The Realm of Shambhala

We are delighted to make available in translation one of the most famous and recited prayers of the Jonang tradition, The Great Praise of Shambhala by Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen.

An excerpt from this praise reads,

Upon its beautiful, round,
and lofty peak, the sublime sage’s
residence known as Śambhala
contains more than ten million towns,
the chief of which is glorious Kalāpa,
with a vast breadth of twelve leagues,
decorated with gold and various
precious substances, and possessing
the joy and happiness of the Dharma
of the sublime vehicle.

The translation is courtesy of Cyrus Stearns.

Download and read this from our Digital Library.

We are pleased to have as the most recent addition to our online library, a translation of another one of the 108 essential guidance instructions that were preserved in written form by the great Jonang master Kunga Drolchok (1507-1566).

An excerpt from this short piece reads,

The smiling countenance of one
who is supremely, totally peaceful,
whose seven eyes have the excellence
of the wide open petals of an utpala lotus,
she gives what is best with her right hand,
and her left hand’s joined thumb and ring finger
hold the stem of a white utpala.

She’s charming, elegant, and has the look of love.

The translation is courtesy of James Rutke.

Download and read this from our Digital Library.

We at Jonang Foundation invite you to read the spring issue of our bi-annual online newsletter.

Contents in this issue include:

• What's Happening at JF
• Aspiration for the Jonangpa
• Jonangpa.com: The JF Blog
• TibetPhoto.org Fundraiser
• Jonang Nuns Project
• Ngedon Thartuk Translation Initiative

Read JF's E-Newsletter.

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4 New Translations from Cyrus Stearns

Courtesy of Cyrus Stearns, author of "The Buddha from Dolpo" and a member of Jonang Foundation's Board of Directors, we have recently added four new short translations to our expanding online library. These additions include 2 texts by Dolpopa, one by the 16th century Jonang and Shangpa Kagyu master Kunga Drolchok, and one by Drolchok's own teacher Lochen Ratnabhadra. These insightful works from some of the great masters of the Jonang lineage present instructions and praise directly from their experiences of realization, and are being made available here through Cyrus Stearns' clear and lucid translations.

Download and read them from our Digital Library.

Tanjur Set

Collated Edition of the Tripitaka: Tibetan Tanjur

This edition of the Tibetan Tanjur was put together by the Tripitika Collated Bureau at the Chinese Center for Tibetan Studies. The product of more than 20 years of careful compilation by erudite Tibetan scholars and over 100 specialists, these works incorporate the different editions of the Tibetan Tanjur including the Beijing, Narthang and Dzoni editions. Based upon the Derge edition, variants in terminology, phrases, and sentence order are noted in the annotations and lists appended to each volume.

Buy now from our Shop.

Jonang Nunnery under Construction

Jonang Foundation has recently embarked upon the Jonang Nuns Project.

This project was initiated during the Summer of 2007 in order to provide greater care for women Buddhist practitioners in Tibet. In particular, the project is concerned with raising funds in order to provide Jonang nuns with the necessary resources for housing, education, and meditation practice.

At present, the project is concentrating on Swe Nunnery, 1 of only 3 Jonang nunneries in Tibet and currently the only active Jonang nunnery in Amdo. Originally a mountain meditation retreat, it became a nunnery 16 years ago and is now home to 60 nuns ranging in age from 13 to 40. As it continues to expand, the nunnery is in great need of funding to build more houses, meditation buildings, and other facilities. As the Jonang Nuns Project gains support, we will work with growing communities of Buddhist nuns throughout the Amdo region of Tibet.

The Essence of Zhentong

Composed by the Jonang scholar Taranatha (1575-1635), the "Essence of Zhentong" ("Essence of Shentong;" other-emptiness) offers a succinct presentation of both non-Buddhist and Buddhist philosophical systems, culminating in a discussion on the significance of Madhyamaka in general and the Great Madhyamaka tradition more specifically. A clear and precise introduction to "zhentong" as a view and system, the "Essence of Zhentong" is a classic reading drawn from the repository of Jonang philosophical literature.

*This work is provided courtesy of the Ngedon Thartuk Translation Initiative.

Download and read this translation as a PDF file.

The Rngog Collection

Now available for purchase is the 10 volume Rngog Collection. This collection was reproduced by Paltseg Publications along with the 7 volume Kalachakra commentary series (also available for purchase). These two collections make a complete set titled, "Phyag bris gces btus" in 17 volumes (sold separately here).

To view and purchase these fine Tibetan language (dbu med) texts, visit the Assorted Tibetan Books page in JF's online Shop.

The Jonang Foundation Blog

Dolpopa at the Great Stupa

The official weblog ("blog") of Jonang Foundation was launched at Jonangpa.com. This online resource for the study of the Jonang will be used to post research notes and reflections in order to elicit feedback and discussion.

The JF blog features regular commentary on various topics related to the Jonangpa, and the Jonang Tibetan Buddhist heritage. Content on Jonangpa.com is derived from ongoing field research in Tibet and from primary Tibetan language source materials, and is presented in the form of a series of notes on related topics concerning Jonang history, zhentong (gzhan stong) philosophical thinking, the Kalachakra Tantra, the contemporary tradition, etc.

Readers are invited to submit comments to all posts on Jonangpa.com. In order to comment, visit the blog and register for free under the "add new comment" button following each post. We look forward to your feedback and online discussions.

Discovering the Jonang: A Pilgrimage through Far Eastern & Central Tibet

Mountains of Amdo, Tibet

**Postponed until the Summer of 2009 due to recent events in Tibet**

Stage I: Far Eastern Tibet/Amdo: July 5th - July 22nd

Stage II: Central Tibet/U-Tsang: July 20th - August 2nd

A Cultural & Educational Tour Hosted by Jonang Foundation

In Collaboration with Amitabha Travel Agency

The Journey

Traversing through the vast Tibetan terrains of Amdo (Sichuan & Qinghai Provinces, China) where the Jonangpa have lived for over 500 years, then traveling onwards to the early home of the Jonangpa in the mountainous landscapes of U-Tsang (Tibetan Autonomous Region)--this journey will take you through the ages and across the boundaries of religious and cultural imagination to encounter one of Tibet's most unknown living spiritual traditions.