The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones: The Practice of View, Meditation, and Action: A Discourse Virtuous in the Beginning, Middle, and End (Paperback)

~ Patrul Rinpoche (Author), Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (Author), The Padmakara Translation Group (Translator), The Dalai Lama (Foreword) "Having paid homage to the Three Jewels, Patrul Rinpoche begins the first section of the text: 4. The True Rishi, the Munindra, god of gods,..." (more)
Key Phrases: obscuring emotions, recite the mani, absolute expanse, Lord Buddha, Jetsun Milarepa, Guru Yoga (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In this book, two great Tibetan Buddhist masters of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries challenge us to critically examine our materialistic preoccupations and think carefully about how we want to spend the rest of our lives. At the same time, they provide practical guidance in following the Buddhist path, starting from the most basic motivation and culminating in the direct experience of reality beyond the reach of conceptual mind. The root text is a teaching in verse written in the nineteenth century by Patrul Rinpoche, one of the outstanding teachers of his day. In the accompanying commentary, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910–1991)—lineage holder of the Nyingma school and one of the great expounders of the Dharma in Europe and North America—expands upon the text with his characteristic compassion and uncompromising thoroughness. Patrul Rinpoche's fresh and piercing verses combined with Khyentse Rinpoche's down-to-earth comments offer a concise yet complete examination of the Buddhist path.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Tibetan

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Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1st edition (January 26, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877734933
• ISBN-13: 978-0877734932
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #462,474 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent guide to Vajrayana practice in Tibetan buddhism, March 17, 1999

By A Customer

The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones is an excellent guide for Vajrayana practice according to the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was one of the greatest Tibetan masters of this century. The translator and editor of this book, Matthieu Ricard, is one of the ablest translators today. I was fortunate to receive the teachings in this book as they were given by Khyentse Rinpoche in France in 1986. Under Ricard's expert editorship, I think they have lost none of their freshness and relevance for those curious to know more about Tibetan Buddhism, and also for experienced practitioners who wish to understand the view, meditation and conduct of Buddhism more deeply.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly excellent guide!, January 10, 2000

By	A. L Mcnamara "covert1304" (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a beginning practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, I found this book to be an excellent guide to a simple, direct, yet pround practice. Dilgo Khyentse was one of the greatest masters of Tibetan Buddhism and these teachings given not long before his passing are wonderfully fresh, realistic and down to earth about the things one faces in everyday modern life.

The practice it teaches is not difficult but it brings great peace and gives the reader practical ways to deal with the confusions and disappointments of modern life. Dilgo Khyentse was a teacher of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, and there is no way to go wrong reading anything he has taught. Of all the books I have read on Tibetan Buddhism, this one is the most helpful and most delightful.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise and Comprehensive Manual on Compassion, May 11, 2005

By	Myron Makewater "redcrosseknight" (Laramie) - See all my reviews

The reader is doubly blessed by The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened ones. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, a Buddhist master of the highest order, gives practical and detailed commentary on a long poem by Patrul Rinpoche, also a Buddhist master of the highest order (see the classic, The Words of My Perfect Teacher). Where Patrul Rinpoche offers punch and precision, Khyentse Rinpoche gives paragraph after paragraph of pointed compassion. Such kindness! This book makes the reader want to be more kind. What better reason to read?

The purpose of Patrul Rinpoche's poem is to present the entire scope of the Buddhist ark in summary form, without leaving behind any essentials. According to Khyentse Rinpoche, this is important because "in this decadent age, because of their limited intelligence and lack of determination, people need to practice the Dharma in an essentialized form" (32). Chenresi (or Avalokiteshwara) practice is recommended for this reason. (Interested? You may wish to give mani wheel, or prayer wheel, practice a try.) Khyentse Rinpoche's assessment of our situation may sound pessimistic but really it's a chance for everyone to dig in and practice Dharma.

According to Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, "If you examine closely the ordinary values that underlie your urge to pursue worldly goals and try to discover where they come from, you will find that their source is a failure to investigate things properly" (40). One way into the practice of investigating things properly is Tarthang Tulku's vision of Time Space and Knowledge.

I feel so lucky to have had an opportunity to be exposed to these ideas, and I have reason to believe that all of us without exception would benefit from an increase in compassion.

Homage to all true teachers!