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The Home of Tibetan Buddhist Texts in Translation
ISSN 2753-4812
ISSN 2753-4812

Translations by Joseph McClellan

Translators Joseph McClellan

English (30)

Joseph McClellan received a PhD from Columbia University's Department of Religion in 2013. He has taught humanities at colleges in several countries and is now an independent translator and writer based in Asia.

Texts translated into English by Joseph McClellan

Apang Tertön

by Apang Tertön
An invocation of the dharmakāya Amitābha, sambhogakāya Avalokiteśvara, nirmāṇakāya Padmasambhava, siddha Thangtong Gyalpo and Apang Tertön himself, requesting guidance and protection on the path to awakening.
7 Mar 2024
by Apang Tertön
A lineage prayer for the innermost secret guru practice of Sealed Immaculate Vision (dri med snang ba'i rgya can), which features Guru Padmasambhava, Thangtong Gyalpo and Apang Tertön himself.
4 Apr 2024

Dorje Lingpa

by Dorje Lingpa
In this short song, the treasure-revealer Dorje Lingpa expresses his delight at realizing the nature of mind through the guru's kindness.
2 Jan 2024
by Dorje Lingpa
This eccentric song, which "rides the steed of the maṇi mantra", is addressed to Ane Tsöndrü Palmo and a group of nuns, who welcomed Dorje Lingpa upon his return to Gungthang in Ngari at the invitation of King Tri Sonam De (1371–1404).
4 Mar 2024

Getse Gyurme Tenpa Namgyal

by Getse Gyurme Tenpa Namgyal
This six-verse song for the gaṇacakra feast, which Gyurme Tenpa Namgyal composed spontaneously at the age of 20, has a Dzogchen theme.
9 Jan 2024

Je Khenpo Jigme Choeda

by Je Khenpo Jigme Choeda
The Kuri Chhu River answers a series of questions, conveys a message from Marpa Lotsawa's home in Lhodrak, and makes aspirations for the flourishing of the Dharma.
11 Dec 2024
by Je Khenpo Jigme Choeda
Verses on the five perfections (phun sum tshogs pa lnga)—the perfect site, occasion, teacher, community, and teaching—and how they are all complete within the ultimate nature of the mind.
11 Dec 2024

Karma Tsultrim Tendar

by Karma Tsultrim Tendar
Verses in praise of Tana ('Horse Ear') Monastery in Nangchen, seat of Yelpa Yeshe Tsek (1134–1194), founder of the Yelpa Kagyü.
10 Sep 2024

Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso

by Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso
Verses for contemplating karma and the faults of saṃsāra, to be added to the Longsal Dorje Nyingpo preliminaries.
11 Dec 2023

Khenchen Ngawang Palzang

by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
Verses expressing sorrow at the nature of saṃsāra from an "old master of fictions" who recognizes the illusoriness of appearances.
9 Apr 2024
by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
General advice on the common preliminaries followed by pithy instructions on the practice of the Great Perfection.
19 Oct 2024
by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
Verses of advice, composed at the request of the master's vajra companions, on the purity of everything that appears and exists, transcending all notions of friendliness and hostility, pleasure and pain.
15 Aug 2024
by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
In these verses Khenchen Ngawang Palzang offers a lesson in humility as he expresses dismay at his plight and issues a heartfelt plea for the guru's guidance.
25 Jun 2024
by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
In this text from his collected advice, Khenchen Ngawang Palzang warns of the dangers of "fascination with irrelevant, verbose, and exotic discourses" and encourages followers to properly scrutinize their own minds and seek buddhahood for others' sake.
26 Sep 2024
by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
Verses of advice that stress the importance of recollecting impermanence, training in study, contemplation and meditation, and avoiding the pitfalls of dry scholasticism.
8 Nov 2024
by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
These words of advice, written for a female disciple, cover every aspect of the path, up to and including the Great Perfection. The text is included in the 53-volume Ḍākinī Treasury anthology.
21 Nov 2023
by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
Verses of advice for a sincere disciple on "the heart of the matter" and "Dharma's essence", the Dzogchen practice of Trekchö.
10 Oct 2024
by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
This brief text draws on the oral tradition of Patrul Rinpoche to explain three categories of dependent arising found in Longchen Rabjam's Great Chariot: 1) the dependent arising of the fundamental character (gshis) or ground (gzhi) of reality, 2) the dependent arising of saṃsāra, and 3) the dependent arising of nirvāṇa.
24 Oct 2023
by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
Advice on how to transform feelings of hope and fear or strong panic by visualizing Guru Padma Tötreng Tsal and recognizing all appearances as the deity's expression. From such a perspective, in the recognition of non-duality, ordinary dualistic perception seems incredible.
3 Dec 2024
by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
Simple advice on the cause and effect of actions, the benefits of exchanging happiness for suffering, and the necessity of reciting the Seven-Line Prayer and Vajra Guru mantra.
11 Jul 2024
by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
This undated song was composed to console fellow disciples after the passing of their Dzogchen teacher, most likely Nyoshul Lungtok (1829–1901/2) but possibly Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso (1880–1925), the Second Pema Norbu Rinpoche (1887–1932), or some other figure.
17 Apr 2024
by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
Uncompromising verses of advice, encouraging followers to consider whether or not they are on the right path of renunciation, faith, and self-sufficiency.
30 Aug 2024

Longsal Nyingpo

by Longsal Nyingpo
In this five-verse song, Longsal Nyingpo describes his accomplishment of path integration, or 'bringing onto the path' (lam khyer), such that all experiences serve as fuel for his practice.
2 Feb 2024
revealed by Longsal Nyingpo
This edition of the Longsal Dorje Nyingpo preliminaries, compiled by Khenpo Jamyang Gyalsten (1929–1999) and the Third Katok Getse, Gyurme Tenpa Namgyal (1886–1952), includes Longsal Nyingpo’s original terma verses and a few supplemental sections, including verses by Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso (1880–1925).
8 Dec 2023

Sera Khandro

by Sera Khandro
A prayer invoking Milarepa's inspiration and guidance in order to master the practice and realize the dharmakāya nature within this life or take birth in the paradise of Khecarā and bring benefit to others.
15 Mar 2024

Tsultrim Wangmo

by Tsultrim Wangmo
In 2006, Khenpo Akhyuk (1927–2011) told Tsultrim Wangmo to record for posterity her experiences of other realms as a delok, or revenant. The following year, a team of women joined her to help record her stories. In the course of their work, as their faith in Tsultrim Wangmo grew, they requested teachings from her. She told them that she did not know how to give formal teachings but offered this song of advice instead.
16 Feb 2024
by Tsultrim Wangmo
Three summarizing verses from the conclusion of Delok Tsultrim Wangmo's memoirs.
9 Mar 2024
by Tsultrim Wangmo
Delok Tsultrim Wangmo here records the advice given by Khenpo Akhyuk Lungtok Gyaltsen (1927–2011) in response to her account of her dream experiences.
29 Mar 2024

Tulku Arik

by Tulku Arik
These verses of advice, published in a history of Yachen Orgyen Samten Ling, constitute the only composition of Tromge Tulku Arik's currently available.
28 May 2024

Yelpa Yeshe Tsek

by Yelpa Yeshe Tsek
The author pays tribute to his teacher Pakmodrupa Dorje Gyalpo (1110–1170) by highlighting the significance of his name, describing how he embodies the three kāyas and identifying some of his special qualities.
4 Sep 2024

Joseph McClellan

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