Alchemy of Accomplishment 2nd Edition by Tony Duff ISBN 9937903130 9789937903134

Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje was one of the great masters of the Nyingma tradition who lived during the 1900’s. At one time, he was asked to give the basic instructions for Great Completion (Dzogpa Chenpo) practice to the members of a three year retreat that had just started. His discourse was recorded in writing and included in his Collected Works. The text of his discourse has become very important for presenting the teaching on Thorough Cut (Tregcho) and is very commonly used for that purpose. It has become popular not only in the Dudjom lineage but in Nyingma traditions in general because of its exceptionally clear and easy-to-understand explanation that comes right from the heart and goes straight to the heart. The text contains full details of Thorough Cut practice explained in a way that is very easy to understand but which does not avoid any of the unique and beautiful technical language of the system.

Here is a small quote from the book–it is what he says to the retreatants just after he has given the introduction (sometimes called pointing out instruction) to them: “With that, we have made the mind of Samantabhadra blaze forth for us in direct perception and what could be more enjoyable? This itself is the heart of the six million, four hundred thousand tantras of Great Completion, which are the ultimate of all of the eighty-four thousand dharma heaps distinguished by the Conqueror. There is no more celestial destination than this…”

The book starts with an introduction that gives the context for the text. It continues with the translation which is fully footnoted and contains extensive explanations of the unique language of this teaching. An extensive glossary is included so that even the technical language can be fully understood. This text together with Patrul’s Feature of the Expert, Glorious King , Dodrubchen’s About the Three Lines, and Zhechen Gyaltshab’s Essential Points of Practice are recommended as “must-read” texts for anyone doing any Great Completion practice and Thorough Cut practice in particular.