The Jewel Ornament of Liberation (Guenther)

Translation of Ornament of Precious Liberation: A Wish-Fulfilling Gem of Sublime Dharma

Book

In this skillful translation, Herbert Guenther offers English-speaking readers sGam.po.pa's comprehensive and authoritative exposition of the stages of the Buddhist path. A masterly survey of Tibetan Buddhism, The Jewel Ornament of Liberation explains how an enlightened attitude is strengthened by practicing the six perfections (generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and knowledge) and offers a concise presentation of Buddhism as a living experience.

As Chögyam Trungpa writes in his foreword: "It is in the flow of karma that this book materialized in 1959 on the very eve of the destruction of the spiritual land of Tibet. Professor Guenther was instrumental in making available the only commentary and guide in English to the bodhisattva tradition of Tibet, Japan, and China. The book remains the classic text of all Buddhists."

sGam.po.pa, who lived in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, was the organizer of the Kagyü order of Tibetan Buddhism.

Herbert V. Guenther is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Far Eastern Studies at the University of Saskatchewan.

(Source: back cover)

Citation	Guenther, Herbert V., trans. The Jewel Ornament of Liberation. By Gampopa (sgam po pa). The Clear Light Series. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1989. First published 1959 by Rider & Co. (London).

- Foreword by Chögyam Trungpa
- Prefacevii
- Introductionix
1. The Motive1
2. The Working Basis14
3. Meeting Spiritual Friends30
4. The Instruction in the Transitoriness of the Composite41
5. The Vicious State of Samsāra55
6. Karma and Its Result74
7. Benevolence and Compassion91
8. Taking Refuge99
9. The Acquisition of an Enlightened Attitude112
10. Training in an Enlightened Attitude142
11. The Six Perfections148
12. The Perfection of Liberality152
13. The Perfection of Ethics and Manners163
14. The Perfection of Patience173
15. The Perfection of Strenuousness181
16. The Perfection of Meditative Concentration187
17. The Perfection of Awareness202
18. The Five Paths232
19. The Spiritual Levels239
20. Perfect Buddhahood257
21. Buddha Activity271
- Pronunciation Guide277
- Index of Book Titles, A. Tibetan283
- Index of Book Titles, B. Sanskrit291
- Index of Book Titles, C. Pāli294
- Index of Technical Terms, A. Tibetan295
- Index of Technical Terms, B. Sanskrit302
- Index of Names and Subjects311

It is unknown which version Guenther translated, but you can find several versions in our library and 37 printings on BDRC. Here is one entry: Sgam po pa. Dam chos yid bzhin nor bu thar pa rin po che'i rgyan. Kathmandu: Gam-po-pa Library, 2005.