The text Foremost Instructions called A Garland of Views by Padmasambhava is regarded as one of the very important texts of the Nyingma tradition. It is an explanation of the thirteenth chapter of the root tantra of Mahayoga, the Guhyagarbha Tantra, the chapter on how the view of Dzogchen applies to the deity practices of Mahayoga. Padmasambhava's teaching is short, so further explanation is needed. For this we have provided a partial translation of the thirteenth chapter with explanations, Mipham's commentary which is the one most commonly used these days to explain Padmasambhava's teaching, and a translation of the relevant section of Longchen Rabjam's major commentary to the tantra Dispelling the Darkness of the Ten Directions. A very long introduction filled with explanations to make all of those items clearer has been provided.

It is very important to understand that the teachings on Dzogchen in this book are not limited to instructions on the development stage of Mahayoga. They provide a complete explanation of what Dzogchen is at all levels and are regarded in the Nyingma tradition as required reading for all Dzogchen practitioners. Through this book you will gain an excellent grounding in what Dzogchen is and how it fits into the teachings of the nine vehicles.

This book is truly an amazing collection of material that is regarded as crucial for Nyingma practitioners, but has not been available till now in English with all the commentaries needed to unravel the meaning of Padmasambhava's text. The Western Lama Richard Roth, who has been well-trained in the Dzogchen system, has said what an important and well-presented book this is.

The book contains a translation of the following texts:
-- Foremost Instructions called A Garland of Views by Padmasambhava
-- Mipham's Annotational Commentary A Warehouse of Jewels to Padmasambhava's teaching
-- The first half of the thirteenth chapter of the Guhyagarbha Tantra, the root tantra of Mahayoga
-- Longchenpa's explanation of the first half of the thirteenth chapter of the Guhyagarbha Tantra, from his very famous commentary Dispelling the Darkness of the Ten Directions

Dzogchen Foremost Instructions, "A Garland of Views" : With commentaries by Ju Mipham and Longchen Rabjam, Padmasambhava, Tony Duff, PKTC, Paperback, 212 Pages, 2015, $25.00

The author, well-known translator and teacher Tony Duff has practised extensively with Gelug, Kagyu, and Nyingma traditions. He has been translating, teaching, and practising in these schools for thirty-five years. He is well known for his teaching, contributions to the translation of Tibetan Buddhism, and major works in preserving and re-publishing Tibetan Buddhist texts.

Contents: Dzogchen Foremost Instructions: "A Garland of Views" By Padmasambhava with Commentaries by Longchen Rabjam and Ju Mipham
Introduction	vii
1. The Authors	ix
2. The basis of Padmasambhava's teaching, the Guhyagarbha Tantra	ix
2.1. Explanation of the first part of the thirteenth chapter by Longchen Rabjam	xii
2.2. Explanation of the first part of the thirteenth chapter by the author of this book	xii
3. About Padmasambhava's teaching	xv
3.1. The purpose of the teaching	xv
3.2. The title of the teaching	xvi
3.2.1. More about foremost instruction	xvii
3.3. Content of the teaching	xviii
4. An explanation of the eight categories of view	xix
4.1. The worldly views	xix
4.1.1. Phyal Bqa or Vacancy	xxii
4.1.2. Charvaka or Sweet Talkers	xxiii
4.1.3. Paryantika or Bounded	xxv
4.1.4. Tirthika or Those at the Brink	xxvii
4.2. Beyond-worldly views	xxix
5. A short explanation of the nine vehicles and their views	xxix
5.1. The conventional vehicles	xxx
5.2. The unconventional vehicles	xxxi
5.3. The unconventional vehicles more fully explained	xxxii
5.3.1. The pinnacle teaching of Great Completion	xxxv
5.3.2. The version of Great Completion taught here	xxxvi
6. Great Completion	xxxvi
6.1. Origin qand meaning of the term "Great Completion"	xxxvii
6.2. Mis-traqnslations promoting misunderstanding	xxxviii
6.3. Etymology of Great Completion	xxxix
6.4. Levels of the Great Completion teaching	xl
7. Terminology	xl
7.1. Realization	xlii
7.2. Superfact and fiction	xliii
8. Other Matters	xlv
8.1. Sanskrit	xlv
8.2. Further study	xlvi
An extract fom "Dispelling the Darkness of the Ten Directions" by Longchen Rabjam	1
Foremost Instruction "A Garland of Views" by Padmasambhava	19
An Annotational Commentary Called "A Warehouse of Gems" to the Great Master Padmasambhava's "Foremost Instruction 'A Garland of Views' " Compiled by Jamyang Lodro Gyatso	33
Glossary of Terms	89
Supports for Study	111
TIBETAN TEXTS
A Garland of Views	115
A Warehouse of Gems	123
Index	157