A Treasure Trove of Blessing and Protection

Book excerpt: Cultural Writing. Various types of sacred texts are included in this volume including prayers of supplication to Guru Rinpoche for his guidance and for achieving profound wisdom through devotion and meditation. In the eighth century, Guru Padmasambhava--the Lotus Born--came to Tibet from India and became known as Guru Rinpoche, the Precious Teacher. He transmitted many esoteric teachings to his disciples and concealed them as Ter (gTer) or Terma (gTerma)--hidden Dharma treasures--for the sake of future disciples. From the eleventh century until today thousands of volumes of those concealed teachings have been discovered by the reincarnations of his chief disciples through spiritual discernment. Guru Rinpoche is the founder of Tibetan Buddhism and is referred to as the Second Buddha by his followers. Translator Mike Dickman has previously translated many texts of the Nyingma and 'Drigung Ka'gyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism.