Customer Reviews

Dzogchen Essentials: The Path That Clarifies Confusion

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I received this book today with the hope that it contained primary texts on the practice of Dzogchen. To my misappointment, instead I found a hodge podge of various "tantric" or "vajrayana" materials consisting of ngondro or foundational practices, general information on generation and completion stages, a few randomly placed songs of realization, etc. However, there was little Dzogchen materials. What I did find is that the title "Dzogchen Essentials" meant not texts or materials on "Dzogchen", but materials taken from the "Dzogchen Tradition" meaning the "Nyingma" and related traditions. It appears that Dzogchen which is a profound and serious practice tradition has fallen prey to popular trends or fads. Just like the word "tantra", it is now over used and is in fact being abused to sell or package Tibetan and related materials that have a possible undual flavour or esoteric content beyond conventional or basic Mahayana practices. Too bad, the book's title and pre-reviews held out so much potential for a possibly excellent publication. It appears the editor has done this before in an earlier work called "Dzogchen Primer". In that work there are good materials, but it is certainly not a "primer" on Dzogchen. It has tantra, mahamudra, etc. and just a few Dzogchen oriented materials. I wish authors would not just try to take advantage of the public, especially in the presentation of books of this genre that purport to be authentic treatises on a specific and serious subject area. One side comment -- If you want a book on general overall Vajrayana intructions, its not bad. However, if you want Dzogchen, look else where for books by Namkhai Norbu, John Reynolds, Longchenpa, Jigme Lingpa, Dudjom Rinpoche and others. There are many and they are authentic Dzogchen texts and practice materials, etc.

"Dzogchen Essentials" along with its companion version, "Dzogchen Primer: The Path That Clarifies Confusion," are truly essential readings for those interested in progressing along the Buddhist path of spiritual transformation. In essence, these are compendiums of ingeniously selected and elegantly translated works from some of the great Tibetan meditation masters. Readings range from ancient masters such as Padmasambhava up to contemporary masters such as Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and Sogyal Rinpoche. For the first time, these collections offer readers a range of insightful guidance and heart-felt instructions from Tibetan masters of the profound Dzogchen meditation tradition. These books are among the few in English that make available these precious treasures of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual literature -- making them truly essential readings.

very good book ... in fact its one of my favourites.
can be dipped into any time, any place, anywhere...
very informative

This was a gift for a Buddhist friend. He tells me the reading is difficult at times, but he is learning and enjoys the new information. He has been practicing for years and has read the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. This book the appropriate next step for him in his studies.