MASTERS PROGRAM TRANSLATION AND PUBLISHING PROJECTS

In addition to providing qualified teachers for the FPMT Dharma centers, one of the main aims of the FPMT Masters Program 1998-2004 was to produce written material for the Basic Program and for other Masters Programs. For this reason the FPMT Education Department set aside funding in order to support Masters Program students in creating these materials.


• Study Manual on the Fourth Chapter of the Ornament

The fourth chapter of the Ornament for Clear Realizations (Abhisamayalamkara) is one of the more difficult subjects of the FPMT Basic Program. As this text was taught by Geshe Jampa Gyatso in great detail during the two years dedicated to it in the Masters Program, students Kok Wai Cheong from Singapore and Emily Hsu from the USA were chosen to create a study manual based on the root text by Maitreya and Geshe-la’s commentary that would be of help to students in the Basic Program. This project, begun in September 1999 and concluded in April 2001, realized a 126 page manuscript that sets the Ornament teachings in perspective, introduces the subject of the fourth chapter – "the application in the complete aspects" – and presents each of the eleven topics that illustrate it together with their definitions, related root text, and commentary supported by various supplementary charts, quizzes, homework, and guidelines on how to meditate on these topics.



• Publication of Geshe Jampa Gyatso’s commentary to the Ornament combined with Seventy Topics

After completing his detailed oral commentary on the Ornament for Clear Realizations, Geshe-la decided to review this difficult text by writing his own condensed commentary and giving an oral commentary on it. This text, A Short Explanation of the Meaning of the Words of "A Treatise of Instructions on the Perfection of Wisdom: ‘Ornament for Clear Realizations,’" was translated into English by Joan Nicell, the Masters Program Coordinator, for this review. Students Kok Wai Cheong from Singapore and Glen Svensson from Australia were asked to review the translation, structure it, and add footnotes based on Geshe-la’s oral commentary in order to clarify the more obscure points. This work began in September 2000 and was completed in December 2002. The translation was then revised by the Masters Program interpreter, Thubten Sherab, and Ven. Steve Carlier, who is doing the Geshe Studies Program at Sera Je Monastery in India. It will be revised once again by Joan Nicell prior to publication.


• Publication of Geshe Jampa Gyatso’s two extensive oral commentaries on the Supplement to the ‘Middle Way’

This publication, which will consist of as many as three large volumes, will include a translation of Chandrakirti’s Supplement to the ‘Middle Way’ and Lama Tsongkhapa’s Illumination of the Thought as well as Geshe-la’s two extensive commentaries to these texts (1991-1996 and 2000-2001). The translations of the two texts still need to be completed and revised. The transcripts of the two oral commentaries require extensive revision in order to merge them and to give them structure and organization. Students Kok Wai Cheong and Glen Svensson began work on this project in January 2003 with plans to complete the first phase in 2006.

• Future projects
The aim of the Masters Program is to publish Geshe Jampa Gyatso’s oral commentaries on all five subjects: the Ornament, Middle Way, Treasury, Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra, and the Guhyasamaja Tantra. Once final versions of the translations and commentaries have been settled in English, these texts can then be translated into many other languages, thus ensuring the preservation of Lama Tsongkhapa’s tradition in this world for many generations to come.

Project 1 - Ornament for Clear Realizations (Abhisamayalamkara)
This project involves the publication of a combination of the following texts in several volumes:
• A translation of Ornament for Clear Realizations (Abhisamayalamkara, mNgon par rtogs pa’i rgyan) by Maitreya
• A translation of Commentary Clarifying the Meaning (‘Grel ba don gsal) by Haribhadra
• A translation of the sections of Ornament of Essential Explanation (rNam bshad snying po rgyan) by Gyeltsab Je cited in Geshe Jampa Gyatso’s oral commentary
• Geshe Jampa Gyatso’s two oral commentaries given in 1983-1985 and 1998-1999


Project 2 - Treasury of Manifest Knowledge (Abhidharmakosha)
This project involves the publication of a combination of the following texts in several volumes:
• A translation of Treasury of Knowledge (Abhidharmakoshakarika, Chos mngon pa’i mdzod kyi tshig le’ur byas pa) by Vasubandhu
• A translation of Commentary Clarifying the Path to Liberation: A Complete Explanation of the Treasury of Manifest Knowledge (mDzod tik thar lam gsal byed) by Gendun Drub, the I Dalai Lama
• Geshe Jampa Gyatso’s three oral commentaries given in 1991-1997, 2001-2002, and 2003


Project 3 - Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra
This project involves the publication of a combination of the following texts:
• A translation of The Condensed Path of the Vajra Vehicle: The Essence of the Nectar of the Great Secret (rDo rje theg pa’i lam gyi bsdus don gsang chen bdud rtsi’i snying po) by Kirti Losang Trinle
• A translation of extensive sections of Great Exposition of the Stages of Mantra (Ngag rim chen mo) by Lama Tsongkhapa
• Geshe Jampa Gyatso’s oral commentary given in 2003


Project 4 - Guhyasamaja Tantra
This project involves the publication of a combination of the following texts:
• The long sadhana of Guhyasamaja – Self-generation Rite of the Glorious Secret Assembly, The King of Tantras
• Aku Sherab Gyatso’s Sacred Words of Lord Akshobhya: A Guide to the Generation Stage Path of Guhyasamaja and his Sacred Words of Lord Akshobhya: A Guide to the Completion Stage Path of Guhyasamaja
• Geshe Jampa Gyatso’s oral commentary given in 2004


For more information about these publishing projects and to make donations toward their realization, please contact the Masters Program Coordinator or the FPMT Education Department.