Padmakara is Songtsen’s department responsible for the translation and publication of Tibetan texts. Its principal aim is to preserve and communicate to a Western audience the major texts of classic and contemporary Tibetan literature, particularly works on Buddhist philosophy and practice. With the intention of meeting the pressing needs of Tibetan text preservation and translation, Padmakara was officially founded in 1987, in Dordogne, France.
Translated texts published by Éditions Padmakara (including Padmakara's practice manuals & booklets, & audio media, as well as most of Padmakara's French books) can now be purchased from Éditions Padmakara's online store. Padmakara books published by other publishers (English books & some foreign language books) are available on Padmakara's online store in affiliation with Amazon. See also links to other foreign language translations.
Browse the online database:
or... Browse the online store:
| French books, booklets, practice texts, manuals, transcripts & audio | English books, some foreign language books (i.e., German) |
The Padmakara Translation Group
Padmakara is directed by Tsetul Pema Wangyal Rinpoche and Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche. Composed of translators and editors of a variety of nationalities, the Padmakara Translation Group does its best to convey in as many languages as possible, all the depth and flavour of texts originating in the four great schools of Tibetan Buddhism…
Within the preservation, translation and publication of Tibetan texts, Padmakara's ongoing projects include: The library project: a facility for text preservation, research, & translation; Tibetan translation: the translation of more Tibetan texts; Scholarships for new translators: training a new generation; Administrative staff salary support; Publication Projects: helping to print Padmakara books and practice texts; The audio library: preservation of a unique audio heritage
The Tibetan language contains a wealth of profound knowledge acquired over generations and centuries by scholars and masters—not only Tibetan but Indian, too, for starting in the seventh century a vast body of knowledge discovered and developed during the golden age of Buddhism in India was systematically translated into Tibetan from Pali and Sanskrit, there to be preserved long after most of the original texts in India had been lost.
The preservation of Tibetan texts
For more than 1200 years in Tibet, the Buddhist teachings and culture were carefully preserved, as well as being nurtured and deepened in an unparalleled climate of study and practice. Following the communist invasion in 1949, this treasure of knowledge and wisdom has come close to being lost…
Padmakara offers a variety of online resources, including:
