The Sixteenth Karmapa’s wish that Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche present Karma Chakme’s Mountain Dharma to Western students was realized from 1999 to 2003 at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra in Woodstock, New York, and has resulted in KTD Publication’s multi-volume presentation of these teachings–the first Mountain Dharma commentary ever published in English.
Karme Chakme’s Mountain Dharma, Volume One
Taught by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, translated by Lama Yeshe Gyamtso and Chojor Radha
2005, ISBN: 0-9741092-0-7
paperback, 6 x 9 in., 400 pages, $29.95
Front cover painting of Karma Chakme by Wendy Harding; Back cover photograph of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche by Seichi Tsutsumi
Volume One contains a namthar of Karma Chakme Rinpoche; and covers foundational teachings that include the four thoughts that turn the mind to the Dharma, the three vehicles, and the vows and precepts. It contains extensive and beautiful teachings on the Mahamudra preliminaries (ngondro), and how to apply these and other practices in order to benefit others. Although the emphasis is on the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages, all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism are included.
Karma Chakme’s Mountain Dharma was taught by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche at KTD from 1999 to 2003 and is presented here in a four-volume set. (The fifth volume comprised of restricted chapters was taught seperately at Karme Ling Three-Year-Retreat Center and is only available to qualified students.)
Karma Chakme’s Mountain Dharma is a complete text for those who want to practice Tibetan Buddhism. His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa (Rangjung Rikpe Dorje, 1923-1981) indicated that it was his wish that Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche present Karma Chakme’s Mountain Dharma to Western students. In accordance with this wish, Khenpo Rinpoche began teaching this text in the Year of the Earth Rabbit, February 1999, at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, the North American seat of His Holiness, located in Woodstock, New York. The teachings took place on weekends over the subsequent four years concluding in the Year of the Water Sheep, April 2003. The original text by Karma Chakme Rinpoche was written in the Year of the Horse, 1659.
The text from which Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche taught was printed and published at Tashi Jong, Himachal Pradesh, India, and consists of fifty-four chapters and 595 pages. Karma Chakme requested that the text always be copied and presented in its completeness to ensure that nothing be lost. Because Mountain Dharma is a complete work of the complete path, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche follows Karma Chakme’s instructions, maintaining the integrity of the original text. We also respectfully follow their wishes and instructions; however, due to the length of the text and commentary, we will publish Khenpo Rinpoche’s commentary on Mountain Dharma in five volumes, with a separate volume for the Tibetan text. Rinpoche followed the same order as the original Tibetan text with two exceptions: he began with the namthar (spiritual biography) of Karma Chakme, which in the Tibetan text is at the end; Rinpoche also omitted the chapters that he considered restricted. These restricted or secret parts will be taught and published separately at Karma Ling Retreat Center for use by qualified students. The result of these efforts is that the entire contents of Karma Chakme’s Mountain Dharma will be available in English for the first time.