Perfect Clarity is an anthology of essential writings on Mahamudra and Dzogchen for the student of Tibetan Buddhism. Mahamudra, a meditation practice focusing on the nature of mind, and Dzogchen, a body of teachings aimed at realizing the "great perfection" or natural, primordial state, are central to Vajrayana practitioners today.

Translator Erik Pema Kunsang has selected works by legendary masters both ancient and modern. From the distant, mythic past come teachings from Guru Rinpoche (also known as Padmasambhava), the tantric master who established Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet in the ninth century, his consort Yeshe Tsogyal, and the famous yogis Milarepa (1040-1123), and Longchenpa (1308-1363). More recent teachers included in this collection are Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991), and Khenpo Ganshar, the root guru of Chogyam Trungpa, and Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche. The writings are in a variety of forms reflecting the genius of each contributor: chapters of detailed meditation instructions, inspired poems, and parable-like stories.

Perfect Clarity : a Tibetan Buddhist Anthology of Mahamudra and Dzogchen, Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsogyal, Eric Pema Kunsang ( Translator ) Rangjung Yeshe Publications, 194 pp, $ 18.95

"In this dark age, the most effective stye of teaching is not lengthy, scholarly explanations, but rather direct guidance manuals. The Dzogchen tantras themselves were written in a style that shrouds and conceals the meaning so that only a master who is extremely well versed in oral instructions and treatises is able to clarify them. Conversely, based upon oral instructions a guidance manual is a short, comprehensive teaching written in a clear and simple manner. Such summaries of the Mahamudra and Dzogchen teachings contain all the teachings that a worthy practitioner requires to reach the state of primordial enlightenment in this very life." -Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

	Contents: PERFECT CLARITY: A Tibetan BuddhistAnthologyof Mahamudra and Dzogchen by: Erik Pema Kunsang, Marcia Schmidt, and Michael Tweed
	Preface, Marcia Binder Schmidt		xi
	An Introduction to Guidance Manuals, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche		1
	Supplications
	Cloud Banks of Nectar, Longchenpa		7
	The Cloud Bank of Blessings, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo		15
	The Mighty Vajradhara of the Definitive Meaning, Dudjom Rinpoche		21
	Mahamudra
	Illuminating Wisdom, Milarepa		25
	The Single Sufficient Path, Gampopa		29
	The Mahamudra Aspiration of True Meaning, Karmapa Rangjung Dorje		33
	The View, Meditation, and Action of Mahamudra, Tsokdrug Rangdrol		41
	Notes on Mahamudra, Pema Karpo		47
	The Instruction on Stillness, Occurrence, and Awareness in Mahamudra, Mipham Rinpoche		69
	Dzogchen
	The Instruction Manual for the Ground of Trekcho, Vajra Yogini and Chokgyur Lingpa		73
	Uncultivated Buddhahood, Dudjom Lingpa		79
	The Essenceof Wakefulness, Mipham Rinpoche		111
	The Mirror of Mindfulness. Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche		115
	The Lamp that Dispels Darkness, Mipham Rinpoche		117
	Old Vijaya, Shechen Gyaltsab Pema Namgyal		125
	Key Points in Dzogchen Practice, Shechen Gyaltsab Pema Namgyal		133
	Unity
	Naturally Liberating Whatever You Meet, Khenpo Gangshar		145
	Cognizance, Tsele Natsok Rangdrol		165
	View and Meditation, Jamgon Kongtrul		169
	Liberation through Hearing in the Bardo, Guru Rinpoche and Chokgyur Lingpa		171
	The Ultimate Confession of Simplicity, Guru Rinpoche and Chokgyur Lingpa		177
	The Aspiration of Yeshe Tsogyal, Guru Rinpoche and Pema Ledrel Tsal		183
	Biographical Notes		187
	Glossary		191