Straight from the Heart brings together an inspiring collection of poems, songs of realization, meditation instructions, and philosophical treatises all chosen for their power to speak directly to the student. Drawn from Indian Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, as well as from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, some will impress with their beautiful poetry and powerful imagery; others with their profound power of instruction. Still others share personal advice for life that seems to come directly from the mouth of the author, and some serve as immediate and profound practice instructions. Several are just delightfully unconventional, even outrageous, letting in fresh air on petrified views or musty traditions. Most of them are simply unknown precious gems which deserve a wider audience. Each of the works is preceded by a brief introduction and a short biography of its author. Many of these are legendary accounts of supernatural feats, edifying examples for students on the same spiritual path meant to expand their limited outlook with mind-blowing stories.

Miraculous deeds, magnificent songs, and pithy instructions distinguish this collection assembled by Buddhist scholar and translator Karl Brunnholzl. Drawing on Indian mahayana and vajrayana Buddhism as well as all four lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, Brunnholzl's years of work among dharma texts and his skill as a translator yield a rich mine of teachings, all chosen for their ability to speak directly to the heart.

Snow Lion Publications, Hardcover, 2007, 557 Pages

Karl Brunnholzl, M.D., was trained as a physician and presently works as a Tibetan translator and Buddhist teacher. He studied Tibetology, Buddhology, and Sanskrit at Hamburg University in Germany, and Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy and practice at the Marpa Institute for Translators in Kathmandu (under the direction of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche). In 1990 he received the traditional Tibetan title of "dharma tutor" (Tib. skyor dpon) after completing a five-year course in higher Buddhist philosophy at Kamalashila Institute. Since 2000 he has worked as a translator, interpreter, and teacher under the direction of The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche at the Nitartha Institute in Canada, Germany, and Seattle, Washington. He is the author of The Center of the Sunlit Sky (2004), the first in-depth study of the Kagyu interpretation of Madhyamaka in any western language, and is the translator of In Praise of Dharmadhatu by Nagarjuna, with commentary by the Third Karmapa.

	Contents: Straight from the Heart: Buddhist Pith Instructions
	Preface	xi
	In Praise of Prajnaparamita by Rahulabhadra with a commentary by Rongdon Sheja Kunrig	1
	Three Praises by Nagarjuna	9
	A Summary of the Stages of Meditating on the Ultimate Bodhicitta by Asvaghosa	23
	A Presentation of the Three Natures and Nonconceptual Wisdom by Asanga	31
	Instruction on the Three Natures by Vasubandhu	43
	Nine Stanzas on Prajnaparamita and Their Autocommentary by Kambala	55
	From The Prayer Requested by Namke Nyingbo by Padmasambhava	63
	The Great Stanzas on Prajnaparamita by Aryadeva	65
	Two Texts by Atisa	75
	Pith Instructions on Mahamudra by Tilopa with a Commentary by the Fifth Shamarpa, Goncho Yenla	93
	The Entrance into the Prajna of Madhyamaka by Candrakirti	119
	On Maitripa and his Cycle of Twenty-five Works on Mental Nonengagement, Including Sahajavajra's Commentary on the Ten Stanzas on True Reality	125
	Vajrayudha's Praise to Manjusri with a Commentary by Jamyang Kyentse Wangbo	191
	Padampa Sangye's Meetings with Milarepa and the Nun Dudsi Gyi	203
	Gampopa's Song When He Reached Enlightenment	217
	Three Songs by Rechungba	219
	The Song about the Few by Baromba Tarma Wangchug	231
	The Great Elimination of Obstacles by Kyobpa Jigden Sumgon	237
	Two Songs by Tragba Gyaltsen	241
	Two Texts by Sakya Pandita	277
	A Song on Impermanence by the Omniscient Longchen Rabjam	283
	Songs for and by the Mahasiddha Tangtong Gyalbo	285
	Supplication to the Tagbo Kagyu by Pengar Jambel Sangbo with a Commentary by Thrangu Rinpoche	301
	The Lamp That Illuminates the Four Dharmas by the Fourth Shamarpa, Chokyi Tragba Yeshe Balsangbo	321
	A Song to the Guru by Sakya Chogden	331
	Lord Milarepa's Instructions to Master Gampopa with a Commentary by the Eighth Karmapa, Mikyo Dorje	335
	A Prouncement of Realization: A Song on View, Meditation, Conduct, and Fruition by the Sixth Shamarpa, Chokyi Wangchug	343
	The Song of Supplicating Machig Labdron by Karma Chagme	383
	A Song on the View by Janggya Rolpe Dorje with a Commentary by Ju Mipham Rinpoche	391
	A Song on the View by the Thirteenth Karmapa, Dudul Dorje	429
	Two Poems by Patrul Rinpoche	441
	Pointing Out Instructions by Kunkyen Dashi Oser	447
	Pith Instructions on Mahamudra by Ju Mipham Rinpoche	451
	Instruction to Practice the Divine Dharma with Pith by Gendun Chopel	453
	Appendix: The Four Great and Eight Lesser Kagyu Schools	459
	Glossary: English-Sanskrit-Tibetan	461
	Bibliography	465
	Notes	475