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
Introduction3
1 Early Years15
2 Renouncing the World27
3 Meeting My Teacher39
4 Retreat at the Hermit's Cave49
5 Meditation at Tigress Fort65
6 At The Heart of the Lake95
7 Meditation at Mount Machen155
8 At White Rock Monkey Fortress179
9 Pilgrimage to Central Tibet205
10 The Ravines o fTsari243
11 At Mount Kailash275
12 Pilgrimage to Nepal349
13 Meditation at Lapchi395
14 Return to Central Tibet447
15 Return to Domey485
Conclusion541

Appendices
1 Introduction to the teachings dealt with in the biography547
2 Shabkar's spiritual teachers557
3 Chôgyal Ngakyi Wangpo's ancestry565
4 Kunzang Dechen Gyalpo and the Wish-fulfilling Gem, Hayagriva and Varahi569
5 Shabkar's writings577
6 Shabkar's disciples589

List of Abbreviations593
Glossary of Enumerations595
Bibliography607
Maps617
Table of Songs, Letters, Teachings, and Major Events625

Indexes
1 General index633
2 Index of persons, deities, and sacred images655
3 Index of places679
4 Index of Tibetan works693

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.