Customer Reviews

The Jewel Ornament of Liberation: The Wish-Fulfilling Gem of the Noble Teachings

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From the back cover: "This is a masterwork of Tibetan Buddhism. For more than eight centuries, this text has provided a complete foundation for Buddhist study and practice."

"Dharma Lord Gampopa (1074-1153) was the principle student of Milarepa. He brought two systems of teachings together: Atisha's Kadampa tradition and Naropa's Mahamudra tradition.
His teachings were said to be clear `like the sun'. "The Jewel Ornament of Liberation" is considered to be the most significant of his many texts."

What I particularly like about this work is the typical, clear format of each chapter:
* summery of the topic in a few words;
* reflection on the relevance of the topic;
* clear definition of the topic;
* classification of the topic;
* characteristics of each classification;
* increase: the virtue of practising this topic;
* perfection: signs of having perfected practising this topic;
* result: results of the fruition of attaining perfection.

One could not wish for a clearer exposition, from beginning to end of each topic.

This classic is a must-own for anyone seriously interested in Tibetan Buddhism.

If you re interested in this book, I suggest you get it with a copy of Path to Buddhahood by Ringu Tulku, which is based chapter by chapter on Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation. If your only interested in getting one book & are new to buddhism, get the Path to Buddhahood first, It is more compact & puts the Jewel Ornament into our times & is still very concise. It will also generate extreme interest in the Jewel Ornament more (as well as buddhism itself) & your understanding of it will be much better.
The Jewel Ornament may be a little daunting to a newcomer, however, just to say simply, no one would be better to give you an understanding of Buddhism himself (other than an actual spiritual teacher, which the text gives you some practical advise on) than the Dharma Lord himself. Chapter by Chapter, if you, with diligence apply the given advise, will be able to follow down the path yourself Dont trust me though, have trust in the fact that actual Tibetan Lineages rely on this Lam Rim text themselves to teach & inspire there disciples. Do not doubt yourself either, this is the second step to attaining buddhahood, you already have the precious human form & all the other precious qualities, you have this life, this minute, you took the time to look here, you may never have another chance for a long long long time, get the book & you'll find out what Im talking about. You will soon realize how important it is for you (& all other beings)!

I tried to read Gunther's translation of Gampopa's classic, but was unable to relate to it. If it weren't for Ken McLeod's podcast of his Then And Now class (www.unfetteredmind.com/audio, then go to the Classes dropdown), this translation would fair no better with me. Ken's podcast classes are helping in my developing an experiential relationship with the subject matter. This book, although written in medieval Tibet, deals with the questions of human confusion and struggle that impact us today, and provide direction on freeing us of this confusion and struggle, especially when Ken's podcasts are used as a study guide.

I was introduced to this book 18 months ago as I began a four-year Marig Munsel class at Tashi Choling on Mount Ashland. It served as our introductory text, and I've read it cover to cover at least three times. It is most thorough and accessible. I appreciate how topics are introduced, defined, then illustrated with numerous clear examples. Glossary material and appendices are especially impressive. Often the text reads like religious or found poetry, which I find especially appealing and endearing. But my greatest compliment for this text is the simple acknowledgement that my personal spiritual practice took shape and deepened considerably as a result of reading and re-reading and referring to this text.

I highly recommend it for any serious-minded spiritual student, not just those interested in Tibetan Buddhism.

--Robert McDowell, author of the forthcoming Poetry In Spiritual Practice

I found 'The Jewel Ornament of Liberation' an extraordinary guide for any serious Buddhist practitioner, on account of:
- Being exhaustive, covering every important detail on the Mahayana/Sutrayana path, as evident in its section titles: The Primary Cause (Buddha-nature), The Working Basis (precious human life), The Contributory Cause (spiritual master), The Method (impermanence, samsara, karma, compassion, refuge and precepts, bodhicitta, six perfections, five paths, ten bhumis), The Result (Buddhahood), and The Activities (of a Buddha). Also, each individual topic is treated thoroughly within each chapter.
- Its structure, being extremely well organized in the topic and order of the chapters, but particularly within each chapter, including a starting bullet-point-like summary.
- Its author, Dharma Lord Gampopa (1079-1153) having been a remarkable practitioner and scholar, who blending the Mahamudra tradition - started by Tilopa and Naropa and transferred to him by Milarepa - with the Kadampa tradition of Atisha, is considered to be the founder of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He also transferred the teachings to Düsum Khyenpa, The First Karmapa and founder of the Karma-Kagyu lineage.

Additionally, the book provides an inspiring foreword by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama; a relevant review of Dharma Lord Gampopa's life; a presentation of all the ancient stories referred to in the text; a brief biography of the excellent translator (Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche); and a useful glossary.

It is certainly a very helpful book for anyone seriously interested in Tibetan Buddhism, particularly in its Mahayana/Sutrayana aspect!

By Eduardo Tramontini (Buddhist name: Karma Trinley Zangpo)

An overview of the Buddhist path.

In Jewel Ornament, it says that reading teachings from Gampopa is the same as receiving teachings from him, and truly I think that is the case- this book not only gives you words, but also a strong blessing to develop towards enlightenment. It has been said that anyone who fully understands Jewel Ornament fully understands Mahayana Buddhism.

After reading this book, my Buddhist view is much more complete, and feels as though it will not let me down, as it's based on understanding rather than just words.

This book is suitable only for practicing Buddhists as it lists a lot of what constitutes good karma and what constitutes bad karma and the consequences of each. Many of the consequences are repetitive, thus making this book resemble a law book. In addition, the author extracts the same point from many other texts, thus making it once more very repetitive. The list is not elaborated further, thus raising a lot of questions. This book surely must be read with a guidance from a teacher.

Most people I know are using to say "that's a hard time to live in". But they change nothing in their lifes, day after day, they weak up and do the same old things...I don't understand why.
Lord Gampopa, in his kindeness, show us a very effective way to review this unhappy situation. This book is a gift from the most elevate kind of intelligence the mankind alredy had made. But it's just for the braves, cause that's a kind of adventure.

A very good translation of a famous Buddhist text . I suggest you get the oral transmission through a lama to truly understand it

I found this book is very useful for my buddhism study, the chapters are arranged in a very organized way. the contents are consise and accurate, it is like a notebook for most of the buddhism concepts and principles.

I really like it, and appreciate the English translation. it's great!