I havent purchased a book on Tibetan Buddhism off the shelf at a major bookstore in a LONG time. For about ten years now the Dharma shelves have been dominated by watered down overly psychological treatises aimed primarily at affluent westerners who are looking for a dharma that both numbs them from the neck down and is free from any superstitious nonsense like spirits, astrology, energies, and the like. Certainly there have been very few books that even mention sex practice other than visualizations that make their way to the shelves of the local Borders or B&N.

Imagine then my surprise when I was in Barnes and Noble last week and picked up a copy of “Secret Teachings of Padmasambhava: Essential Instructions on Mastering the Energies of Life” translated by Kennard Lipman. In this very short 160 page book is some very precise instruction on Tsa Lung Thigle (Energy, Channel, and Drop) practice and how it is impacted by Tibetan Astology and Sex Practice.

The book revolves around a translation of two key texts from the Khandro Nyingthig (Dakinis Heart Essence), a Terma (hidden treasure text) from Padmasambhava that deals with the Dzogchen (great perfection) Upadesha (secret instruction cycle). Specifically this text deals with:

Five levels of meaning of the five elements, how pheonomical existence arises from mistaken perception, which in turn creates the perception of energies and matter.

How to channel and direct the energies of the subtle body within a Dzogchen context

How to enhance the bliss/emptiness/clarity experience through skillful sex practice

How to use the lunar calander to track the flow of energies and drops within the channels of the body and work with them appropriately.

While there have been a few texts from major publishers that have dealt with energy practice and even sex yoga (Six Yogas of Naropa by Glenn Mullin and Bliss of Inner Fire from Lama Yeshe come to mind) this is the first that I have seen publically printed that deals with them from a Dzogchen perspective rather than a Tantric one. This is important because Tantra emphasises some very heavy handed methods that require intense retreats, and some would argue radical lifestyle changes, whereas energy work in Dzogchen is more relaxed and gentile, which in the west is a better fit for most people. In Tantra the energy work is done primarily to come to the realization of pure awareness. In Dzogchen it is begun from the perspective of residing in pure awareness (rigpa) and instead is used to clarify perception and remain in that state.

The text is quite readable and though someone with no background in Tibetan Buddhism might have a hard time understanding it, there are plenty of resources available to help them understand this short but important text. For those who do have a background in Tibetan Buddhism, and especially Dzogchen, this book is a must have. Kuddos to Shambhala for publishing it.