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Gates to Buddhist Practice: Essential Teachings of a Tibetan Master

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When I realize that I missed the opportunity to meet this man by a just a smidge, it instantly makes me want to cry. I had been into Buddhism at the time he was still alive, but not too seriously. I collected books, you know, and half-read some, finished some and all the while wasn't sure exactly what I thought of it. If I could blame someone other than myself, I suppose I would blame the New Age market out there which seems to expand exponentially every year and seems to be giving the same generic advice to an ever-broadening audience of desperate hopefuls that any path can lead to enlightenment while all the while never sticking to one path. Rather, it's mixed into a bubbling pot of flavor-of-the-week to sip now and again, as desired. By contrast, any form of Buddhism, including the watered-down westernized "psychology-only" flavor seems too tough and too complicated or too boring, too austere.

But this book is different! This author is different!

Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche's many available books, practice text, cassettes and cds are unfailing evidence that this man was a great teacher. This book is no exception. He has an extraordinary ability to make the notoriously complex Tibetan Buddhism very simple and easy for westerners to practice. This book might be the pinnacle of those powers. So clear, so precise, so simple. All you have to do is follow his advice.

But, this is where most people have difficulty. Many other books make the practice seem simple enough on the outset, but the actual practice of doing this stuff hangs over your head because, while it might be simple enough, and make enough sense, there is no real desire to actually do the practice as others teach it. This is not true with "Gates To Buddhist Practice" (or ANY of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche's books). This book immediately inspires you to practice. Just reading a few paragraphs makes you want to put it down and do a few prostrations, some visualization, some mantra, some generosity... SOMETHING! ANYTHING! This is because Chagdud doesn't just make it easy to understand, he teaches with compassion and lots of it. Compassion is the understanding of our suffering condition from the perspective of one who knows better. That compassion comes through loud and clear, so not only are you emotionally moved by his generosity and effort in these brilliantly crafted lessons, you get a sense of the understanding from an enlightened perspective. For example, if you see someone suffering and you don't know what to do about it, you will feel sad for sure; but, if you see someone suffering and you know exactly WHY they are suffering and WHAT to do about it, this awakens a different emotion in you similar to a maternal instinct. This is the compassion that Chagdud communicates. Once it is communicated, it changes your outlook completely and inspires you to action.

In fact, this quality has been carried on in Chagdud's students, which again shows what a great teacher he really was to produce so many more fine teachers. Go to any Chagdud Gonpa center and you will be moved. Go check out some of Lama Tsering Everest's podcasts available online and you will be moved in that same way.

This man knew the essence of the dharma and he knew how to teach it.
If you don't know where to begin with Tibetan Buddhism, this is the book for you. As Chagdud says on page 53, people are in a hurry to move beyond "kindergarten dharma" but the essence of the dharma is very simple! Because it is simple, it is often overlooked. People mistakenly think, "oh yeah, I get that, but there must be more..." while never "getting it" at all. You can't just read about the Four Thoughts, the Four Immeasurables, Bodhicitta, et cetera without actually transforming yourself by practice and think "oh yeah, I get that." It's not an intellectual abstraction to "get" in a relatively superficial sense. The essence is completely transformative to the mind and must be cultivated thoroughly within oneself in order for the essence to be "got."

Ignoring the simple essence in favor of superior teachings of the Highest Yoga Tantra, for example, will get you nowhere fast because you must realize when advancing to the superior teachings that the superior teachings are only superior if you realize they contain all the inferior teachings as well. One does not go beyond the essence of the dharma no matter how superior the teachings become. The danger of the more advanced teachings for westerners is that we are already highly intellectual and this is tied into our cynical nature. We love to dissect and evaluate things almost as a form of entertainment which, like all entertainment, achieves nothing but distraction. The higher teachings are incredibly abstract and difficult. They can entertain the intellect for years without accomplishing a thing. This is the reason they are traditionally saved for LAST in Tibetan culture. With the chinese occupation of Tibet, however, the dharma has been spread out around the rest of the world maybe a bit unevenly. Even a lowly practioner such as myself was able to receive transmission for the Great Perfection practices. I'm not complaining because it has been very helpful to me. In fact, it clarified what the Lesser Vehicles were trying to teach me.

And, for this reason, reading Chagdud Tulku again with a fresh eye makes me realize what an astounding teacher he really was. He combined the highest teachings right in with the simplest essence of the dharma. He had the View of Dzogchen and he integrated it with Vajrayana practice. If only one reads his advice and practices, that person will go far with Chagdud's instruction!

If this book inspires you as I know it will, my advice for the "next step" would be to seek out the practice texts and explanatory books and lectures on Red Tara Practice and Dudjom Tersar Ngondro from Chagdud Gonpa's online website, TibetanTreasures-dot-com. These tantric practices have been concisely perfected and translated into English by Chagdud Tulku himself for western students and are perfect for these fast-paced times.

