Meaningful to Behold: A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation of Longchenpa's Biography

This book presents an English translation of The Biography of the Omniscient Drimé Özer Meaningful to Behold (kun mkhyen dri med 'od zer gyi rnam thar mthong ba don ldan), a biography of Longchen Rabjampa Drimé Özer (klong chen rab 'byams pa dri med 'od zer, 1308-1364), who was one of the important scholars in the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. The name of the author in the colophon of the text is given as Chödrak Zangpo (chos grags bzang po, c.1300/1310-1375/1385). He is assumed to have been one of Longchenpa's leading disciples, but unfortunately little has been passed down regarding his life and career. Regarding Longchenpa's life history, some writings have been passed down and there have been many studies and commentaries on them. The text I discuss in this book, however, has not yet been translated into other languages nor examined fully, even though it is regarded as one of the oldest writings about his life and career. In view of this situation, the aim of this study is to set the stage for future comprehensive study of Longchenpa's life by attempting its English translation in full.