Of the many devotional prayers used as a support for Dharma practice, the concise Seven-Line Prayer is the most essential, often repeated many thousands of times by practitioners, especially of the Nyingma and Dzogchen teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. The prayer invokes the blessings of Padmasambhava, who is called Guru Rinpoche (Precious Teacher) by Tibetans and is known as the Buddha for our time. Guru Rinpoche brought the Dharma from India to Tibet in the eighth century and is the source of the Buddhist Dzogchen teachings. Although the prayer is short and simple, its different levels of meaning make this commentary a welcome study aid for practitioners. The author presents an account of the historical origin of the prayer and the greatness of its blessings, and commentary on its outer and inner levels of meaning. The book also includes the text of the Seven-Line Prayer in English and Tibetan.

Sole Panacea: A Brief Commentary on the Seven-Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche That Cures the Suffering of the Sickness of Karma and Defilement, Thinley Norbu, Shambhala Publications, Paperback (4" x 6.75") 200 pp, $19.95

Thinley Norbu (1931-2011) was a master teacher of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, with many devoted students in the West as well in Asia. Revered as an emanation of the fourteenth-century master Kunkhyen Longchenpa, Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche was a scholar, writer, poet, and translator, whose prolific publications include A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar, his masterwork on the ngondro, or preliminary practices; The Sole Panacea, on the Seven-Line Prayer of Guru Rinpoche; and A Brief Fantasy History of a Himalayan, an illustrated account of personal reminiscenses.

CONTENTS: The Sole Panacea
	Foreword by Tulku Thondup	ix
	The Seven-Line Prayer	3
The preliminary writings, containing answers to questions others have asked:
ONE		5
	A brief explanation of the beliefs of various doctrines of eternalism and nihilism, which depend on the temporary circumstances of the agreement or disagreement of phenomena and objects of phenomena.
TWO		21
	A brief explanation of the reason that wanting to understand the immaterial, absolute nature of mind with the help of material scientific technology is building a castle of sand, which can never be reliable; and how important it is to actually believe in the three supports of worship and holy places, mountains, and caves.
THREE		33
	A few words dispelling doubts about the controversy that has circulated discriminating between Padma Jungne who came to Tibet and Padmasambhava.
FOUR		41
	A brief explanation of the claim that Jatson Nyingpo is the only fully ordained terton, and how this contradicts both Buddha's speech and logic.
FIVE		49
	A brief explanation of the views of the various doctrines of Buddhism.
SIX		57
	A brief explanation of the various ways of recognizing the Triple Gems, the object of refuge, in the common and uncommon vehicles.
SEVEN		61
	A brief explanation of the way that Hinayana does not accept Mahayana, and the Mahayana reply that clears this contradiction. Also, a summary of the various beliefs of the higher and lower vehicles.
EIGHT		69
	The definition of Chomdende and the histories of peaceful and wrathful deities, which completes the brief preliminary topics.
The main writings about the Seven-Line Prayer:
NINE		99
	A historical account of the origin of the Seven-Line Prayer and the greatness of i103ts blessings.
TEN		103
	The pure mindfulness of practicing the outer meaning of the Seven-Line Prayer.
ELEVEN		115
	Regarding the practice of the inner meaning of the Seven-Line Prayer: During the basis, there are seven ordinary consciousnesses. During the path, there are seven branches of enlightenment. During the result, there are seven absolute treasures, with an explanation of how they are perfected. Receiving the four empowerments and the practice of dissolution connected with it. Sustaining the nature of awareness. Transcending thoughts and appearances to arrive in wisdom. Completed with the dedication of merit.
The Seven-Line Prayer in Tibetan		165
Notes		167