Gethin, S.

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PeopleGethin, S.


Stephen Gethin

Stephen Gethin studied veterinary medicine at Cambridge University, where he was also awarded a choral exhibition. After a number of years in professional practice, he spent much of the 1980s undertaking two three-year retreats in France, where he now lives and, as a founding member of the Padmakara Translation Group, continues to translate. He was a Tsadra Foundation Translation Fellow from 2005 to 2024. His published translations include:
  1. Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend, Shambhala 2005.
  2. Zurchungpa’s Testament, by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Shambhala, 2006.
  3. A Garland of Views: A Guide to View, Meditation, and Result in the Nine Vehicles. Jamgön Mipham’s commentary on Padmasambhava’s Garland of Views, Shambhala, 2015.
  4. Dudjom Rinpoche’s A Torch Lighting the Way to Freedom: Complete Instructions on the Preliminary Practices. Shambhala, 2016.
  5. A Feast of the Nectar of the Supreme Vehicle (The Mahāyāna-sūtrālaṃkāra with commentary by Mipham), Shambhala, 2018.
  6. A Chariot to Freedom: Guidance From the Great Masters on the Vajrayāna Preliminary Practices. A detailed preliminary practice commentary by Shechen Gyaltsap. Shambhala, 2021.
  7. Mahasiddha Practice: From Mitrayogin and Other Masters. Volume 15 of Jamgön Kongtrul’s Treasury of Precious Instructions. Shambhala, 2021.
  8. Awakening Wisdom: Heart Advice on the Fundamental Practices of Vajrayana Buddhism by Pema Wangyal. Shambhala, 2023.
  9. The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind. Khangsar Tenpai'i Wangchuk's Collected Works. Shambhala, 2024.
  10. The Cloudless Sky. Khangsar Tenpai'i Wangchuk's Collected Works.
  11. The Aspiration to the Excellent Way. Khangsar Tenpai'i Wangchuk's Collected Works.

He also collaborated on a number of translations, including

He is currently working on finishing several translations in the series of Khangsar Tenpai'i Wangchuk's Collected Works, which is forthcoming from Shambhala Publications. (Source: Tsadra Foundation)

Library Items

Book
A Feast of the Nectar of the Supreme Vehicle
A monumental work and Indian Buddhist classic, the Ornament of the Mahāyāna Sūtras (Mahāyānasūtrālamkāra) is a precious resource for students wishing to study in-depth the philosophy and path of Mahāyāna Buddhism. This full translation and commentary outlines the importance of Mahāyāna, the centrality of bodhicitta or the mind of awakening, the path of becoming a bodhisattva, and how one can save beings from suffering through skillful means.

This definitive composition of Mahāyāna teachings was imparted in the fourth century by Maitreya to the famous adept Asanga, one of the most prolific writers of Buddhist treatises in history. Asanga’s work, which is among the famous Five Treatises of Maitreya, has been studied, commented upon, and taught by Buddhists throughout Asia ever since it was composed.

In the early twentieth century, one of Tibet’s greatest scholars and saints, Jamgön Mipham, wrote A Feast of the Nectar of the Supreme Vehicle, which is a detailed explanation of every verse. This commentary has since been used as the primary blueprint for Tibetan Buddhists to illuminate the depth and brilliance of Maitreya’s pith teachings. The Padmakara Translation Group has provided yet another accessible and eloquent translation, ensuring that English-speaking students of Mahāyāna will be able to study this foundational Buddhist text for generations to come. (Source: Shambhala Publications)
Gethin, Stephen (Padmakara Translation Group), trans. A Feast of the Nectar of the Supreme Vehicle: An Explanation of the Ornament of the Mahāyāna Sūtras; Maitreya's Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra with a Commentary by Jamgön Mipham. Boulder, CO: Shambhala Publications, 2018.
Mahasiddha Practice: From Mitrayogin and Other Masters
Mahāsiddha Practice, the sixteenth volume of Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye's The Treasury of Precious Instructions (gdams ngag rin po che'i mdzod), presents a selection of teachings and practices (40 texts) centered on the mahāsiddhas, Indian tantric masters. The mahāsiddha Mitrayogin, whose work forms the majority of this volume, visited Tibet in the late twelfth century. His ritual texts along with instructions are here translated from Tibetan, including sādhanas, empowerments, guru yogas, authorization rituals for protector deities, and detailed compositions on Mahāmudrā practice, or resting in the nature of mind. In addition to instructions given by mahāsiddhas, this volume includes ritual practices to visualize them and transmit their blessings, beginning with a devotional text composed by Jamgön Kongtrul himself. (Source Accessed Feb. 25, 2022). You can access the Tibetan texts translated in this book here.
Gethin, Stephen (Padmakara Translation Group), trans. Mahāsiddha Practice: From Mitrayogin and Other Masters. Vol. 16 of The Treasury of Precious Instructions: Essential Teachings of the Eight Practice Lineages of Tibet (gdams ngag rin po che'i mdzod), compiled by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye ('jam mgon kong sprul blo gros mtha' yas). Tsadra Foundation Series. Boulder, CO: Snow Lion, 2021.
Book
The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind (Padmakara 2024)
The Dzogchen tantra titled The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind teaches the advanced practices of trekchö, thögal, and bardo. Deshek Lingpa’s root text and Khangsar Tenpa’i Wangchuk’s commentary.
Gethin, Stephen, Helena Blankleder and Wulstan Fletcher (Padmakara Translation Group), trans. The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind: A Treasure Tantra of the Great Perfection. By Deshek Lingpa with a commentary by Khangsar Tenpa'i Wangchuk. Boulder: Shambhala Publications, 2024.
Interview
The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind by Stephen Gethin
Lopen Karma Phuntsho interviews translator Stephen Gethin and discusses the new book from Padmakara Translation Group, The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind: A Treasure Tantra of the Great Perfection by Deshek Lingpa, with commentary by Khangsar Tenpa'i Wangchuk.
Gethin, Stephen. "The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind: Book Launch." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 26, 2024. Video, 1:13:03. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8olXNqaATcQ.

Affiliations & relations

  • Padmakara Translation Group · workplace affiliation
  • Tsadra Foundation · workplace affiliation
  • Songtsen · secondary affiliation
  • Padmakara · secondary affiliation
  • Nyingma · religious affiliation
  • Tibetan Buddhism · religious affiliation
  • Kagyu · religious affiliation
  • Chanteloube, France · religious affiliation
  • http://www.tsadra.org/stephen-gethin.html · websites
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