Hot Off the Press – Two New Sacred Sky Books

The Journey of Tonpa Shenrap’s Daughter and His Holiness the 33rd Menri Trizin’s Dzogchen Teachings at Serenity Ridge

Two new books published by Sacred Sky Press, a division of Ligmincha International, will be available in June. Escape from Darkness: The Spiritual Journey of the Buddha’s Daughter, Shenza Nechung, is the translation by Sangmo Yangri, Ph.D., of part of an ancient text about Tonpa Shenrap. Living Wisdom: Dzogchen Teachings from the 33rd Menri Trizin, His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, contains excerpts from His His Holiness’s teachings at Serenity Ridge, Headquarters of Ligmincha International, over the years, beginning in 1999 and ending in 2013.

Escape from Darkness: The Spiritual Journey of the Buddha’s Daughter, Shenza Nechung

In the Tibetan Bön tradition, there have been numerous female lay and nun practitioners who attained high spiritual states. Their stories are included in Bön texts and also are a part of local folklore but have not been extricated from the texts or recorded from the folklore. This book is an attempt to fill the void that has been left for centuries.

In Escape from Darkness, the first story of a female Bön practitioner is brought to light by translating the life story of Buddha Tonpa Shenrap Miwo’s younger daughter, Shenza Nechung, and describing her spiritual journey. The book tells the tale of how the demon Khyappa Lakring attempts to defeat the teachings of the Yungdrung Bön by seducing Shenza Nechung, and how she is eventually rescued and reconnects with the dharma.

The book is translated by Sangmo Yangri, Ph.D., a scholar, teacher, translator and the first Tibetan woman to receive a Ph.D. in the area of Tibetan Bön studies. In 2015, she was appointed to the position of teacher and translator at Lishu Institute in northern India, founded by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche for the intensive study and practice of Bön.

The book also includes a foreword by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche commentary by Sangmo Yangri, Ph.D., and reflections by Khandro Tsering Wangmo and Marcy Vaughn.

Available later in June through the Ligmincha Bookstore and Tibet Shop, both in person and online, and through lulu.com.

Living Wisdom: Dzogchen Teachings from the 33rd Menri Trizin, His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche

Living Wisdom presents selected, edited excerpts of teachings from four visits of His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, to Serenity Ridge in 1999, 2001, 2011 and 2013.

His Holiness was the abbot of Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India, and spiritual leader of the Tibetan Bön Buddhist tradition from 1968 until his passing on September 14, 2017. Throughout his life, he worked tirelessly to preserve the ancient Bön tradition and culture.

The topics taught during all four summer retreats focus on dzogchen, the highest among the Tibetan Bön teachings, which points out the true nature of mind. They include profound teachings from retreats on the Twenty-Four Masters, subsequent Lineage Masters of the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyü, and the Six Lamps. In addition to formal teachings, His Holiness’s wisdom, warmth and presence shines through in the questions he answered, the stories he told, and the transmissions he gave. Many of these are featured in the book, along with numerous full-color photos of His Holiness. Also included is a foreword by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche.

This book is a tribute to the 33rd Menri Trizin Rinpoche and will become available in time to celebrate the visit to Serenity Ridge of the 34th Menri Trizin, His Holiness Lungtok Dawa Dargyal Rinpoche, during Summer Retreat June 23–July 7. His Holiness will teach alongside Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche at the retreat on the topic of “Tummo: Inner Fire of Realization, Part 2 of 3.”

Available through the Ligmincha Bookstore and Tibet Shop, both in person and online, beginning in late June.