A Subtle Arrangement of Gemstones: Two Upadesha Tantras of the Great Perfection

are Tantras, or esoteric scriptures, of the Great Perfection. The Great

Perfection, also known as the Atiyoga or Dzogchen (rDzogs chen), is

a tradition of esoteric Buddhism that upholds instantaneous

enlightenment. This tradition arrived in Tibet in the Eighth Century

of the Common Era and has been maintained up until this day. The

scriptures of the Great Perfection have not survived in any language

other than Tibetan, the originals having been lost in time. The

literature of the Great Perfection is divided into three sections or

groups: The Mind Section, the Space Section, and the Upadesha

Instruction Section. The Upadesha Instruction Section is represented

by a famous set of Seventeen Tantras. The Tantras translated in this

volume are among these Seventeen Tantras, and are filled with

practical advice and pointing out instructions for the realization of

the Great Perfection.

It is a great pleasure to present to you translations of this

ancient literature into English, with the hope that the timeless

message of the Atiyoga will live on and be better understood

throughout the world. For your convenience and for the preservation

of this ancient literature, I have included images of the Tibetan

texts. Those who wish to request transmissions or teachings on this

literature from those who hold the lineage will also find this helpful.