Life is a torrent raging down the stream, 
So swiftly does it plunge towards its ruler, death.
Uncertain that we might still be alive at the day’s end,
when the sun reaches the mountains of the west,
we cling to the eight mundane concerns,
mere childish games, and scatter
To the wind our true concern – for freedom.

— Kelsang Gyatso, Seventh Dalai Lama (1708-1757), from Songs of Spiritual Experience, translated by Thubten Jinpa & Jas Elsner

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Definitions

ཉམས་མགུར
nyams mgur

Spiritual songs. Songs of spiritual transformation revealing a meditator’s experience and insight. (Tsepak Rigdzin)

Jackson, Roger R. 1996. “’Poetry’ in Tibet: Glu, mGur, sNyan ngag and ‘Songs of Experience.’” In Cabezón and Jackson, Tibetan Literature: Studies in Genre. Snow Lion. JABL

Collections 

  • Changkya Rölpé Dorjé and Thupten Jinpa, trans. 2021. “Recognizing my Mother: An Experiential Song on the View.” media.dalailama.com
  • Dromé, Gungthang Tempai, and Thupten Jinpa, trans. 2007. “A Song on the View Opening the Eyes to Suchness = lta ba’i mgur ma de nyid lta ba’i mig ‘byed.” tibetanclassics.org
  • Gedun Gyatso, Dalai Lama II, and Glenn H Mullin. 2005. The Second Dalai Lama: His Life and Teachings. Snow Lion. JABL
  • Kelsang Gyatso, Dalai Lama VII, and Glenn Mullin, trans. 1999. Gems of Wisdom from the Seventh Dalai Lama. Snow Lion. JABL
  • Kelzang Gyatso, Dalai Lama VII, and Geshe Dorji Damdul, trans. A Song of the Four Miundfulnesses as a Guide to the View of the Middle Way. Ven. Thubten Chodron. (audio) thubtenchodron.org
  • Kelzang Gyatso, Dalai Lama VII, and Glenn H Mullin. 1999. Meditations to Transform the Mind. Snow Lion. JABL
  • Kelzang Gyatso, Dalai Lama VII, Sean Price and Adam Pearcey, trans. 2018. Rain of Accomplishments: A Song that Incorporates the Four Mindfulnesses from an Instruction on the View of the Middle Way. Lotsawa House. English and Tibetan. lotsawahouse.org
  • Sheba, Jamyang and Thupten Jinpa. 2003. “Root Verses on Classical Indian Philosophies a Lion’s Roar Eradicating the Errors.” tibetanclassics.org
  • Thupten Jinpa and Jas Elsner. 2000. Songs of Spiritual Experience: Tibetan Buddhist poems of insight and Awakening. Shambhala. JABL
  • Tsong-kha-pa Blo-bzang-grags-pa and Gavin Kilty, trans. 2001. The Splendor of an Autumn Moon: The Devotional Verse of Tsongkhapa. Wisdom. JABL
  • Tsong-kha-pa Blo-bzang-grags-pa and Thupten Jinpa. 2007.“Songs of Spiritual Experience: Condensed Points of the Stages of the Path = lam rim nyams mgur.” tibetanclassics.org
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