Table of Contents

• List of Illustrations ix
• Foreword by Chőgyam Trungpa, Rinpoche xi
• Preface xiii
• Abbreviations xviii
• Introduction
• 1. Description and Background 1
  • Notes 7
• 2. Practice of the Four Foundations
  • Interviews with Kalu Rinpoche, Deshung Rinpoche and Chőgyam Trungpa, Rinpoche 9
  • Notes 24
• The Torch of Certainty
• Invocation 27
• 1. The Four Ordinary Foundations 29
  • Prologue 30
    • 1. The Precious Human Birth 31
    • 2. Impermanence 35
    • 3. Action, Cause and Result 38
    • 4. The Shortcomings of Samsara 43 Conclusion 47
  • Notes 49
• 2. First of the Four Special Foundations: Taking Refuge and Engendering the Enlightened Attitude 53
  • Taking Refuge 53
  • Engendering the Enlightened Attitude 60
  • Notes 69
• viii CONTENTS
• 3. Second of the Four Special Foundations: The Hundred-Syllable Mantra of Vajrasattva Which Purifies Harmful Deeds and Removes Obscurations 79
  • Prologue 79
  • Practical Instructions 80
  • Commentary 82
  • Notes 88
• 4. Third of the Four Special Foundations: The Mandala-Ořfering Which Perfects the Two Accumulations 93
  • Practical Instructions 96
  • Commentary 105
  • Conclusion 110
  • Notes 111
• 5. Fourth of the Four Special Foundations: The Guru-Yoga Which Rapidly Confers Blessing 119
  • Meditation 120
  • Commentary 123
  • Conclusion 129
  • Notes 133
• Colophon 139
• Notes 139
• Bibliography 141
• Index 1: General Names and Subjects 145
• Index 2: Tibetan Technical Terms and Names 159