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Dowman gives a wonderfully lucid and readable translation, as well as providing insightful and experiential introductions to the various texts included here. And the main texts here are spontaneous songs of realization by the incomparable 18-19th century itinerant Tibetan yogin Shabkar (founder of the 19th century Rime - "nonsectarian" - movement). By 'songs of realization', I don't mean they tell us how great he was, I mean they are poetically evocative ways for us to gain direct realization. They come across like simple and relaxed, yet deep and immediate conversations with a dear friend.
The other 2/3rds of the book are introductions to and translations of four relatively short seminal dzogchen texts - Emptying the Depths of Hell by 13th century Guru Chowang, The Wish-Granting Prayer of Kuntu Zangpo by 14th century Rigdzin Godemchen, Secret Instruction in a Garland of Vision by the 8th century master Padmasambhava, and The Three Incisive Precepts by the first historical dzogchen master, the 7th century Gerab Dorje, with commentary by the great 19th century Rime lama Patrul Rinpoche.
DzogChen ("Great Perfection") is the highest teaching of the Tibetan traditions (found in Buddhism and native Bon), and as such it was deeply guarded in the past. Thus it may not be for everyone, especially beginner Buddhists, but for those who come to it with a modern sense of intelligent, intuitive openness, free of religious or sectarian dogma it is... beyond description. Basically, dzogchen points out the wonder and completeness in the Here and Now, the inclusiveness of this moment... And these traditional texts clearly express this timeless, awakened moment. This teaching which expresses the peak of a buddha's ("awakened one's") experience is not reserved for Buddhist.Read more ›
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'Do not dress up total presence, which is naked clarity itself, in the clothes of elaborate intellectual analysis. Rather, rest in relaxation in that magnificent sameness that is without partiality. Stay free and easy, without a care in the world, in the place where there is no residue to perception.'
Ah, what a friendly translator Keith Dowman is. And I enjoyed his garrulous, avuncular and well-rounded introductions to the Dzogchen texts selected for this book. The volume contains reiterations of recommendations like the one above; relax, enjoy, be alive in the phenomena of your perceptions and rest in coincidence with them; inhabiting your universal location with an all accepting, non-judgemental largesse. Some people stand in the darkness, afraid to come into the light. Walk forward, take up what you register at the place of its registration. This goes for all your senses; inhabit every inch of yourself [the world in the brilliance of its appearance, devoid of categories, devoid of prejudice] and you will obtain total presence, with no witholdings.
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There are already a number of reviews, almost all universally singing accolades over this book. While it may appear as piling on to write another such review, it's impossible to resist that urge and join in the chorus encouraging others to read The Flight of the Garuda. This book was first published in 1994, a nanosecond ago in the 2500 year history of Buddhism, but it should be considered a classic, at least for all those immersed in the practice of Dzogchen or those who desire fundamental understanding of the practice and how to apply it.
The author introduces what will prove inspiring historic writings, by first describing and encouraging Dzogchen practice as a way to accelerate ones karma, enter the stream and follow its path of vision, meditation and action. He challenges the reader to forge forward to enlightenment in this very lifetime. The means is summarily explained in the 38 page introduction.
The remainder of the book methodically lays out the path with a series of historic songs, prayers and instructions from lineage masters dating from the thirteenth century. One such series of songs is The Flight of the Garuda, from which the book takes its title.
Each section of this book has its own more than adequate introduction. The pithiest section comes last, "The Three Incisive Precepts", said to originate with Garab Dorje, the seventh century founder of the Dzogchen practice. By the time we are reading the section we have bathed in Dzogchen concepts of mind, over and over being told to examine the nature of mind so that we may not only intellectually understand that nature, but actually experience the nature of mind. Being totally immersed in that emphasize, so aptly expressed, feels rewarding. You'll not find a finer book on this subject.
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This book is outstanding. Lama Shabkar's "The Flight of the Garuda" are some of the best pointing out instructions I've ever come across. Really beautiful and direct, no doubt thanks to Keith Dowman's fine translation. Similarly to Tashi Namgyal's "Clarifying the Natural State" as a complete practice manual for Mahamudra meditation, "The Flight of the Garuda" might be all the instructions you need for Dzogchen. Feeling fortunate I was drawn to this beautiful text and Lama Shabkar in general.
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