Customer Reviews

The Cycle of Day and Night: Where One Proceeds Along the Path of the Primordial Yoga : An Essential Tibetan Text on the Practice of Dzogchen

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Of the 9 Norbu books I've read so far, this is one of the top 3 (the other two are "The Supreme Source" and "The Mirror"). His books tend to be rather short though and are very readable. He is one of the contemporary masters of Dzogchen, the highest teaching in the Nyingma (old translation) tradition of Tibet. This is one of the 4 main contemporary schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He also has a magazine called "The Mirror" that you can subscribe to and gives seminars/teachings around the country (see the Snow Lion Bulletin for announcements). This particular book takes the teachings through a typical day (thus, the title). Dzogchen includes the view that all that we see, hear, etc. is empty of independent being (like the reflection of the moon in a lake). While this is also part of the Prajnaparamita works on Mahayana Buddhism as well (see Conde's translations), Dzogchen takes it farther into the View of the Ground of Being or Dharmakaya and its practice of Trekcho as well as the maintenance, during post-meditation, of spontaneous presence. It is quite profound. Enjoy this book, but read his others as well since this book is not completely comprehensive.

In this work, Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, an eminent Dzogchen master of modern times, gives a direct way how to practice the Essence of Tibetan Yogic Practice called "Dzogchen" - "the Great Perfection". Please bare in mind that the openness of the teacher's style - with no unclear mystics - is a gift rare to find nowadays. Good luck in your journey to Self-Realization!

Namkhai Norbu is an amazing teacher: clear and precise. In this translation of the Longde Series of Dzogchen Teachings, Garab Dorje (Ancient Dzogchen Big-Wig)shows how to maintain contemplation Day and Night. Wonderful introduction, excellent translation of the Text, amazing commentary to follow; Norbu makes the Evening, Night, and Morning practices simple and easy to understand. This text is a kind of Dream-Yoga/Daily-Yoga cream center. It gives you ways to smooth the edges of your Dzogchen practice. I found it easy to read and informative: a real Boon!

I recieved this fantastic and usefull book ! I recomend it for everyone who want to improve his/her spirituality in a deep way. It's suppose to have some knowledge about buddhism - specialy Dzogchen or Vajrayana. It's a important book for whom wants to improve lucid dreams, as well.

This short book is a clear and simple yet thorough introduction to the dzogchen vision and practice based on a teaching given in 1983 (in Massachusetts) by Namkhai Norbu. The first half consists of an essay by the editor (John Reynolds). This helps even the most novice student understand and appreciate the context and some of the unique terminology and distinctions employed by the tradition (especially the critical distinctions of "contemplation" vs "meditation", and "mind" vs "nature of mind", which are not found so clearly in other Buddhist teachings).

The second half consists of a translation of Norbu Rinpoche's (12 page) root text (The Cycle of Day and Night), and his auto-commentary (again heavily filtered through his translator/editor). The intent and import of these teachings is not religious or philosophical, but practical - their application to the experience of pure presence (rig-pa) in our own continuum of days and nights. The tone is fresh and immediate. "This awareness (shes-pa) or pure presence (rig-pa) of which we speak here arises at the very first fresh instant before the mind has had a chance to come into operation, functioning dualistically in terms of subject and object." (pg.68)

Even though these teachings are simple, they are also dense, and best practiced with the personal guidance of a master like Namkhai Norbu so that the intellectual (translation) process becomes less important than the direct transmission and realization aspect. So as clear as these teachings may be they are probably most useful as a refresher for someone already traveling this path.

(Also highly recommended is his more recent Longchenpa's Advice from the Heart)

Although relatively new to Dzogchen studies, this to me was a profound insight into this Teaching. There are many revealing insights to this "school" and about living the Presence of the Essence. I would highly recommend this work and appreciate it being published.