Gampopa. Jewel Ornament of Liberation

Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation (Dam Chos Yid bzhin gyi Nor bu Thar pa Rin po che'i Rgyan)—the classical Tibetan Buddhist masterwork presenting the complete path to enlightenment from the Kagyu lineage, offering a systematic and comprehensive guide to Mahayana practice from entering the path through achieving Buddhahood.

Gampopa (1079-1153), also known as Dakpo Lhaje, was the foremost disciple of the great yogi Milarepa and the founder of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Jewel Ornament of Liberation is his masterwork—a complete encyclopedia of Buddhist philosophy and practice that synthesizes the gradual path teachings (lamrim) with the direct yogic instructions he received from Milarepa. This text has served as the foundational manual for Kagyu practitioners for nearly a thousand years and remains one of the most important works in Tibetan Buddhist literature.

What you'll discover:

• The complete stages of the Mahayana path from beginning practice to full enlightenment
• Buddha nature—the inherent potential for awakening present in all beings
• The precious human birth and the importance of spiritual opportunity
• Refuge in the Three Jewels—Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha
• Karma and its effects—understanding cause and result in spiritual development
• The Four Immeasurables: loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity
• Bodhicitta—the awakened heart-mind dedicated to liberating all beings
• The Six Perfections (paramitas): generosity, ethics, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom
• The stages of the Bodhisattva path and the attainment of Buddhahood

Gampopa's genius lies in his ability to present profound teachings with remarkable clarity and systematic organization. He structures the path according to the stages of spiritual development, showing how each practice builds upon the previous one. Beginning with contemplations on impermanence and the preciousness of human life, he guides practitioners through taking refuge, developing compassion, cultivating bodhicitta, and practicing the six perfections, culminating in the realization of Buddhahood. Each stage is explained with precision, supported by scriptural citations, and illuminated with practical instructions.

What makes this text essential for your contemplative library is its comprehensive scope and practical applicability. Unlike purely philosophical treatises, the Jewel Ornament is a practitioner's manual—it provides both the theoretical understanding and the practical methods needed for spiritual transformation. Gampopa draws on the Indian Buddhist classics (Nagarjuna, Asanga, Shantideva) while incorporating the direct yogic instructions of the Kagyu lineage, creating a work that is both scholastically rigorous and experientially grounded.

The text emphasizes the Mahayana ideal of the Bodhisattva—the spiritual practitioner who seeks enlightenment not for personal liberation alone but for the benefit of all sentient beings. This vision of compassionate wisdom, where insight into emptiness is inseparable from love for all beings, represents the heart of Mahayana Buddhism and continues to inspire practitioners across all Tibetan Buddhist schools.

The Jewel Ornament of Liberation has influenced countless masters and practitioners throughout Tibetan Buddhist history. It serves as a foundational text for the Kagyu lineage (which includes the Karma Kagyu, Drikung Kagyu, and Drukpa Kagyu schools) and is studied and practiced by Tibetan Buddhists worldwide. Its systematic presentation of the path makes it accessible to serious students while its depth rewards lifelong study.

This translation makes Gampopa's masterwork available to English readers, preserving the precision and beauty of the original while rendering it in clear, accessible language. Whether you're a committed Buddhist practitioner or a student of contemplative wisdom traditions, this text offers a complete map of the spiritual journey from ordinary consciousness to full awakening.

Perfect for: Students and practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism, readers interested in the Kagyu lineage and Mahayana path, those seeking systematic guidance on Buddhist practice from beginning to enlightenment, students of Buddhist philosophy and meditation, readers interested in bodhicitta and the Bodhisattva ideal, practitioners of loving-kindness and compassion meditation, anyone studying the stages of spiritual development, and contemplative readers seeking a comprehensive manual for the path to awakening.

This paperback edition presents Gampopa's complete Jewel Ornament of Liberation—a classical Tibetan Buddhist masterwork that has guided practitioners on the path to enlightenment for nearly a thousand years.