Title: Transcending Ego
Subtitle: Distinguishing Consciousness from Wisdom
First published: October 2001
Description: The entire path of Buddhism can be characterized as a quest for understanding the mind and then ridding the obstacles to mind. While the mind is the foundation of Buddhism, it is rarely and directly described in its complexity. For this reason the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, wrote a treatise called Distinguishing Consciousness from Wisdom which describes the eight consciousnesses in great detail and explains how we as ordinary beings are deluded by them. He then describes how to transcend ego and transform these consciousnesses into the five enlightened wisdoms.

Transcending Ego: Distinguishing Consciousness from Wisdom presents a translation of Rangjung Dorje’s brilliant 36 verse doha spanning this topic and includes a lucid and accessible commentary on these verses by Thrangu Rinpoche.  This book is a virtual textbook of Buddhist psychology by an authentic teacher from a lineage that continues to be alive today even though it is a thousand years old.

“An illuminating text which provides the ‘missing link’ between Yogacara philosophy and Mahamudra practice, demonstrating how we might transform our confusion and emotional obscurations into wisdom. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche has lucidly and generously provided a commentary which will deepen your understanding and enliven your practice. A must for all practitioners of Vajrayana!” Judith Simmer-Brown, Ph.D. Professor of Buddhist Studies Naropa University