Music in the Sky: The Life, Art and Teachings of the Seventeenth Karamapa, Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje [Paperback]

Michele Martin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 17, 2003

Includes with brief biographies of all sixteen previous Karmapas, specially composed for this collection by the highly respected Seventh Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. Here, the reader discover the compelling histories of the first Tibetan masters to be recognized as reincarnate lamas.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This book offers the biography and the teachings of the 17th Karmapa, who escaped from Chinese-occupied Tibet three years ago and is now living in exile in northern India. The biography offers numerous miracle stories, tales of wisdom beyond the boy's years and other extraordinary accomplishments. It also presents a dramatic account of the Karmapa's flight from Tibet at the tender age of 14. Other sections contain some of his public addresses and poetry. If the teachings seem precocious for a boy who is still just 17 years old, remember that according to Tibetan tradition, he embodies the knowledge of all of the buddhas of the past, present and future. Although it can be labored and a bit esoteric at times, this book is the first collection of the Karmapa's teachings to be published in North America, and offers an important window into his early thought.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

...warmly welcomed as the definitive reference work to date on the limitless activity of the 17th Karmapa. -- Bodhi Magazine

The bright sun of the Gyalwa Karmapa shines throughout this book. It illuminates his young life from his discovery in -- Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, tutor to H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, a senior teacher of the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan buddhism and author of Essential Practice and Everyday Consciousness and Buddha-Awakening

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Snow Lion Publications (April 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559391952
• ISBN-13: 978-1559391955
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #564,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic, Balanced View of the Contraversial Karmapa!, September 21, 2003

By 

A. Rubin "bodrangzen" (upstate, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Music in the Sky: The Life, Art and Teachings of the Seventeenth Karamapa, Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje (Paperback)

I read through the life of the Karmapa in this book in three intense nights, simply because I could not put it down! Ms. Martin's writing is truly a pleasure. It is beautifully descriptive and shockingly informative with many endnotes to embellish existing points. In correction to Namgyal's comment below, Ms. Martin indeed does cover the situation of the Karmapa's validity in great detail, including letters sent by Shamar Rinpoche, the most important person who was in contrast to the mainstream view. I saw the contraversey in a very fair and even light.

The teachings are inspirational and usefull in everyday life and the poems show the maturity and artistry of the young Karmapa.

Having had the pleasure of hosting Ms. Martin when she was visiting my area with a Rinpoche, I can attest that she knows what she is doing and that her interest in the Karmapa is genuine. This book is a must read for anyone interested in Buddhism.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-documented and researched, August 18, 2003

By 

"byronlc" (Bearsville, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music in the Sky: The Life, Art and Teachings of the Seventeenth Karamapa, Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje (Paperback)

Music in the Sky is a well-documented and articulate account of Buddhist practice and philosophy as it is presented by Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th Karmapa, who is the leader of one of the main lineages in Tibetan Buddhism, the Karma Kagyu. The author, who is a well-known and experienced translator, has worked with all the major Kagyu teachers, including Shamar Rinpoche, who decided to create his own candidate for the head of the lineage. Wisely, the author has chosen not to dwell upon the politics of one small group, and instead followed the advice of the Dalai Lama when he confirmed Ogyen Trinley Dorje as the 17th Karmapa: "What is important is to focus on what has real and profound significance." This, of course, refers to the teachings of Buddhism, which are presented in this remarkable book along with the Karmapa's deeply-insightful poetry, the history of his lineage, and the amazing story of his life in Tibet, his discovery, and his escape to India. I would highly recommend this book to both old and new students.

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A partisan account, March 23, 2008

By 

Daiho - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Music in the Sky: The Life, Art and Teachings of the Seventeenth Karamapa, Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje (Paperback)

Written by a Tibetan Buddhist of 30 years, a member of the Kagyu sect (the same as the Karmapa's), and a translator for the Karmapa himself, Michele Martin's book reads like an authorized biography - lots of sheen and not a blemish or a stray hair in sight.

In presenting the story of the 17th Karmapa's still young life, Martin proves adequate in presenting the facts. At least those that don't interfere with hagiography. If you read only this book you'd never know there is a rival claimant to the title of the Karmapa, that he lives in India and has been promoted by one of the 16th Karmapa's disciples.

Martin appears to have taken copious notes, or had access to someone's. If you ever wondered who attended what ceremonies, what prayers were said (and in what order), she provides plenty of detail. There is also a long recitation of miracles and miraculous omens, sometimes so many that you begin to wonder how the Tibetan rinpoches, lamas and monks are able to distinguish portents from everyday life. Among the numerous auspicious signs: a sparrow hawk landing near a human dwelling, a cuckoo bird landing on a tent and singing, a dream of a crane offering yogurt, a cup of milk in a meadow, rain of various sorts, rainbows, thunder, a crying child, bad weather turning to good, a yogi carrying a skull cap of nectar, arriving in the morning, a monk appearing suddenly, and unusual and unidentifiable sounds.

For someone who has worked as the Karmapa's translator, there is a surprising and disappointing lack of personal accounts, quotes, observations, or interpretations. There is nothing of Ms Martin to be found in this text, up to and including any way to interpret her descriptions of numerous miracles.

Almost half of this volume is a compendium of teachings and poetry of the 17th Karmapa, none of them particularly inspiring. The teachings provide a summary of some of Tibetan Buddhism's basic themes and concepts. They read like revisions of the Karmapa's lessons - heavy on theory but lacking the personal examples that would make them meaningful to an audience. The poetry, too, seems to be full of cribbed lines and themes, as one might expect from a young man who hasn't yet had much experience outside the monastery or read much beyond Buddhist philosophy.

For anyone that might need convincing, the back cover features quotes recommending the text from none other than Tai Situ Rinpoche, one of the 17th Karmapa's two closest teachers, as well as from Richard Gere. For a more complete account of the Karmapa the reader might like to try Mick Brown's The Dance of 17 Lives.

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