This is the transcription of four teaching retreats on the Lama Chöpa that Rimpoche gave. The material is drawn from the winter retreats, 1994, 1995 and 2000 in the US and the spring retreat 2000 in The Netherlands. The 1995 teachings have been taken as the basic teaching structure, into which the other teachings haven been integrated. The English translation of the root text is the Jewel Heart translation.
Presenting the combined commentaries from four retreats on the topic this transcript contains different styles of teaching. It is a word commentary in which Rimpoche explains the richness of the original Ti- betan text as well as a meaning commentary that explores the primordial mind in great depth and at the same time elaborates on the practice of guru yoga and the whole path to enlightenment according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It contains guided meditations and visualization techniques as well as expla- nations on the ritual aspects of the Lama Chöpa.
Headings that correspond with the outlines are printed in bold type. Headings in Italics and not bold are just to make the text easier to read. For the sake of clarity and quick search for a topic sometimes words in the text are printed in bold. The notes serve as references for study in detail, as clarifications of for- eign words and to provide added information. A chart showing the placement of the 32 deities accord- ing to the Guhyasamaja practice, the outlines, and additional texts for the Lama Chöpa practice are to be found in the Appendix. Glossary, list of literature and index are provided as usual.
Hartmut Sagolla transcribed the majority of the teachings, Dutch vajrayaners the teachings given in The Netherlands. Anne Warren checked the text of three retreats. The frontispiece is a copy of the thangka painted for Rimpoche by Marian van der Horst who also drew the cover illustration of Buddha Vajrad- hara and the offering mudras in this work.
Any mistakes are to be blamed on and any corrections will be welcomed by the editor, who enjoyed very much working on this most inspiring teaching.
Nijmegen, second, revised and extended edition, November 2003 © Ngawang Gehlek 2000.