The Five Buddha Families and the Eight Consciousnesses

Each of the five Buddha families represents a particular enlightened wisdom. When the five disturbing emotions of anger, attachment, ignorance, pride, and envy are purified, the five enlightened wisdoms shine forth.

We can also look at this as a process of purifying our ordinary mind, consisting of eight consciousnesses. When these consciousnesses are purified, the five enlightened wisdoms are revealed.

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche provides a lucid and detailed presentation of these topics, which are rarely given in other teachings.

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche is one of the most respected scholars of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He is recognized for not only having an extensive scholarly background, but also for having profound meditative insight into the Buddhist teachings and the ability to make these teachings accessible to Western students.