Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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!

It has been said by those who know,
that His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet
knows a thing or two,
about a thing or two.

In the forward, the Dalai Lama not only lauds this text
as containing ALL the Essential instructions
to accomplish full enlightenment in one life time,
but he goes on to compare it to an elixir for reviving the dead!

Having had the very good fortune to receive teachings
from every major and many minor Buddhist schools
this simple devotee to the Buddha of Compassion
can concur whole heartedly with His Holiness.

This book is so important,
that I have taken it as my Primary Text
and as such, read it from cover to cover,
Every Single Month.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, wrote this book
from the "Rime" or NON-sectarian approach.
It has something to offer everyone
from wide-eyed beginner to 9th level Bodhisattva!

Too many Americans have gotten distracted
from Buddha's path to enlightenment
by such things as:
Culture, Language, Tradition and Politics.

THIS text was designed to protect the reader
from such foolishness
and keep them alertly aware of what is most important
in their quest to accomplish the path in THIS life!

Many Theravadans and Gelugpas discribe the path of the Sutras
in terms of Renunciation, Compassion and Insight:
Dilgo Khyentse covers these from the perspective
of both a Scholar and a Yogi!

Many Nyingmapas and Kagyupas discribe the path to enlightenment
in terms of View, Meditation and Action
or Ground, Path and Fruition:
both these systems are taught in this text.

Tantra's path is often described in terms
of Generation, Completion and Mahamudra
or Maha-yoga, Anu-yoga and Dzogchen:
again, both these systems are taught in this text.

While NO substitute for the Blessings, Transmissions
and Explanations of a fully qualified lama,
this book is an indispensable tool
for those who long to accomplish Chenrezig in THIS life time.

I enthusiastically recommend this book to all my students,
and I gently urge you to acquire it, dear reader.

And so it is in the spirit of this book's
two Bodhichittas of Compassion and Insight
and it's two Mahamudra's of Sutra and Tantra
that I now wish from the bottom of my heart:

May you dear reader; be happy and healthy,
may you practice skillfully and joyfully,
may you accomplish Chenrezig in THIS life time,
and help many others to do likewise!

Om Mani Padme Hum,
Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika

I bought this book from a suggestion of a Tibetan Master. I'm glad I did. It's a real gem. It is easy to read and easy to understand. You don't have to be a Tibetan Buddhist scholar to understand or benefit from the wisdom contained within these pages. This book is great for the beginner or the seasoned practitioner.

The book is a commentary of Patrul Rinpoche's "The Heart of The Enlightened Ones". It begins with the commentary but also contains the root text of Patrul Rinpoche's writing. There is a short biography included of Patrul Rinpoche and also of Dilgo Khyentse. That was a real treat! Also included are a section of notes, a bibliography and an index. The root text contains the Tibetan script as well as the English translation.

This book is a real treasure. We are so fortunate to have great masters translated into English. Dilgo Khyentse explains the importance of Chenrezi's six-syllable mantra [Om Mani Padme Hum (page 58)], as well as the importance of intention in regards to action (page 66) and how to handle wrongdoing and accumulated negativity (page 68). This book is full of great instruction, explanations of Tibetan Buddhism, and wisdom.

This book is a must read for anyone who is serious about practicing Tibetan Buddhism. It's great to get back to the basics of practice. I will definitely come back to re-read this book again. Once is simply not enough!

For the second time this week, I spent time in two bookstores combing through the self-help sections and spiritual sections. I wished to buy a book to serve as direction, but could not, none appealed. Coming to the end of my browsing the second store, I came across this book. I read a couple of verses here and there, a line or two about the mind. It took me aback a bit, this was a different book. I kept the book back and continued to finish what remained in the section. I realized I unconsciously bowed my head and touched the book with my forehead as I replaced it, something I rarely catch myself doing. And I had not even read through this one. I eagerly returned to the book after a few minutes. It was not costly, I decided to buy it without further dallying.

Reaching home, the first thing I did was to see the amazon reviews. Hmm, 5 stars. But Buddhist books can be esoteric to the lay readers, or just skim the surface in a lighthearted style. Will it slake my heart's and mind's thirst? Does it dive into the esoteric or offer me a helping hand?

At the time of writing this review, I am barely six pages into the introduction. And I can already say that this is one extraordinary book, striking in its directness and immediacy. The first seven 'notes' I have encountered so far speak with brief, but extraordinary clarity about what the Buddhist and Sanskrit terms used mean. The introduction is merely about whether the reader has the right motivation to read the book. Otherwise, the book says, studying this text will just be a waste of time!

This is a no-nonsense work. It does not seem to be going into complex ideas and explanations so far, but is striking urgent. It is as if the esteemed writers are talking to the reader, knowing that time is little for fluff, and that the reader is tired of searching already. When the start is so luminous, the coming pages are something to look forward to. And to incorporate into living.

I think this Book is going to be with me for a long time to come, and It has come to me at a time I needed It the most. I am most grateful, and humbled. If these teachings are good enough for the Dalai Lama, they are good enough for the inconsequential me. I guess time has come for me for this book, and I'm not yet ready for Visuddhimagga.

The readers owe it to themselves to check out this gem. Reading one single page of this book will tell you if this is the book for you. Meanwhile, in their subtle and special ways, the masters continue to help.

This is a very good book, great in fact. The only thing I would point out is that much of it centers around the fact that the author feels it necessary for one to leave their present life, and basically go into solitude to truely progress on their spiritual journey. While this may or may not be the case, many of us are unwilling to do so. For those people, I suggest Thich Nhat Hanh's writings, as they are geared toward people in all circumstances. This is not to say that this book is not of value, it certainly is! It is really quite wonderful and has many great treasures contained within. I merely want people to be aware of this reoccuring suggestion to leave the present hectic life behind.