Gateway to Knowledge: A Condensation of the Tripitaka, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche (Author), Kathy Morris (Editor), Erik Pema Kunsang (Translator), Mipham Rinpoche (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 24, 2004

Gateway to Knowledge is a condensation of the Tripitaka and its accompanying commentaries by the Tibetan Buddhist master Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche. Consolidating the intent of Buddha Shakyamuni's teachings into a unified body of textbooks, it is the philosophical backbone of the living tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. This rich source book embodies the basics of Prajnaparamita and Madhyamika as well as the Abhidharma from both the Mahayana and Hinayana perspective. Every volume in this series includes the Tibetan text and the English translation on facing pages.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The student of The Gateway to Knowledge can begin to comprehend the meaning of the major works on Buddhist philosophy and of the traditional sciences. When you want to extract their meaning you need an "expert system," a key. The Gateway to Knowledge is like that key, a magical key - it opens up the treasury of precious gemstones in the expansive collection of Buddhist scriptures. The extremely gifted and learned Tibetan master, Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche (1846-1912) studied with many great masters from all traditions. Accomplished in all five fields of knowledge, he remains the example of perfect scholarship. His unexcelled deeds in teaching and composing Buddhist treatises are immense."
- Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche

About the Author

Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche (1846–1912) was a student of Jamgön Kongtrul, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, and Paltrul Rinpoche; he was blessed by Manjushri, the full accomplished Buddha of wisdom. His work is an exceptional treasure of wisdom, compassion, and scholarship. His accomplishments in practice, learning, composition, and teaching are immense. Mipham Rinpoche became one of the greatest scholars of his time and his collected works fill more than thirty volumes. His chief disciple was Shechen Gyaltsab Pema Namgyal.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books; 1st edition (May 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9627341290
• ISBN-13: 978-9627341291
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.5 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heady stuff, but..., February 14, 2000

By 

Thomas Roth (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gateway to Knowledge: A Condensation of the Tripitaka, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

Heady stuff, but an absolute must if you really want to get an in-depth understanding of Tibetan buddhist philosophy from square one. Not quite as difficult reading as John Pettit's 'Mipham's Beacon of certainty' (which is brilliant ! ). As a rule it can be said that all translations by Eric Hein-Schmidt can be read without any doubts about authenticity. He is among the few western translators who have spent decades with Tibetan masters and always checks and re-checks his works with living Tibetan teachers until all possible misunderstandings are ironed out, making sure that the reader will be presented with an authentic work free from assumptions and weird interpretations.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for serious Buddhist studies., October 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Gateway to Knowledge: A Condensation of the Tripitaka, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

"The student of The Gateway to Knowledge can begin to comprehend the meaning of the major works on Buddhist philosophy and of the traditional sciences. When you want to extract their meaning you need an "expert system," a key. The Gateway to Knowledge is like that key, a magical key - it opens up the treasury of precious gemstones in the expansive collection of Buddhist scriptures.

"The extremely gifted and learned Tibetan master, Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche (1846-1912) studied with many great masters from all traditions. Accomplished in all five fields of knowledge, he remains the example of perfect scholarship. His unexcelled deeds in teaching and composing Buddhist treatises are immense."

--Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars please read, May 3, 2010

By 

the end (usa) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gateway to Knowledge: A Condensation of the Tripitaka, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

ok here's the deal. this is an amazing, beautiful work. get this book if you have a serious interest in tibetan buddhism. i gave it one star because i want people like me who check the one star section for the possible problems before buying to know what i would have wanted to know when i ordered this.

i am a buddhist. i have studied chan buddhism for six years or so. i have read some of the pali canon (the most authentic buddhist scriptures known) which is what was originally called "the tripitaka". i expected this to be a condensed version of that. it is not. it was never intended to be either. this is a book that is a condensation of the tibetan canon which is VERY different from what original buddhism was. there is nothing wrong with this, tibetan buddhism is a beautiful thing and i love many works by the dalai lama and other tibetan authors. what i'm trying to make clear is if you're looking for a condensed version of some of the cool stories and parables that the buddha told this is not it! this is a listing of facts about reality from the vajrayana viewpoint. it is incredibly esoteric and reads like a dictionary. it's just fact after fact explained, dead pan. a treasure if you are looking for a key and guide book to the more whimsical teachings but very dry and crazy hard to read if you're looking for, let's say as an example something poetic like the heart sutra or the dhammapada or the original discourses of the buddha which recount detailed imagery filled stories about death, love, life, reality, the afterlife and so on, told by the buddha to his followers in interesting indian settings. i don't know that there are any books like this in the original tripitaka save for the abhidharma which is still a little more readable than this. again, not a bad book just not for readers like me;)