Heart Drops of Dharmakaya: Dzogchen Practice of the Bon Tradition [Paperback]

Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 29, 2002

A complete Dzogchen meditation manual from the oldest Tibetan tradition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is one of the most important books in Dzogchen as demonstrated by the author, Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen, who attained the rainbow body. My kind root master, Lopon Rinpoche's clear and direct commentary elucidates all the major points of this essential text." --Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, author of Tibetan Yogas of Dream & Sleep

Review

"For most readers, this book will serve as the first 'insider' introduction to Bon, the indigenous spiritual tradition of Tibet- we have in Heart Drops an inspiring text that no doubt will help to vindicate Bon as an indispensable source of Dzogchen teachings."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Snow Lion Publications (January 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559391723
• ISBN-13: 978-1559391726
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #735,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For advanced students of Tibetan Buddhism, April 12, 2002

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart Drops of Dharmakaya: Dzogchen Practice of the Bon Tradition (Paperback)

Written by Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen (a Tibetan monk who lived in the 19th and 20th centuries) and enhanced for a western readership with an informative commentary by Lopon Tenzin Namdak, Heart Drops Of Dharmakaya is a complete Dzogchen meditation manual for the Tibetan religious way that is known as Bon. Written in the direct, personal, and meaningful style of instructor to student, Heart Drops Of Dharmakaya also features a commentary by Lopon Tenzin Namdak, a master of Dzogchen who was responsible for translating this holy work into English. Heart Drops Of Dharmakaya is enthusiastically recommended reading for advanced students of Tibetan Buddhism and its meditation practices.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, September 4, 2006

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calmly - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Heart Drops of Dharmakaya: Dzogchen Practice of the Bon Tradition (Paperback)

The introduction warns that this book is not intended as a self-help manual. The biography of the author presented before his text indicates that his was a long and arduous path. I cannot say in what way Dzogchen has helped me, if at all, only that it fascinates me.

Book 1 (Preliminary Practices) poses some questions about consciousness that do not seem at all irrational or to depend of superstition or magic. I would expect a Westerner to feel comfortable with such questions even if Western philosophy and religion are unlikely to ask such questions.

Book 2 (The Practice of Trekcho) is a more advanced study of the material begun in Book 1 and might still seem comfortable to a Westerner albeit considerably more difficult to follow than the material in Book 1. The role of a teacher is emphasized increasinly as one moves to Book 2: I suppose one needs the skill to find and identify the right teacher.

Book 3 (The Practice of Togel) seems to be more to the shamanic side of Tibetan Buddhism, involving symbolism that I find hard to follow. It may be that the teachings in Book 1 and 2, which seem more accessible, have for that reason have less lasting impact. Working one's way through interpreting difficult symbolism may be of use.

Book 4 (Phowa and Bardo Practices) describe nearly full-blown shamanic views related to what is going on for us as we approach death.

Appendix 1 gives an eye-witness account of seeing the rainbow body that is supposedly seen when a Dzogchen master dies. So here too the shamanic side of Dzogchen is foremost.

The history of the Bon tradition remains to this date still not well understood. My expectation is that unless you are a scholar working to clarify the Bon tradition, you can treat this book like any other Dzogchen presentation (but with the big plus that this book was written after 1930 and its commentator Lopon Tenzin Namdak may still be alive. The comments are at the bottom of relevant pages and are non-intrusive).

There have been recent Western efforts to reduce or remove the shamanic aspects of Dzogchen, yielding a mindfulness teaching not unlike that of Theravada Buddhism's "choiceless awareness". There have also been Western studies (cf Samuels' "Civilized Shamans") that tackle the constructive value of shamanism to non-Western societies.

The Tibetan text of the book is actually included. Overall this is a book released with enormous care. The covers alone are striking, a blue metallic background with the front cover having a colorful Tibetan painting of deities.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, October 27, 2004

By 

A. McDonald "A. McDonald" (TN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Heart Drops of Dharmakaya: Dzogchen Practice of the Bon Tradition (Paperback)

Simply put, this book is easy to read, gets to the point and covers the material completely. Highly recommended!