The Backdoor to Enlightenment: Eight Steps to Living Your Dreams and Changing Your World [Paperback]

Za Rinpoche (Author), Ashley Nebelsieck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 19, 2008

Everyone dreams of a better life. All the things you’ve ever wanted — happiness, loving relationships, well-being, abundance, and peace of mind — are all qualities of enlightenment, a way of embracing our fullest potential that seemed unavailable to us, until now.

For thousands of years, the secret to enlightenment has remained hidden in the distant reaches of the Himalayas, deep in wisdom impenetrable to all but the most dedicated seekers. For the first time in history, The Backdoor to Enlightenment burns the rules and barriers that have hindered our understanding and reveals the keys to immediate, profound realization to the rest of the world. Blending centuries-old texts with contemporary wisdom, readers of any faith can bypass the traps and limitations of modern life and achieve lasting peace every day.
More than just a heartfelt story of mystery and discovery, this revolutionary work stands out as a smart, clear guide, showing step-by-step how you can use these astonishing truths to transform every aspect of your life. There might not be a shortcut to your dreams, but there is a Backdoor!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ZA RINPOCHE is a Tibetan monk who first came to the world’s attention when his life story was chronicled in the first chapter of Po Bronson’s megabestseller, What Should I Do with My Life? While growing up in a refugee camp in Southern India, he was recognized by the Dalai Lama as the sixth reincarnation of the Za Choeje Rinpoche. He is the founder of the Emaho Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Scottsdale, Arizona, dedicated to sharing Tibetan culture with the West, supporting humanitarian projects, and assisting with personal spiritual development. Za Rinpoche teaches throughout the world, while maintaining his obligations as the spiritual leader to many monks.

ASHLEY NEBELSIECK is an author and adventurer. She studied Art History and Religious Studies at Arizona State University, and travels all over the world checking out sacred sites—from the Vatican, to the pyramids at Giza, to Callenish in the Outer Hebrides, to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and countless others. She currently lives and writes in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (February 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767927400
• ISBN-13: 978-0767927406
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.7 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #715,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Profound and Practical Advice to Reach Your Full Potential, February 25, 2008

By 

The Last Beat (On the Razor's Edge) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Backdoor to Enlightenment: Eight Steps to Living Your Dreams and Changing Your World (Paperback)

Everyday we struggle to get through our unending list of to-do's, work and family obligations and stresses. It is always a challenge to find a way to incorporate eastern ideas of harmony and happiness into everyday life. The surprising discovery process of the main characters, the clear and authentic commentary, and the "take home message" bullet points at the end of each chapter truly make this a companion for reference on how to deal with every situation with more awareness, joy, and compassion. The mastery of Buddhist ideas and the engaging narrative in this book enforce the serendipitous collaboration of Za Rinpoche and Ashley Nebelsieck and provide profound and practical advice to reach our full potential to be happy and enjoy our lives with great purpose.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!, February 25, 2008

By 

Donna J. Wood "Tenzin C" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Backdoor to Enlightenment: Eight Steps to Living Your Dreams and Changing Your World (Paperback)

So I opened the book and then even though the phones rang and clock
ticked, I couldn't put it down. That simple every day things we know but don't pay much attention to, can be pointed out in a fun mystery is a treasure. They say only a master can make the most difficult easy. There were moments when the ordinary fog lifted and I found delight. I found hope and had a great read. Should have five stars and then given some kind of ribbon for inspiration.

My granddaughter, daughter and mother-in-law will all enjoy it, something that spans the generations. For heaven sakes, read it, have fun, find happiness.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical, everyday and enchanting for all of us, March 9, 2008

By 

Phoenix Men's Counseling (Phoenix, AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Backdoor to Enlightenment: Eight Steps to Living Your Dreams and Changing Your World (Paperback)

Za Rinpoche and Ashley Nebelsieck write well in tandem to explain the basic Buddhist concepts of the Six Perfections and explain to the common reader how to seek happiness and enlightenment in their lives right now. Nebelsieck's engaging fiction, and Za Rinpoche's diamond-like wisdom and clarity provide a call-and-response effect that allows the reader to experience the journey of the central characters, and then apply those same lessons into their own life. A must-read for those seeking to break free from their self-imposed conceptions, and for those caught up in the mundane and the everyday of their lives. Za Rinpoche and Ms. Nebelsieck are the Johnny and June Carter Cash of the Middle Way - spiritual outlaws who break the rules for deliverance (of other sentient beings). Get the book!