Light of Berotsana Translations in Progress
Heart Essence of Saraha by Dudjom Lingpa
with extensive commentary by Pema Lungtog Gyatso, a foremost disciple of Dudjom Lingpa
At present, Lama Chönam and Sangye Khandro are working on a translation of a chöd [i.e., severance] commentary that is found in the collected works of the great terton Heruka Dudjom Lingpa.
The title of this text is An Ambrosia Ocean of Sublime Explanations: A Clearly Compiled Commentary Based upon the Close Lineage of Chöd. It was composed by one of the terton’s disciples who attained rainbow body, Pema Lungtog Gyatso, and is a word-by-word commentary on the terton’s own chöd revelation known as Heart Essence of Saraha. The Tibetan title for it is chos nyid nam mkha’i klong mdzod las gsang sngags rdo rje theg pa’i yang zhon dngos zhen re dogs gcod pa’o gdams pa gnas lugs rang shar; sprod pa’i man ngag grub mchog sa ra ha pa’i snying thig zab mo bzhug so.
Light of Berotsana translated the root terma Heart Essence of Saraha some ten years ago, and since then the restricted limited editions have completely sold out. Currently, that earlier translation is being revised and will be included in the same book with this exceptional commentary that thoroughly describes it. There are nearly 700 folios in the Tibetan, so this translation project is expected to endure for at least a year or more.
It is our prayer that this translation will continue to be free of obstacles and that we can make this offering available to all who qualify to receive it just as soon as possible.
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The Excellent Path of Devotion:
An Abridged Story of a Mendicant’s Experiences in Response to Questions from Vajra Kin
(ku su lu’i nyams byung gi gnas tshul mdor bsdus rdo rje’i spun gyis dris lan mos pa’i lam bzang ba zhugs so)
Assisted by Lama Chönam, Christina (Chris) Monson is translating this short autobiography (rang rnam), composed in 1929 by the great treasure revealer Sera Khandro Dewa’i Dorje (se ra mkha’ ’gro bde ba’i rdo rje), 1892–1940 presents in poignant verse key events of her spiritual and conventional worlds. It affords a rare opportunity to glimpse the extraordinary journey of a Tibetan female master whose fortune was intricately entwined with heirs of the Düdjom lineage in early twentieth-century Golok. This account by Sera Khandro of her experiences in undergoing hardships on the path and pursuing her prophesized destiny as a treasure revealer can serve as a source of inspiration and increased faith for all Buddhist practitioners.
To be published and available for purchase in 2012
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From an Arising of Temporary Experiences, a Clear Lamp of Renunciation upon Perceiving the Sights of the Bardo
(nyams byung skor las nar do’i mthong snang nges ’byung gsal sgron bzhugs)
Chris Monson, with the assistance of Lama Chönam is translating this short account of the bardo, written by Sera Khandro Dewa’i Dorje (se ra mkha’ ’gro bde ba’i rdo rje), 1892–1940 reveals the details of her travel to other realms in her life-altering experience as a delok (’das log)—person who revives after death and remembers the experience—at age eleven. Similar in form to other classical delok accounts, Sera Khandro’s narrative reinforces the lessons of karma for her fellow Tibetans in the Land of Snow.
To be published and available for purchase in 2012
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Gesar of Ling, the First Three Volumes
Translation by Lama Chönam, Sangye Khandro, and Jane Hawes
This book title has three parts, which are:
Part 1 - The Epic of the King of Dralas
Part 2 - Gesar Norbu Dradul (Jewel Tamer of Enemies) entitled The Divine Land of Ling
Part 3 - The Nine-Squared Divination Board/The Birth in Ling, a Garland of Flowers/The Seven Jewels of the Horse Race
Though this translation is still a work in progress, this project was instigated by the late Dr. Robin Kornman. Dr. Kornman, Lama Chönam, and Sangye Khandro worked on these three volumes for a period of several months over six years.
Jane Hawes became a student of Tibetan under Dr. Kornman and began working with him to edit the manuscript. After his passing in 2007, Jane Hawes joined forces with Lama Chönam and Sangye Khandro; and together they have tackled the difficult task of polishing these three volumes to ready them for publication. During this process Jane Hawes joined the Light of Berotsana translation group.
Lama Chonam
