Longchen Nyingtik.

Visions (dag snang) of 'jigs med gling pa; Longchen Nyingtig. theHeart Essence of the Great Expanse / Longchenpa. A cycle of teachings revealed to Jigmey Lingpa in three visions of Longchenpa; terma revealed by Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa. (RY)

A mind-treasure revealed by Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa. (RY)

Nyingma terma ('jigs med gling pa's dgongs gter). (IW)

Longchen Nyingthig, "The Heart Essence of the Great Expanse" (the cycle of teachings revealed to Jigme Lingpa in three visions of Longchen Rabjampa klong chen rab 'byams pa - Longchen Rabjam [1308-1363) the great Nyingma master Longchenpa Drimey Oser - Longchenpa, Longchen Rabjampa (1308-1363) the great Nyingmapa master Longchenpa Drimey Oser; rnying ma'i slob dpon klong chen pa dri med 'od zer zhes pa dbus lho gyo ru gra'i cha stod grong du rab byung lnga pa'i sa sprel lor 'khrungs / rab byung drug pa'i chu yos lor 'das / ta'i si tu byang chub rgyal mtshan dang dus mnyam yin / khong gis mdzad pa'i mdzod chen bdun dang / snying thig ya bzhi / ngal gso skor gsum / rang grol skor gsum sogs chos tshan brgya phrag gnyis lhag tsam yod. (IW)

Longchen Nyingthig, the heart essence of the great expanse. (IW)

Heart Essence of the Great Expanse, mind-treasure revealed by Jigmey Lingpa. (RY)

Essence of the mind of Longchenpa, 'jigs med gling pa's synthesis ofrdzogs chen snying thig teachings. (JV)

Longchen Nyingtig, Heart Essence of the Great Expanse. (RY)

Brief History

The Longchen Nyingthig is a Terma cycle revealed by the master Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa. Since its inception in the late 18th century, it has become one of the most widespread sets of teachings in the Nyingma tradition. It is particularly known and loved for its extensive commentarial literature, which includes practice manuals such as the famed Yeshe Lama.

These teachings were originally transmitted by the master Padmasambhava to King Trisong Deutsen, the Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal and the Lotsawa Vairochana at Samye Monastery in central Tibet. As the time for these teachings to spread was not yet right, they were then written in symbolic script by [[Yeshe Tsogyal], entrusted to the Dakinis, and hidden to be revealed at a later time. The king later reincarnated as the Treasure Revealer Jigme Lingpa, who recalled the teachings he had received and, recognizing the time was ripe for them to be practised, put them down in writing and began to teach.

Jigme Lingpa, the Terton who revealed this cycle of teachings, was a reincarnation of two important masters, Vimalamitra and King Trisong Deutsen. As the embodiment of these two figures, Tibet's two primary Dzogchen lineages were combined in Jigme Lingpa -- the Vima Nyingthig and Khandro Nyingthig, both of which are contained in the Nyingthig Yabshi. Hence, the [[Longchen Nyingthig[[ terma cycle is considered a condensation of these profound teachings.

The texts that were revealed by Jigme Lingpa, in their present-day form, comprise three volumes, known as the Nyingthig Tsapod (snying thig rtsa pod). The numerous treatises, sadhanas and prayers it contains deal primarily with tantric practice, in particular the stages of Development Stage and Dzogchen.

Lineage

The Present day lineages transmitted down from the many students of Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa have spread and are practice throughout every corner of this realm, however there where four main "Heart Sons" that became crucial to the dissemination of the lineage, which in turn created a number of lineages of transmission down to present masters.

The primary lineage is as follows

Samantabhadra - the Dharmakaya Vajrasattva - the Sambhogakaya Garab Dorje - the Nirmanakaya

Manjushrimitra Shri Singha Vimalamitra Padmasambhava Yeshe Tsogyal Trisong Deutsen Longchenpa Jigme Lingpa

The Four Main Lineage Holders

Jigme Lingpa's four primary students known as "The Four Jigmes" Jigme Trinle Ozer Jigme Gyalwey Nyugu Jigme Kundrol Namgyal Getse Jigme Ngotsar

From Jigme Lingpa's heart son Jigme Trinle Ozer to the present Dodrupchen Rinpoche

Dola Jigme Kalzang and Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje Gyalse Shenpen Thaye Khenchen Pema Dorje Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo Dodrup Tenpey Nyima (3rd Dodrupchen Rinpoche) Khenpo Kunpal Thubten Trinle Palzang (4th Dodrupchen Rinpoche)

From Jigme Lingpa's heart son Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu to the present Chatral Rinpoche

Patrul Rinpoche Lungtog Tenpe Nyima Khenpo Ngagchung Chatral Rinpoche

From Jigme Lingpa's heart son Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu to the present Penor Rinpoche

Patrul Rinpoche Lungtog Tenpe Nyima Khenpo Ngagchung [1879-1941] Rigdzin Palchen Düpa [1887-1932] (2nd Drubwang Padma Norbu) Thubten Chokyi Dawa (2nd Tarthang Choktrul Rinpoche) Penor Rinpoche [1932-2009] (3rd Drubwang Padma Norbu)

Other Lineage Masters

Mingyur Namkhai Dorje (the fourth Dzogchen Rinpoche) Onpo Tendzin Norbu Adzom Drukpa Rigdzin Palchen Düpa (second Pema Norbu Rinpoche) Thubten Chokyi Dorje (the fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche) Yukhok Chatralwa Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche Gonpo Tseten Rinpoche

Primary Sadhanas

The Longchen Nyingthig cycle relates primarily to the teachings of Dzogchen, particularly the Innermost Essence teachings. Though there are various practices and Sadhanas found in this tradition, such practices are often approached from this Dzogchen perspective.

These practices include:

Preliminary Practice (sngon 'gro): The Excellent Path To Omniscience (rnam mkhyen lam bzang)