Dear friends of the Dzogchen Community,
As many of you know the Shang Shung Institute has been undergoing rapid change in the last year. With the exit of legacy programs now transferred to the International Dzogchen Community (http://dzogchencommunity.org/transition-of-responsibility-for-services-from-shang-shung-institute-to-the-international-dzogchen-community) our focus is renewed on the core programs which allow us to continue pursuing the mission of fostering the continuity of Tibetan culture both in its historical, traditional content and in its present global transformation. The Archives and Library, our Educational Programs worldwide and Shang Shung Publications are there for you this year with the determined energy of a superb long lasting team now joined by new forces to strengthen our effectiveness. On our website you will find who is who and who does what in the great world of SSI and how to contact each of us with any requests and questions. Also we are glad to share with you our thrilling editorial plan for the first semester of 2014.
Come and meet us on http://www.shangshunginstitute.org/index.php/en/aboutus/teampage to see a complete profile of our collaborators and read further the article about the coming titles in our publications.
Shang Shung Publications Editorial line up, 1st semester of 2014
Restricted Titles
In the first half of 2014 we’re planning to publish several titles for Dzogchen Community practitioners.
First, we’d like to mention one title already published at the very end of 2013: An Oral Explanation of Patrul Rinpoche’s Commentary The Vision of Clear Light and the Crucial Points of Dzogchen Practice. This important text has been transmitted by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in 2007. The root teaching comes from a pure vision received by the master Mingyur Namkhai Dorje in which his famous teacher Jigme Gyalwai Nyugu explains the essence of the practice of Dzogchen, especially of Dzogchen Upadesha. The pure vision has been recorded by Patrul Rinpoche who also wrote the commentary. Apart from that, the book contains an oral commentary by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. We’ve been working on this book for several years and are very happy it’s finally available for interested practitioners.
While preparing for the Merigar retreat with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu focused on the practice of Guru Amitayus, we’re working on a revised edition of the related booklet. [The booklet will be given to the participants of the retreat. – TBC]
At the same time we’re working on the long-awaited compilation of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s teachings on the Longsal Saltong. These extraordinary teachings allows the practitioner to discover the state of instant presence and stabilize it specifically through the experience of clarity and related methods. Rinpoche transmitted it several times in the past and we hope the present compilation will be of great help to all those interested in this teaching.
Another compilation of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s teaching focuses on the methods of Shine and Lhagthong Rinpoche has been tirelessly transmitted in the last decades. These methods help practitioners to gradually develop and stabilize their capacity of contemplation, and Rinpoche often emphasizes their great value in making one’s knowledge more concrete.
The Longsal Divination of Dorje Yudrönma by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu has been revised by the master and we’re planning to publish the revised version incorporating additional combinations and the related explanations.
We’re also working on the booklet with the explanation and practice of the Buddha of Medicine Rinpoche transmitted in 2008.
Public Titles
In January we published Message from Tibet: Tibetan Songs of Today, a collection of 108 songs compiled by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. This book is currently being revised and will be available for the general public in March. The melodies for the songs can be found on a dedicated web page, so that you can easily learn to sing in Tibetan!
In February 2014 we published the Tibetan calendar for the Wood Horse year. Apart from astrological indications for the whole year as well as individual days, the calendar contains the explanation of location of protective energy on a given day, which should be taken into account when planning a surgery.
We’re also finalizing the re-editing of the Key to Consulting the Tibetan Calendar explaining all the different astrological aspects, combinations, constellations, relationships – and how to use this knowledge in our daily life, especially when making important decisions.
In March we’re publishing a re-editing of Beyond Words, a book by Judith Allan and Julia Lawless explaining in very simple terms the history and basic elements of Dzogchen practice.
We’re also working on another book by Judy and Julia based on the records of Brian Beresford: The Lost Kingdom of Shang Shung. On Pilgrimage in Tibet with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. Many of us heard about the famous pilgrimage to the sacred Kailash Mountain: the book presents a narration of this fascinating journey with its challenges and interesting discoveries.
Finally, at the end of April, during the first retreat in Merigar, we’re publishing the long-awaited The Temple of the Great Contemplation: The Gonpa in Merigar. This full-colour book contains the explanation of all aspects of the Gonpa in Merigar written by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, with hundreds of photographs as well as the biographies of all the masters depicted on the walls of the Gonpa! The book has 360 pages and will be available both in English and Italian.
