Creation & Completion: Essential Points of Tantric Meditation

By Jamgon Kongtrul and Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye

Creation and Completion represents some of the most profound teachings of Jamgon Kongtrul (1813-99), one of the true spiritual and literary giants of Tibetan history. Though brief, it offers a lifetime of advice for all who wish to engage in-and deepen-the practice of tantric Buddhist meditation.

The original text, beautifully translated and introduced by Sarah Harding, is further brought to life by an in-depth commentary by the contemporary master Thrangu Rinpoche. Key Tibetan Buddhist fundamentals are quickly made clear, so that the reader may confidently enter into tantra's oft-misunderstood "creation" and "completion" stages.

In the creation stage, practitioners visualize themselves in the form of buddhas and other enlightened beings in order to break down their ordinary concepts of themselves and the world around them. This meditation practice prepares the mind for engaging in the completion stage, where one has a direct encounter with the ultimate nature of mind and reality.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0861713125
• ISBN13: 9780861713127
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Truly Essential

It is hard, in my opinion, to overstate the usefulness of this book for beginners in the Kagyu or Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. I cannot speak to its usefulness for those in the Sakya or Gelug, although it may be quite useful for them as well. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye's root text is accessible, potent and brilliant. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche's commentary is compassionate, clear, thorough, and incredibly helpful. This book contains key points for Creation and Completion and also for Dzogchen and Mahamudra. There are several pith instructions and accessory instructions I haven't seen explained elsewhere, as well as fascinating discussions of Yogacara, Abhidharma, and Vajrayana technique. I think every Western Nyingma or Kagyu undertaking these practices, especially those with limited access to a teacher, should read this book.

Deity practice in Tibetan Buddhism

This book is, indeed, a unique guide to the fundamental practice of Tibetan Buddhist tantra. Basic to tantra is deity practice in devotional rituals and meditation techniques, and it consists of two stages: the creation stage and the completion stage. In the creation stage, practitioners visualise themselves in the form of the enlightened deity. In the completion phase this visualisation is subseqently dissolved. As such, "creation" and "completion" of tantric mahayana (or vajrayana) are the equivalents of "shamatha" (tranquillity meditation) and "vipashyana" (insight meditation) of sutra mahayana. The book is a translation of an exposition by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye, who designed this text as a guide to meditation practice. It was originally written entirely in verse, in the style of the songs of realization and other inspiration spiritual literature of Tibet. This book is very accessible and clear, and it will certainly give the reader a better understanding of what tantric practice is all about. A must-read, for sure. There is one book which is very useful to continue on this subject (as a companion book): "Generating the Deity" by Gyatrul Rinpoche (ISBN 1559390557). Another excellent book, "Tsongkhapa's Six Yogas of Naropa" (ISBN 1559390581), in a translation by Glenn Mullin, is a comprehensive treatise on the completion stage of Highest Yoga Tantra (according to the Geluk transmission). This book is both unique and excellent!