the Tripitaka.  Consolidating the intent of Buddha Shakyamuni's teachings into a unified body of text books, it is the philosophical backbone of the living tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. This rich source book embodies the basics of Prajnaparamita and Madhyamika as well as the Abhidharma from both the Mahayana and Hinayana perspective.

The Beacon of Certainty:
By Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche

Because of its thoroughness in addressing the foundations of the Nyingma-pa tradition, from Madhyamika philosophy to the view of Dzogchen, it is a key text studied in virtually all Nyingma-pa shedras. The title, "The Beacon of Certainty", refers to the fact that unwavering certainty in the view of the indivisible union of appearance and emptiness is a shining beacon that illuminates the spiritual path.
Beacon of Certainty was particularly famous and one of his most beneficial for clearing away the doubts and confusions on the view, path, and meditation.

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Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra:

By Lord Maitreya/ Asanga

 

Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra is one of the most important teaching of Mahayana, throughly explaining Buddha-Nature.  It is among the five great teachings given by Lord Maitreya (future Buddha) to Asanga (Loppon Thogmey).

Studying and contemplating such precious text will provide a clear philosophical foundation for understanding the inherently pure nature of all beings, our so-called “Buddha-Nature.”

 

Guhyagarbha Tantra Or The Essence of Secrets Tantra:

By Gyu Sangwi Nyingpo

 

Within the Mahayoga (the first of the three Inner Tantras), there are eight accomplishment pratices of the eight herukas and the eighteen classes of tantras. The Essence of Secrets Tantra is the essetial teaching of all eighteen classes of tantras. As such it offers an in depth explanation of the ground, path, fruition, and particularly gives very detail teachings on the path in the ten different sections known as the Ten Topics of Tantra. This sacred Tantra is much studied, expounded and practiced within in the lineage of Nyingma school.

The Flight of the Garuda:
By Shabkar Tsogdruk Rangdrol

The book conveys the heart advice of one of the most beloved masters of Tibet, the itinerent yogi Shabkar, held to be an incarnation of Milarepa. Shabkar communicates the essence of Dzogchen teachings through songs of realization both poetic and poignant. Dzogchen practice brings us into direct communion with the most subtle nature of experience, the unity of samsara and nirvana as experienced within our own consciousness, bringing the meditator face to face with the nature of reality.

Buddhahood Without Meditation:
By Dudjom Lingpa

Widely known by its subtitle, Nang-jang (Refining Apparent Phenomena), presents the view of the Great Perfection through the approach known as t'hreg-chhod (cutting through solidity). It is a direct transmission so powerful that just hearing it read aloud ensures that the listener will escape the suffering of cyclic existence. The nineteenth-century master Dudjom Lingpa received these teachings in visionary dialogue with fourteen inlightened beings, including Avalokiteshvara, Vajrapani, Longchenpa, and Saraha.  This is one of most important Dzogchen Teachings in Dudjom lineage.