A selection of 52 short prayers and practices devoted to Tibet's
cultural hero Gesar of Ling as an enlightened tantric deity to generate
positive circumstances and increase one's experiences and realization in
Buddhist practice.
Gesar of Ling is widely known as the hero of Tibet's national oral epic,
considered the longest epic in the world. But he is also the focus of
Buddhist practices in which his enlightened form, known as King Gesar
the Jewel, becomes one of the numerous spiritual methods offered by
Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism to progress toward buddhahood. This work
contains the complete selection of practice texts compiled by the early
modern Tibetan polymath Jamgon Mipham and included in his Collected
Works.
Gesar personifies the ideal of the spiritual warrior, who tames negative
forces which obstruct the Buddhist path. The practices presented here
detail poetic imagery of offerings and their recipients, including
Gesar, his court, and the spirits who dwell in his personal belongings.
Vajrayana practices such as these are considered mind treasures, meaning
rather than being composed, they appeared fully formed as a transmission
with the mind of a Vajrayana master.
The practices in this book are meant to be done only by those who have
received Gesar Dorje Tsegyal empowerment or "entrustment with his life
force," the reading transmission of the practice, and the associated
instructions from a qualified master.
