Khenpo Ramesh will be giving a teaching on this book from 27th of June to 21st July 2008 at Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre.

See Khenpo Ramesh's Biography.

Besides practising the 5 paramitas of generosity, patience, moral ethics, diligence and meditative concentration, it is also important for us to contemplate on the true nature of all phenomena which is emptiness. Madhyamika (Middle Way) provides a sound reasoning of why the true nature of all phenomena is in fact emptiness, but there are also other schools of thoughts, such as Cittamatra (Mind-only), Vaibhashika and Sautrantika. This treatise by His Holiness Rangjung Dorje in fact stresses on the Cittamatra school of thought but does not refute the Madyamika school of thought. His Holiness had written 36 verses detailing the development of mind from ordinary consciousness to spiritual wisdom.

His Holiness first introduces the 8 consciousness, sight, smell, hearing, tasting, feeling, mind, immediate and ground. This explanation shows how we develop the mistaken belief that the outer world is solid and real and give rise to disturbing emotions and the belief in an ego or self. It also explains how everything is created by the mind.

His Holiness then explains how the 8 consciousness are transformed into each of the 5 wisdoms upon reaching enlightenment. The 5 wisdoms (Mirror-Like, Equanimity, Discriminating, All-Accomplishing, Dharmadhatu) are described with an explanation of their importance to Buddhist Practice.

The original commentary on this treatise is by Jamgong Kongtrul Rinpoche. There is an explanation of the treatise by Thrangu Rinpoche published by Sri Satguru Publications (ISBN 81-7030-704-X)