This book focuses on Padmasambhava, the Lotus Born Guru who awakens us to our own lotus source. Padmasambhava brought tantric Buddhism to Tibet and his power and blessing continues to guide and inspire meditators in the Himalayan regions and worldwide to this day.

All Buddhist practice is concerned with awakening from the illusions which bind us. The lotus represents this awakening and for the intrinsic purity which is the source of both awakened Buddhas and deluded sentient beings. Forgetfulness of our lotus source has given rise to our experience of being someone real somewhere in a real world.

The wide range of prayers and practices translated and explained in this book provide guidance on how to live in a clear and ethical way. These practices ease the process of dying and guide us to Padmasambhava in his pure realm of Lotus Light, also known as Zangdopalri, the Copper Coloured Mountain.

Lotus Source: Becoming Lotus Born, C. R. Lama and James Low, Simply Being, Hardcover, 414 pages, $40.00

James Low is a disciple and teacher in the Byangter and Khordong lineages of the late C R Lama, Chimed Rigdzin Lama, the Khordong Terchen Tulku. He began studying and practising Tibetan Buddhism in India in the 1960's and received teachings from Kalu Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche, Kanjur Rinpoche and Dudjom Rinpoche. Having met his main teacher, Chimed Rigdzin Lama (also known as C R Lama), he lived in his home in West Bengal, India for many years, serving him as required and being taught many aspects of the tradition. During this period in India James did several retreats and pilgrimages. In the 1970's and 1980's, on his return to Europe, he also had teachings and guidance from Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche.

James translated many tantric texts and sadhanas with CR Lama who wanted texts from his lineages, Byangter and Khordong, to be available in English. These are used as practice texts by CR Lama's disciples and have been translated into various European languages. CR Lama asked James to teach in 1976 and later gave him the transmissions necessary to do this, together with full lineage authority. In particular, James was encouraged to give the traditional instructions using methods that enable people in the west to get the point. James has been teaching in this way for over thirty years.

James regularly teaches the principles of dzogchen in Europe and publishes translations and commentaries from time to time.Many of his seminars have been recorded, transcribed and made freely available on his website www.simplybeing.co.uk.

James studied at Edinburgh University, at Visva Bharati University (West Bengal) and others. He has retired from his work in London as a Consultant Psychotherapist in the National Health Service. He maintains a small private psychotherapy and supervision practice. He has been a staff member for many psychotherapy trainings in Britain.

CONTENTS: Lotus Source
Homage		viii
Preface		xi
	Introduction	1
	Prayer to Buddha Shakyamuni	27
	Offering Salutation and Praise	28
	Aspiration of the Vajra Knot	34
	The Prayer of Aspiration which Is a Wish-Fulfilling Jewel	40
	The Sutra of the Story of the Lamp of King Golden Hand and His Aspiration	63
	The Aspiration for Pure Discernment	83
	If You Wish to Purify Your Sins and Obscurations	107
	The Prayer Which Effortlessly Fulfils Our Wishes	113
	The Prayer Which Removes Obstacles From the Path	134
	The Prayer Which Quickly Fulfils Our Wishes	166
	The Prayer of Stainless Biography	172
	Pure White Lotus: The Life of the lotus Born from Oddiyana	197
	The Great Cloud of Blessings: A Prayer to Padmasambhava by the Fifth Dalai Lama	223
	Imploring Padmasambhava	236
	The Precious Guru from Oddiyana	244
	Lotus Source Practice	259
	Aspiration for Zangdopalri	293
	A Description of Zangdopalri	315
	In One's Hand: The Profound Instructions for Using Death as the Path	337
	Dedication Prayer	398