Longchen Rabjam is revered as one of the greatest masters in the Nyingma school of Vajrayana Buddhism. He wrote more than 250 treatises on a wide variety of topics, but is best known for his works on Dzogchen, or Great Perfection tantras known as The Seven Treasuries. This collection discusses the primordial nature that is the ground of all experience, the view, meditation, and conduct of the spiritual path, and the final freedom that is the fruition of that path.

The Precious Treasury of Pith Instructions is the shortest of the seven texts and the only one composed entirely in verse. Writing as a spiritual mentor giving advice to his students, Longchenpa distills the principles underlying the entire range of Buddhist practice in more than 400 stanzas, each consisting of six instructions or pieces of advice. Although the later stanzas place greater emphasis on the Dzogchen approach, introductory teachings and advice are interspersed throughout the book with profound instructions on the nature of being itself and the ultimate level of truth. Longchenpa’s uncompromising tone reflects his commitment to the highest realization and to the welfare of those inspired by his message.

Paltrul Rinpoche exhorts us to read The Precious Treasury of Pith Instructions as follows: “Summarized in groups of six, the perfect treasury of sacred dharma distills the heart essence of all pith instructions. Even if you were to meet the actual Victorious One, wouldn’t it be hard to hear teachings on such an excellent path all at once?”

This volume includes an introduction by the Venerable Tulku Thondup Rinpoche and a foreword by His Eminenece Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, whose inspiration and commitment to the translation of all of Longchenpa’s Seven Treasuries have guided the publication of the first three texts in this continuing series.

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