Customer Reviews

The Hundred Verses of Advice: Tibetan Buddhist Teachings on What Matters Most (Shambhala Pocket Classics)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Rely upon that most sublime companion,
primordial awareness wisdom,
People of Tingri, from which you never can
be parted."

The following review, which I read on namsebangdzo.com, is unmatched, and speaks for itself:

"These are the farewell teachings of Padampa Sangye [master of Machik Labdron, founder of the Chod of Mahamudra], explained by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

"The Indian yogi and spiritual master Padampa Sangye was a great traveler. Chronicles say that he crossed the Nepal-Tibet border in 1091. Having remained ten years in Tibet, he traveled for twelve years in China, and returned to the Land of Snow until his death. Before passing away at Tingri in 1117, as a last teaching, he gave these Hundred Verses of Spiritual Advice to the People of Tingri. Soon after, he said" "My mind has blended with the phenomenal world," thus showing that all dual perceptions had disappeared from his mind. He then fixed his gaze on the sky and passed away.

"Each of these verses is generously commented by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991) in a most lucid and direct way, showing that the "people of Tingri" are none other than all seekers of truth. With great love, but without any concession, Khyentse Rinpoche gives us a magnificent teaching on how to turn our thoughts to what truly matters in life, practice with our whole being, and discover the ultimate nature of mind."

"As parents, all beings in these six realms have
cared for you;
People of Tingri, don't relate to them with
your ideas of "I" and "mine"."

I cherish this book as the sincere parting advice of a "dear friend", now deceased. I highly recommend it as a source of inspiration for all "seekers of truth"!

"If you aspire to happiness in the future,
accept your present trials,
People of Tingri - then Buddhahood is
right here just beside you."

Khyentse Rinpoche's commentary on already pithy advice is wonderful. This is a book that can be read in small doses, and picked up at any point throughout. I was looking for a book on Buddhism to take with me traveling and I found it!

It may be true that the concepts presented by Dilgo Khentyse Rinpoche in this jewel of a book are not new, but they are so enriching for us. Rinpoche gives us jewel-like nuggets in short sections for easy access when we need refreshing and reminding. His presentation is simple, kind and as deep as the well of life. A gift from a master to bring us back to the truth.

The actual verses of Padampa Sangye (according to the book, p. ix, was alias Acharya Kamalashila) are basically of 2 lines each and total 101 verses. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche expands each to about 1 1/2 small pages. Dilgo Khyentse was a great master who died not very long ago. He was a leader in the nonsectarian Rime movement which promoted study of all of the 4 schools of Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana). The present Dalai Lama does likewise. However, about 1/2 of this book is about motivating people to practice using the approach of the 4 Noble Truths. Thus, it's extremely basic. The other 1/2 isn't much more advanced though Rinpoche does utilize some colorful imagery to communicate his position. It does not go into what practice means and it provides little (if any) new material to the practitioner. It could serve as a refresher for someone needing reinforcement for his or her practice, but its approach is primarily negative -- i.e. if you don't practice...I'm sure there are folks who will love this book, but I didn't find much depth in it.

The only reason I rate this book lower is that it is not the kind of pithy book I want when I pay for a book by a great teacher. This is some of the verses of Padampa Sangye (alias Acharya Kamalashila) and it was fine . . . but there are so many much better books by this great great teacher!