Jay Holt Valentine (Troy University)
The Prayer of the Eighteen Great Omens is a sketch of the life of Rigdzin Gödem (1337–ca. 1401) that is told through signs, omens, and symbols. It is of interest firstly because it has ostensibly been composed by the great treasure revealer himself, and it is therefore generally understood to be autobiographical. Secondly, the prayer is of great value because excerpts of it have consistently appeared in Rigdzin Gödem’s biographies. Studying the complete prayer gives us the opportunity to more completely understand this piece of literature that has—along with a wealth of other source materials—shaped our understanding of the life of this founding treasure revealer of the Northern Treasures Tradition.
This parallel edition of The Prayer of the Eighteen Great Omens is intended to act as a supplement to a short, forthcoming article that features a translation of the entire prayer, which will hopefully be published in Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines in late 2025 or early 2026.
Continue reading