Buddhahood in This Life: The Great Commentary by Vimalamitra

Add another text to the ever growing series of fine translations of Tibetan classics. Malcolm Smith tackles Vimalamitra’s Buddhahood in This Life, a summary of seventeen tantras. As frequently the case with translations of ancient Buddhist texts, there is a lengthy introduction, in this case 31 pages. Much of it is aimed at familiarizing the reader with technical definitions particular to the dzogchen tradition. These may already be familiar to the long time practitioner. The introduction will not be enough for those new to the tradition. Considered to be among the highest of practices, dzogchen is in many respects complex, although in many it deceitfully appears simple. It was originally an oral tradition. The forward acknowledges that the reader may need the assistance of a “qualified master” and to have received the empowerments. The text itself gives two sections of explanations. For those “inclined toward the elaborate” it requires just over 10 pages, for the rest of us just over 150 pages are devoted to “the explanation for those inclined toward the unelaborate.” The first section draws heavily on quotes from the tantras and especially requires previous knowledge to be a compelling path towards enlightenment. The second, more expansive section elaborates on eleven topics. Perhaps the best way to give the reader their taste is to list them: 1. The Basis, 2. How Delusion Arises, 3. How the Basis Is Present in Sentient Beings, 4. The Location of Pristine Consciousness in the Body, 5. The Pathway of Pristine Consciousness, 6. The Doorway of Pristine Consciousness, 7. The Field, 8. The Method of Practice, 9. The Authoritative Signs, 10. The Bardo, 11. The Great Stage of Liberation. Those who don’t have a regular Buddhist practice, or are in the initial stages of building one might want pass on this this text, but add it to their list for the future. The book will prove challenging to even the serious practitioner, but the reward of comprehending even some of its understandings well worth it. If it proves too difficult, put it aside, continue to practice and return to it.

Book is physically nice: under the jacket, a classy blue-and-white hardcover, neatly and flexibly bound. Great off-white smooth paper with crisp bold print. The contents are exactly what you should be looking for: a sizable introduction which explains the history, terminology, and basic philosophy of Dzogchen; and a clearly literal translation of a fundamental work, which will enlighten the mind of any earnest reader. Thank you, Mr. Smith, for a job very well done.

A complete path for attaining Buddhahood in this life through the instructions of Dzogchen secret tantras. The value of this text is twofold, it goes through all the pervasive aspects of Dzogchen teachings and it takes into account the whole seventeen secret tantras for creating its narrative. With this book as a guide and the whole translated texts of the Dzogchen tantras (Wilkinson's, for instance) and with the transmision of a qualified guru, you can go directly for reaching Buddhahood in this very lifetime.

This is a fine translation that makes an important text available in English for the first time. The translator's introduction provides context and is very helpful to non-academic readers (like me) in understanding the place of this text in the Tibetan tradition. It is an excellent source of information on the Dzogchen tantras. I am grateful to Acarya Smith for his long work in producing this publication.

Acharya Malcolm Smith's translation is clear and concise. A lot of Ati Yoga concepts I have struggled to integrate in the past have been cleared up due to not only his fantastic and informative introduction, but by also presenting the wisdom of Vimalamitra's commentary in an accurate manner. Truly a gift to any serious Dzogchen practitioner. May this translation be the first of many!

One of the most pithy and direct manuals dealing with Dzogchen as a stand-alone path, translated wonderfully and with excellent commentary and footnotes by Acharya Malcolm Smith.

It's from Vimalamitra. What else do you need

This translation by Acarya Malcolm Smith is sublime. The Great Commentary extracts the meaning of the seventeen (17) tantras of the innermost secret unsurpassed cycle; and clearly presents them in eleven (11) topics that illuminates the three crucial points of the basis, the path and the result. I rejoice in this sacred text because of the accuracy of the terms or phrases in the translation in relation to the intent of the tantras themselves, and also for the addition of the table of Tibetan equivalents where you can see each term or phrase corresponding to it's Tibetan transliteration.

If you are interested in the Tibetan approach to Buddhism in general and the Great Perfection teachings in particular then this is a great book. Here you have a seminal Great Perfection master giving a commentary on the so called Source Tantras that Great Perfection is based on. Wow! This book, I think is more for long time dharma students. But if you are looking for access to the Tantras to deepen your understanding then I would happily recommend this book.

Great translation; easy to read and understand very subtle and often arcane subject matter. The translation clarifies many essential, pith instructions from the Nying Thig tradition of Dzogchen. It's most interesting to see how much this tradition of Dzogchen differentiated itself from the earlier Semde tradition of Dzogchen by its re-affiliation with mainstream Vajrayana. Highly recommended! Jackson Peterson [...]

Must read for every serious Dzogchen practitioner. Apart from other topics, it describes clearly how delusion arises and what we can do about it.