"The first Barway Dorje was a precious revealer of treasure and the rebirth of Nupchen Sangye Yeshe, one of Guru Padma's twenty-five disciples. Barway Dorje appeared in Tibet during the nineteenth century, and was praised and respected by the many holy beings of his time as an authentic treasure revealer. His many treasures include The Sadhanas of the Vidyadhara Guru, The Vajrakila Cycle, and The Dakini Cycle all of which contain profound instructions pertaining to ripening and liberation. The previous Gyalwang Karmapa, Rikpe Dorje, displayed great interest in The Vajrakila Cycle in particular.
"In addition to his treasures, Terchen Barway Dorje composed many works of his own that have been of great service to the essence teachings, such as his Barom Kagyu Mahamudra and Six Doctrines.
"One handwritten edition of his biography exists, and is found in both India and Tibet. I am delighted that English and Chinese translations of it are being published, and I make the dedication and aspiration that this good work may plant the seed of liberation in beings."
-- His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje
From Precious Essence, "An Account of the Essence of This Life"
In the vast ocean of buddha nature
The little fish of mind itself, with the golden eyes of awareness,
Flaps the six wings of the inner faculties.
The outer faculties move about in the ten directions.
If the outer and inner retain this golden gleam
Object and subject are powerful and not two.
Self-awareness is the perfect buddha! emaho!
May this be realized by myself and all beings!
This was composed by Dechen Barway Dorje.
May all attain buddhahood."
Precious Essence: The Inner Biography of Terchen Barway, Lama Yeshe Gyamtso, KTD Publications, Hardcover, 2005, 268 Pages, $22.95
Yeshe Gyamtso was trained in the traditional three-year retreat. Since then he has served as an interpreter for many eminent teachers, including His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa. His publications include Vajra Garland and The Lotus Garden: Treasure Biographies of Padmakara and Vairochana and the forthcoming Chariot of the Fortunate: The Life Story of Mingyur Dorje Drakpo Nuden Tsal and The Fortunate Sun: The Life Story of the Peerless Holy Guru Nyima Tashi.
CONTENTS: Precious Essence: The Inner Biography of Terchen Barway
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Translator's Introduction
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ix
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THE PRECIOUS ESSENCE The Hidden meaning of the Glorious Noble Guru's Life
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1
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VIRTUE IN THE BEGINNING The Circumstances Under Which the Autobiography Was Composed
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5
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VIRTUE IN THE MIDDLE, THE ACTUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY First, an Account of Previous Lives
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19
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VIRTUE IN THE MIDDLE, THE ACTUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY Second, an Account of the Essence of This Life
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27
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VIRTUE IN THE END The Conclusion of the Autobiography
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223
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Notes
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241
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