A Trackless Path

A Commentary on the Great Completion (Dzogchen) Teaching O Jigmé Lingpa's Revelations of Ever-Present Good

By: Ken McLeod

Narrated by: Ken McLeod

In A Trackless Path renowned translator and teacher Ken McLeod offers a beautiful and evocative translation and commentary of one of the many poems that the 18th century Tibetan mystic Jigmé Lingpa wrote on the practice of Dzogchen, one of the great wisdom traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. McLeod makes this ancient poem relevant and accessible to today's seeker. The poem has three sections: how conceptual thinking corrupts deep contemplative practice; the timeless freedom of direct awareness (the Buddhist equivalent of gnosis in Christianity); and subtle errors one often makes in this practice and how to correct them.

McLeod's commentary reflects these three sections. The first is a thoughtful introduction to the text and McLeod's relationship with it; the second is his beautiful and evocative translation of Jigmé Lingpa's poem; the third and main part of the book is his verse-by-verse commentary through which he illuminates the meaning of the poem. McLeod is clearly writing (and writing clearly) for the seeker in today's world. His lucid practice-oriented commentary is enriched by the seamless interweaving of experiences from his own spiritual journey. What emerges is a picture of a person who felt a profound calling to pursue contemplative practice and the direct and personal ways he found to meet the challenges he encountered.

With great clarity, McLeod communicates the central theme of the poem: when you rest and do nothing, you find the wisdom of the ages present within you. This is a book for the practitioner of any contemplative tradition--Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Taoism, Judaism or non-dual awareness.

©2017 Ken McLeod (P)2025 Ken McLeod

The transition

I love his voice and the subject is helping to by listening . I recommend listening to this wonderful poetic work

What to do to be and stay awake

Life is suffering and it’s addictive! It’s a dilemma no matter what the path once we are awaken to what cannot be escaped and we think there is some sort of relief to be found by trudging ahead.

Beautiful Dzogchen Text

Ken’s commentary, and the root text are beautiful and profound Dzogchen teachings. One will learn much about Dzogchen listening to this.