The Life of Shabkar (2001)

Book

The Life of Shabkar has long been recognized by Tibetans as one of the masterworks of their religious heritage. Shabkar Tsogdruk Rangdrol devoted himself to many years of meditation in solitary retreat after his inspired youth and early training in the province of Amdo under the guidance of several extraordinary Buddhist masters. With determination and courage, he mastered the highest and most esoteric practices of the Tibetan tradition of the Great Perfection. He then wandered far and wide over the Himalayan region expressing his realization. Shabkar's autobiography vividly reflects the values and visionary imagery of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the social and cultural life of early nineteenth-century Tibet. (Source: Shambhala Publications)

Citation	Ricard, Matthieu, Jakob Leschly, Erik Schmidt, Marilyn Silverstone, and Lodrö Palmo, trans. The Life of Shabkar: The Autobiography of a Tibetan Yogin. By Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol (zhabs dkar tshogs drug rang grol). Edited by Constance Wilkinson, with Michal Abrams and other members of the Padmakara Translation Group. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications, 2001.

The Life Story Introduction 3 1 Early Years 15 2 Renouncing the World 27 3 Meeting My Teacher 39 4 Retreat at the Hermit’s Cave 49 5 Meditation at Tigress Fort 65 6 At The Heart ofthe Lake 95 7 Meditation at Mount Machen 155

8 At White Rock Monkey Fortress 179 9 Pilgrimage to Central Tibet 205 10 The Ravines ofTsari 243 11 At Mount Kailash 275 12 Pilgrimage to Nepal 349 13 Meditation at Lapchi 395 14 Return to Central Tibet 447 15 Return to Domey 485 Conclusion 541

Appendices 1 Introduction to the teachings dealt with in the biography 547 2 Shabkar’s spiritual teachers 557 3 Chôgyal Ngakyi Wangpo’s ancestry 565 4 Kunzang Dechen Gyalpo and the Wish-fulfilling Gem, Hayagriva and Varahi 569 5 Shabkar’s writings 577 6 Shabkar’s disciples 589 List ofAbbreviations 593 Glossary ofEnumerations 595 Bibliography 607 Maps 617 Table of Songs, Letters, Teachings, and Major Events 625 Indexes 1 General index 633 2 Index of persons, deities, and sacred images 655 3 Index ofplaces 679 4 Index ofTibetan works 693

Shabkar, (Zhabs dkar tshogs drug rang grol). snyigs dus kyi 'gro ba yongs kyi skyabs mgon zhabs dkar rdo rje 'chang chen po'i rnam par thar par bshad pa skal bzang gdul bya thar 'dod rnams kyi re ba skong ba'i yid bzhin gyi nor bu bsam 'phel dbang gi rgyal po. Dolanji, h.p.: tsering wangyal, 1975.