The Buddha's Single Intention: Drigung Kyobpa Jikten Sumgön's Vajra Statements of the Early Kagyü Tradition

"This book presents a central teaching of the Kagyèu tradition known as the Single Intention of the master Drigung Jikten Sumgèon (1143-1217) and its chief commentaries, principally the Light of the Sun by Rikzin Chèokyi Drakpa (1595-1659), which is translated here. At the beginning of the thirteenth century, early in the history of the Kagyèu school, the teachings of Jikten Sumgèon were condensed into 150 core formulations of doctrine called vajra statements. These pithy statements comprise the Single Intention (dgongs gcig), which presents the thought of the Buddha and the nature of the "ineffable" (brjod du med pa) in concise and direct expression. Ineffable Mahåamudråa is the essence of all vajra statements and the stuff that holds them all together. At the same time, the Single Intention also weaves the thread of Mahåamudråa through the entire fabric of Buddhism. It presents Mahåamudråa as pervading disciplined conduct, meditative concentration, and discriminative knowledge; ground, path, and result; view, practice, and conduct; and the "three vows" of prÅtimokòsa, of the bodhisattvas, and of mantra. Jikten Sumgèon teaches how the fundamental values and insights revealed by the Buddha are woven into reality and therefore accessible to all. Sobisch is a meticulous scholar who manages to convey the unity of the Buddha's message, both in its particulars and in its scope. His deep and authoritative presentation makes this the definitive treatment of one of the most unique and compelling works of classical Tibetan literature"--