I love this book. In it Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche offers the most clear, complete and concise overview of Tibetan Buddhism that I have read. The teachings can be appreciated, and clearly understood on many levels, from a person who is completely new to Buddhism to an experienced practitioner. I have often recommended the first edition of this book to friends who are curious and looking for an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, and they have found it very helpful. This new edition has been expanded to include more questions from students, many of which are very in-depth and result in detailed answers that make the reader feel as if they were sitting in front of Rinpoche while he teaches.
The book also includes many of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche's wonderful stories and Tibetan folk tales that serve to illuminate the teachings in a very down to earth manner. This book is like a polestar, such a comfort to come back to again and again for inspiration and guidance, showing us the way to tame and train our minds. I would recommend this book very highly.

Those who love reading books by the Dalai Lama and Sogyal Rinpoche will enjoy the clear, insightful writing of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. Newcomers will love the simple prose and delightful stories from old Tibet and modern America. Those who have read much of the American literature, will appreciate the simple, subtle references to the many dimensions of Tibetan Buddhism. This book is a favorite which I read and re-read, always finding more sustenance.

Those who are interested in bringing a non-violent and humanistic approach to world problems, will love Chagdud Tulku's willingness to bring the benefits of the Tibetan Buddhist approach to daily life at home and in the world. I work with law students and lawyers who are trying to bring a non-violent approach to a profession weary of aggression and the old ways. And, I assign "Gates of Buddhist Practice" to law students of all faiths. It is fascinating to watch how Chagdud Tulku talks about Tibetan Buddhist tools for cultivating compassion, skillfulness and wisdom. While he uses some Buddhist terminology, his tone is open and inclusive. It serves as a "gateway", itself, into ecumenical dialogue. In these times in which so many conflicts find their roots in misunderstandings among religious perspectives, this skillful and wise approach is sorely needed.

I can't imagine a better book to give to a friend or to buy for yourself. (Put this book under the tree for yourself!) I hope that you will find much joy, solace and understanding in this book, as I have..........And, I hope that you, too, will hear the greatest gift of this book, which is between the words on each page..the love of a great spiritual master.

In this so-called introduction into Tibetan Buddhism, we learn from a great wisdom tradition about the contours of human consciousness and we come away lighter and refreshed.

As this book makes clear, at its heart Buddhist teaching offers an approach to living that emphasizes compassion, simplicity, and peace. Understanding this core is essential to spiritual progress, but it's rare to find a text that so elegantly addresses the cultural issues that may impede this process. "Gates to Buddhist Practice" is such a book. I found the frank discussions of all kinds of issues refreshingly straightforward and clear. Chagdud Rinpoche was a teacher of profound insight and consummate skill, and I'd recommend "Gates" to anyone interested in gaining fuller understanding of a Buddhist approach to critical issues of life, death, and spirituality.

This is a book that changed my life. It has helped me to understand what the war of Self vs.Other really comes to: grasping, ignorance, and yes, sometimes outright rage.

Since the rage, grasping and ignorance that resulted in the horrors of 9/11/01, I've turned to this book again and again for the sake of solace and sanity. As a resident of New York City, I have witnessed and continue to witness an enormous amount of suffering and pain. Without the basic sanity and grounding that came from studying this book, I could have easily fallen into despair. Now, I feel that what I can do to help the world the
most is to change my own mind, to whittle away little by little at my own attachment and ignorance, replacing my confusion and anger with clarity and compassion. This book, which includes a number of passages of questions and answers from students, gives me many specific methods to follow and the motivation to keep going.
If only more people, especially those lost in envy, anger, vindictiveness, regret, could reach for the blessings of these pages and take in the healing power to be found there, we could have a better, saner world. But, to quote from one of the lama's replies to a question, "we must expose ourselves to the sun to benefit from its warmth and light." Read this book
to help yourself and the world.

This is the best introduction to Buddhism that I have ever read. The book not only gave me a comprehensive overview of Buddhism in a uniquely clear and concise way, but made me feel that I was actually capable of putting the teachings into practice. Although I've always been drawn to books by Tibetans, I usually feel overwhelmed by their sheer mass and end up lost in a sort of hopeless fog. This book lifted the fog and clearly revealed a compassionate and authentic spiritual approach that can be useful to everyone.

Now available in a newly revised edition, Chagdud Tulku's Gates To Buddhist Practice: Essential Teachings Of A Tibetan Master offers the reader a firm grounding in Buddhist principles, illustrated with many anecdotes from the Tulku's native home of Tibet. Tulku is a meditation master, artist, and healer who has continued to travel and teach in both the East and the West; the questions he encountered while teaching form the basis to the revisions of this new edition. Gates to Buddhist Practice is a sobering, thoughtful, inspiring presentation that covers numerous aspects of Buddhism in depth, from karma and Bodhicitta to preparing oneself for death. Strongly recommended for Buddhist Studies reading lists and reference collections.

This is a book that reaches people of all faiths and backgrounds. I recommend it highly not only to people interested in finding out about basic Buddhism, but to any one who wants to learn how to lead a saner and more compassionate life.

This book has a lot of good advice in it. I don't agree with everything, some things seem a bit far out, but the majority of his tuition and philosophies will immensely benefit mankind. I intend to read this book over and over.