The Tibetan Buddhist text that is known as the dGongs gcig (we will need to discuss the meaning of the title later) is the central teaching of the great Drikungpa Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon (1143–1217). Jigten Gönpo, as we will call him for short in this blog, was one of the most influential masters of the Kagyupas in the 12th and 13th centuries. Through his dGongs gcig he reached out far beyond his own immediate disciples and his own tradition, the Drikung Kagyupa. The teaching inspired also masters like Tsongkapa (1357–1419), the eighth Karmapa Mikyö Dorje (1507–1554), who provided an extensive commentary, the fourth Zhamarpa Chokyi Dragpa (1453–1524), Karma Chagme of the 17th century, Mipham Rinpoche (1846-1912) and many others. It seems to be the only Kagyu treatise that combines into one the teachings of the three vehicles of the Shravakas, Bodhisattvas, and Mantra practitioners with such themes as:

– the three turnings of the Dharma wheel (chos ‘khor gsum)
– the three vow teachings (sdom pa gsum)
– emptiness, cause, and result (stong pa nyid rgyu ‘bras bu)
– dependent origination (rten cing ‘brel bar ‘byung ba)
– view, practise, and conduct (lta sgom spyod gsum)
– ground, path, and result (rgyu lam ‘bras bu)
– the five paths of mahamudra (phyag chen lnga ldan)

This blog will introduce the originator and the author of the dGongs gcig, its teachings, and the available commentaries with the hope to revive interest in this unique treatise.

commentaries:

rDo sher ma: dGongs ps gcig pa’i ‘grel chen snang mdzad ye shes sgron me by sPyan-snga rDo-rje-shes-rab. Editions have been published by
– Tsondu Senghe Yorey Tshang (Bir)
– bKa’ brgyud nyam skyong tshogs pa (Sarnath and Varanasi)
– Kagyu College (Dehra Dun)

Rin byang ma: Dam chos dgongd pa gcig pa’i rnam bshad rin po che’i gter mdzod by sPyan-snga rDo-rje-rin-chen. Editions have been published by
– Kagyu Relief and Protection Committee, Saranath, Varanasi
– Kagyu College (Dehra Dun)

Rigdzin Chökyi Dragpa: Dam pa’i chos dgongs gcig pa’i rnam bshad nyi ma’i snang ba by ‘Bri-gun Rig-‘dzin Chos-kyi-grags-pa. Editions have been published by
– Kagyu College (Dehra Dun)
– Drikung Meditation Center Merryland

All commentaries have also been published by the Drikung Kagyu Institute, Dehra Dun.