In THE CIRCLE OF THE SUN, Traleg Rinpoche asks: What is the starting point on the spiritual journey? It is possible that it is seeing oneself as inadequate. It is heartening that the Dzogchen and Mahamudra approach says that what one wants to attain is already present. There is no gap between what one is and what one wants to attain. In Dzogchen, the starting point, which is also the end point of the spiritual journey is having an understanding of the nature of mind. Tsele Natsok Rangdrol's exposition of the Dzogchen path elucidates that the path rests on the practices of trekchö, which means "cutting through", and thögal, which means "leaping over". Trekchö practice entails settling the mind in its own natural state without effort and without the rejection of thoughts and emotions. Thögal practice makes use of images and visions to realize the innate wakefulness. Rinpoche explains there are many perspectives designed to help us uncover our authentic state, the ground-of-being, as it is often referred to in the Dzogchen tradition. A single perspective can never provide an all-encompassing view of the ground-of -being, because it is something that cannot be understood from any one perspective, in completeness. -- Susan Howes, Editor.
Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche IX (1955-2012) was born in Nangchen in Kham, eastern Tibet. He was recognised by His Holiness XVI Gyalwang Karmapa as the ninth Traleg tulku and enthroned at the age of two as the supreme abbot of Thrangu Monastery. Rinpoche was taken to Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim at the age of four where he was educated with other young tulkus in exile by His Holiness Karmapa. Rinpoche studied under the auspices of His Eminence Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche at Sangngak Choling in Darjeeling. Rinpoche moved to Melbourne Australia in 1980 and commenced studies in comparative religion and philosophy at LaTrobe University. He established E-Vam Institute in Melbourne in 1982 and went on to establish further Centers in Australia, America and New Zealand. Throughout his life Rinpoche gave extensive teachings on many aspects of Buddhist psychology and philosophy, as well as comparative religion, and Buddhist and Western thought. He was an active writer and has many titles to his name. Titles include: the best selling Essence of Buddhism; Karma, What It Is, What It Isn't, and Why It Matters, now translated into 5 languages; Actuality of Being; Moonbeams of Mahamudra; Vajrayana: An Essential Guide to Practice and How To Do Life to name a few. Rinpoche's writings are thought provoking, challenging, profound and highly relevant to today's world and its many challenges.
"Traleg Rinpoche brings his uniquely modern perspective to the elucidation of the text. Not only does he provide the erudition of a great pandita to his explanations, but, perhaps even more importantly for contemporary readers, he speaks from his personal experience, which gives his work the nectar-like flavor of the most profound pith instructions in language especially suited to todays students and practitioners. So right here, we have the great depth of scholarly description and thorough logical analysis from a master of Dzogchen and Mahamudra, as well as the great courage and fearless personal approach to practice that Traleg Rinpoche brought to all of his teachings. I hope many people take this opportunity to drink deeply from the overflowing cup of Traleg Rinpoches wisdom." -- Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche, U.S.A. 2022
"The Circle Of The Sun, Heart Essence Of Dzogchen is a text by the 17th century Nyingma and Kagyu master Tsele Natsok Rangdrol of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche had a compelling reason to translate and provide this extraordinarily profound commentary for this text. He explained, 'It is the best summary of Dzogchen teachings that I have ever seen'." -- Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche IX." -- Felicity Lodro (Traleg Khandro), wife of the author
