Customer Reviews

A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar

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I believe this book is intended for those who have embarked on the life-changing, and potentially ego-shattering path of Ngondro, -specifically the short Dudjom Tersar Ngondro of which this is a commentary. For those who are fortunate enough to have encountered a genuine guide, and are engaged in this practice, this book is a great resource which can be read endlessly.

As with any Dharma practice, reading it requires the utmost attention and perseverance, but the rewards are inconceivable. I do hold a considerably contrary opinion to the previous reviewer, "A Friend and Neighbor", in this regard: do not be mislead by someone reading without experience and sincerity. I believe that it is intended to be challenging, and a practice in and of itself to overcome habitual mental laziness to access it's true import, from paragraph to paragraph. In my experience each sentence can be held indefinitely, and absorbed indefintely, providing many levels of meaning.

I have found in the course of reading many Dharma books in the english language that often things are either A. Watered down by being over-simplified, over-explained, and can tend towards being outright boring in this regard. . or B. They are strictly composed in the specialized language of Western Academia for an academic milieu, with a standardized terminology and style that would be almost as daunting to become fluent in as Tibetan itself. I have found that as with all of Thinley Norbu Rinpoche's books, this is a rare exception to both of these tendencies. He adeptly and creatively finds new ways to translate both words and concepts, instead of adhering to standardized forms of translation that in their crystallization have closed down meanings that are actually multilayered and meant to breathe with life. Rinpoche manages to resuscitate them, while using traditional metaphors and creating new ones for clarification. At the same time, he rigorously adheres to the traditional form of commentary, unfolding the meaning of each line of the Ngondro practice completely to it's final import, and thus illustrates that (as we often hear but fail to believe) --everything is contained within the Ngondro. Also true to the form, he cites from a large number of Sutras and traditional sources, -providing the benefit of fragments of translation of otherwise untranslated works, -or insightful re-translations of pieces that provoke new insights. Not to mislead you I will humbly admit that I have possessed this book for months, but haven't completed reading it. I am about half-way through, and I am taking my sweet time. I imagine I will be reading and re-reading it for a good while: It is a book that becomes a process, as you make progress in your own practice, new insights ensue and this text can help illuminate them. I keep it on my shrine, next to HH Dudjom Rinpoche's big red book and Dudjom Lingpa's "Buddhahood Without Meditation", which seems an appropriate place.

It is delightful to encounter the writing of a non-native speaker of English whose command of the subtle nuances of the language exceeds that of even highly learned people for whom it is their mother tongue.

English translations of Tibetan Buddhist teachings sometimes employ multi syllabic philosophical terms when common use, simpler words are not apparently available, yet Thinley Norbu is able to express the precise meanings of complex Buddhist ideas with simple diction and idiom, making this text not only erudite and profound, but also remarkably mellifluous.

Highly recommended to any student of Dharma!

The messages that the Author, as a renowned teacher of Buddhism, wants to give are clearly conveyed to those who are serious readers, or more importantly, believers and students. There are many ways of expressing oneself and issues in the English language, and writing forms differ from different regions of the world where English is used, and in the different fields of its utilization. Serious and closer look at linguistic formulations of sometimes complex interpretations of language from Choskye (religious language) is sometimes required to extract or appreciate meanings, and sometimes even adequate background knowledge may be called for. For example, when one reads Shakespeare, understanding and appreciation stems from repeatedly looking at and giving thought to what the exact meaning is intended to be conveyed. I hope readers will adopt this attitude to reading this important book from a great Buddhist master which can be of great benefit to Buddhist practitioners.

If you are working through Ngöndrö this work is invaluable. Beginners would probably benefit from first reading "Words of My Perfect Teacher" which is far more accessible.

As other reviewers have stated, Norbu has attempted to translate technical Dharma terminology into contemporary idiom instead of adhering to standardized forms of translation. With the help of his daughter as translator, he has largely succeeded. Having said that, Norbu's idioms can sometimes be difficult to follow. A glossary would have been helpful. If the reader has a basic understanding of various Dharma terminology, combined with actual practice, then Norbu's idiosyncratic renderings can shed new insight for the reader.

Norbu begins by making his argument why both eternalist and nihilist philosophy is ultimately flawed. He then goes one to explicate ideas such as emptiness, vajra, luminous mind etc.

If you're looking for explicit directions on how to actually perform the various practices of the Ngöndrö, you won't find them here. If you're looking for insight into the meanings of these various practices this book is indeed a waterfall of nectar.

I read this book slowly over the course of eight months. I'm going to start re-reading this book with a note book and pen at hand in order jot down the numerous jewels of insight contained.

A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar Very precious words of advice from I believe an enlightened teacher, as with all of his books that I have read. I highly recommend it for all serious students who study the dharma, beginners may have problems understanding some of the material, however this is one to keep coming back to over time.

This is a best book to teach and release human being's suffering , I learned so much and understood life purpose now, I feel so happy in the dharma , Thanks !!

Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism teacher and primary holder of the Dudjom Tersar lineage Thinley Norbu Rinpoche presents A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar, an amassment of wisdom written in direct and straightforward terms, without an excess of scholarly elaboration. Offering commentary on the Preliminary Practices (Ngondro) prayer from Tragtung Dudjom Lingpa and the Tsok Khang Dechen root text prayer of the second Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje, as well as insights into the fundamental concepts of Vajrayana Buddhism, A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar flows as fluidly as its title. "The essence of immeasurable phenomena is emptiness. How can what gods are be made into absolute truth? With attachment to materialism, one always creates materializations. No matter what the absolute truth of eternalism may be, according to Dzogchen's point of view, although histories exist of gods and deities over many generations, they are still momentary. That is why worshiping a god is not ultimate, whether the god is worshiped by everyone or not." Highly recommended for any scholar or practitioner of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.

In November 2006, shortly after it was released, I posted a review of this book that was critical in tone. Within a week or so, upon further reflection, I realized to my great dismay and embarrassment that I had exercised terrible judgment, and immediately withdrew the posting.

I have always had the very highest admiration for the author, and benefitted enormously from his earlier published works in English. My review was of use to no one, and therefore a grave error, since my true view was and remains that any contact with the teachings of this author is meaningful, and should therefore always be encouraged, and in no way discouraged.

I therefore wish to apologize (again) to the author, and to those readers who came across my review during that brief period, as I did them a disservice.

I also wish to apologize publicly to anyone associated with the author whom I may have insulted by suggesting that they inadequately assisted him to realize his intent and share his wisdom through this work. If any of those persons is interested to see it, she may contact me for a copy of the apology letter I wrote to the author in May 2007.

Thank you so much. This is such a profound book and it arrived in perfect condition.