In Tibet, vajra songs became popular when Milarepa gave teachings in that style to his disciples. His example influenced all Tibetan Buddhist schools, particularly the Kagyu lineages. People commonly memorized such songs and sang them with beautiful melodies. But vajra songs are much more than pleasant tunes or ordinary poetry. A vajra song reflects the enlightened mind of its author by encapsulating precisely profound meaning in just a few words. Thus, it can be difficult for the unenlightened to penetrate their meaning.
Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen learned to sing vajra songs at his mother's knee. Later in life, he learned of their profound meaning from masters of Tibetan Buddhism, which allowed him to finally experience their depth in solitary retreat. Rinpoche brings this tradition into a Western context by translating songs composed by iconic Buddhist figures and explaining them in contemporary terms.

Khenchen Knchog Gyaltshen, founder of several Buddhist centers worldwide, is respected and beloved as an accomplished scholar, meditation master, teacher, translator, and author. In 2001 he received the high honor of being enthroned as Khenchen (great abbot). He lives in Frederick, Maryland.

Contents: Opening the Treasure of the Profound
Preface	vii
Introduction	ix
1. Supplication to the Kagyu Gurus for the Mist of Great Bliss	3
Part One: Vajra Songs of Jetsun Milarepa
2. Distinguishing Happiness from Suffering	39
3. The Eight Bardos	57
Part Two: Vajra songs of Lord Jigten Sumgon
4. Vajra Songs on Attaining Enlightenment	73
5. Song of the Fivefold Profound Path of Mahamudra	79
6. The Song that Clarifies Recollection	111
7. Vajra Song at Tsa-uk called "Tsa-uk Dzong Drom"	131
8. Song of the Six Confidences	149
9. Supplication to the Seven Taras	171
Part Three: The Life and Liberation of Lord Jigten Sumgon
10. The life of Jigten Sumgon, by Drigung Kyabgon Padmai Gyaltsen	185
11. The Precious Jewel Ornament, by Ngorje Repa	197
12. Jigten Sumgon: The Second Nagarjuna, by H. H. the Drigung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche	215
Glossary of Enumerations	251
Glossary of Names and Terms	261
Selected Bibliography	267
Index	271