Customer Reviews

Fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism

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

 

 

The author has admirably succeeded in her goal of setting forth the basics of an intricate and powerful worldview. I don't quite know how she managed it, but the text cogently introduces concepts typically presented to beginners--such as the Four Noble Truths, the subject of Shakyamuni Buddha's very first teaching--as well as more complex ideas and ritual practices, for example visualizations and tantra. As a result, the book really is a valuable resource for those who are intrigued with the basics of Tibetan Buddhism, those who are studying it more intensively, or those who seek to introduce others to the teachings. I expect to refer to the text frequently, as one of the characteristics of dharma study/practice is that it walks a spiral path, reintroducing basic concepts at more intricate levels as you proceed. In addition, the Buddha was a prodigious list-maker--it is useful indeed to have a concise reference tool such as this. May all beings benefit from its availability.

I am a Buddhist monk (American) and I teach Buddhism. This is by far the best and easiest to understand book on a very complex subject. I use it in my classes and we use it at our Monastery in Seattle, Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. You can't miss with this for a good basic understanding of Tibetan Buddhism.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of Tibetan Buddhism. Some of the topics are incredibly difficult to explain, although she makes a valiant attempt. I also believe that the book mostly represents only the largest lineage of Tibetan Buddhism (represented by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama as the spiritual leader), but there are also other ways of practicing, i.e. according to other lineages. Even so I think the book is basicly solid.

It is very difficult to find a guide to Tibetan Buddhism that is both thorough and concise. This books definitely fits in this category and does a very good job of capturing the spirit of Tibetan Buddhism in a small volume. This is not an easy feat!

I like that the author covered some important history including the evolution of Tibetan Buddhism from its roots in Hinayana through the development of Mahayana and beyond. However, this material is not covered in so much detail that it becomes overwhelming. I have found this to be a shortcoming of some other books that are intended for general audiences.

This text also does a good job of explaining basic Buddhist concepts and the distinguishing characteristics of the various branches of Buddhism. There are also many good quotes included.

Where I see some shortcomings is in the area of accuracy. This is such an ambitious volume for its size that I think it covers some areas too superficially or perhaps oversimplifies the relationships between various concepts or schools of thought. This is why I rated it a three and not higher.

If you are just learning about Tibetan Buddhism, this is a very good place to start. You might also want to try some of the books by the Dalai Lama who is quoted liberally throughout this book.

We went to Tibet in 2010 and I had tried to do some reading to understand its culture which is tied closely to its religion. Yet, I was confused about what I was seeing in the holy places in Lhasa. Once home, I tried to rectify this by searching out resources about Tibetan Buddhism. I settled on this one as it seemed to be pretty basic.

The book is good and organized well. But Buddhism is a complex religion and it may be beyond any book to summarize something so complicated.

I would still recommend this book to someone wanting to get a grasp of the faith of the Tibetan people. But expect to read it slowly and maybe take some notes.