Customer Reviews

The Dharma: That Illuminates All Beings Impartially Like the Light of the Sun and the Moon

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

At the beginning of this book, Kalu Rinpoche mentions the famed teacher Chogyam Trungpa, who brought the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism to the west in a very innovative way. Kalu Rinpoche says almost by way of apology that he's not into trying to adapt the material to the western mind too deeply, and he thinks it's most powerful to present these teachings in the more traditional context.

So, if you really want to have a solid Tibetan Buddhism 102, written in an incredibly human style, and you think you can handle some of the more punk-rock aspects of Buddhism (like the vivid descriptions of the hell realms) then this is an amazing condensation of the most important, vital teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, presented in thier full profundity.

However, if you just want to understand a little more about how the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism could apply to your problems and inner struggles, it's probably a much better bet to get a book by Pema Chodron.

Kalu Rinpoche visited and taught extensively in the West at a ripe old age, urged to do so by the late H.H. the 16th Karmapa. This book is a largely a transcript of some of the most important teachings he gave to Western students.

Rinpoche present a traditional view, leaning heavily on the teachings of Gampopa's 'Jewel Ornament of Liberation', although he does present these in an easily understandable format (which is not always the case with Gampopa himself).

The book is a lucid and very accurate account of the most important teachings of Vajrayana and Mahayana Buddhism. I think the material should be accessible to most, although be advised that it is always best to receive a 'living' transmission from a living lama.

Also beware that Rinpoche cuts straight to the chase and does not package and gift-wrap the Dharma for the Western mind in the way that other excellent teachers - such as Ole Nydahl - do. Some things may be hard to swallow. But rest assured that there is still a lot of wisdom to be found in his words.