One of the most important concepts of Buddhism is the understanding of emptiness, or more precisely why all internal thoughts and feelings and also all external objects are empty. As Rinpoche explains, things do obviously appear to be solid and existent, but it can also be shown that they are empty of any inherent existence. If we do not understand the empty nature of phenomena, we really cannot thoroughly practice the reduction of attachment that we have with the phenomenal world.  This concept of emptiness which was taught by the Buddha and was greatly expounded on by the great master Nagarjuna is not easy to grasp. But Thrangu Rinpoche, who is well known for taking very complex Buddhist subjects and making them accessible to the Buddhist practitioner, gives a detailed set of logical arguments based on ordinary life experiences on this topic. He bases this unique work on Mipham Rinpoche's great treatise, "The Gateway to Knowledge."

Open Door to Emptiness: A Discussion of Madhyamika Logic

Religion & Spirituality

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche

Buddhism

Karme ThekchenCholing

The two types of meditation that form the core of Buddhist spiritual practice are: tranquillity (samatha) meditation aims at stilling the mind, while insight (vipasyana) meditation produces clear vision or insight into the nature of all phenomena. With masterful scholarship, Rinpoche explains this unified system of meditation—what to do, what to avoid, and the stages of deepening meditation—so the practitioner can gauge progress. His teaching is a commentary on the eighth chapter of the Treasury of Knowledge by Jamgon Kongtrul.

The Practice of Tranquillity & Insight: A Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation

Snow Lion

An Overview of the Bardo Teachings

Thranghu Dharma Kara Publications

The Mahayana path of Buddhism requires the development of wast loving-kindness and compassion. The foundation for developing impartial compassion for all sentient beings is based on understanding the emptiness of self and the emptiness of phenomena. In Shentong and Rangtong Thrangu Rinpoche begins with a lucid description of the four major schools of Buddhism and their tenents. Each school had its own view of reality and Rinpoche describes the similarities and differences of these views. The Middle-way path had two important schools in Tibet: the Shentong and the Rangtong. In the discussion of the Rangtong, Rinpoche shows how important it is to understand the emptiness of persons and of phenomena because this understanding helps develop an accurate view of the world and thus how to proceed in one's practice. In the discussion of Shentong, Rinpoche describes the empty, luminous clarity of mind and how this is developed in meditation. This clarity is also closely related to understanding Buddha-nature and meditation in the Vajrayana. Thrangu Rinpoche bases this discussion on Jamgon Kongtrul's encyclopedic text The Treasury of Knowledge. If you liked Khenpo Tsultrim's Progressive Stages of Meditation you will like this book because it is the same topic but in much, much more detail and tied more to how this topic relates to one's practice.

Shentong and Rangtong: Two Views of Emptiness

Namo Buddha Publications

The Ornament of Clear Realization of the Maitreya Buddha

The Four Dharmas of Gampopa

When the Buddha taught, he said that achieving enlightenment is due entirely to receiving correct teachings and then diligently implementing these teachings. One might ask, how does this phenomenal world work? The Buddha taught that it follows the process of interdependent origination in which one action or event causes another event, which causes another event, and so on. In personal terms, interdependent origination explains how the happiness and suffering in our present life is the result of actions in our previous lives, and how this process proceeds through twelve links. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche discusses each of the twelve links of interdependent origination in sequence. He also discusses the five aspects of causality, the eight examples of interdependence, and the relationship of interdependence to the sutras and Mahamudra meditation. Finally, the twelve links are illustrated using a real-life example. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche is a realized master of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism renowned for not only having an extensive scholarly background, but also for having profound meditative insight into the Buddhist teachings . and the ability to make these teachings accessible to Western students.

The Twelve Links of Interdependent Origination

This is not just a text for beginners, but one of the primary Kagyu texts and of immense relevance and benefit to all practitioners regardless of what stage they are at. In addition to providing a step-by-step outline of the path to Buddhahood, the teachings on the innate Buddha nature can provide students with the confidence to enter the path, while those already on the path can find in its twenty-one chapters much to inspire and keep them moving along the unmistaken path of liberation. Often texts such as this with their vast scope are in parts necessarily quite pithy. Therefore, to gain clear understanding it is traditional to receive thorough commentaries on these aspects. However, due to their great length detailed explanations are quite extensive and thus can be difficult to receive. Yet, here we have the great blessings of a complete commentary by the great contemporary Kagyu master Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche in which he gives a detailed explanation of this text.

The Jewel Ornament of Liberation: The Wish-fulfilling Gem of the Noble Teachings

Jé Gampopa

Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.

Study relates to doctrines of Theravåada, Mahåayåana, and Vajrayåana - the three main vehicles (yåanas) according to Tibetan Buddhist.

The three vehicles of Buddhist practice (Bibliotheca Indo-Buddhica series)

Geshe Rabjam

Sri Satguru Publications

This is one of the most dearly beloved Buddhist texts and has been translated into over a dozen languages because of its relevance to modern times. This book was written by an eighth century Indian Bodhisattva, Shantideva, and is a comprehensive outline of what it is to be a bodhisattva. This edition is unique because it contains both a translation of the root text and also a detailed verse by verse commentary by Thrangu Rinpoche, one of the outstanding teachers of our time, in this 265 page book. Other texts have either a translation of the root text with numerous notes or just the commentary with no root text to go back to. The Bodhisattva's Way begins explaining how and why to make offerings to the Three Jewels and how to take the bodhisattva vow (which has not changed in 1,300 years). It also covers how to develop compassion towards those we like and also those who want to harm us. This is done by developing selflessness and Shantideva explains how to how to develop patience for those people and things that obstruct us. Then he describes how to carry ourselves in a peaceful and pleasing way and how to develop diligence in the practice of meditation. The famous final 9th chapter explains how we should understand emptiness of all phenomena as a bodhisattva. This book was checked by Geshe Lhakdor of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives and published by them. Namo Buddha Publications is the only publisher in the US to make this book available. The book is beautifully typeset and on good quality paper.

Shantideva's A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life

Library of Tibetan Works & Archives

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Books by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche