Customer Reviews

Readings on the Six Yogas of Naropa

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This is Mullin's companion volume to Tsongkhapa's Six Yogas of Naropa. It contains texts on the Naropan Yogas by Tilopa(Naropa's teacher),Naropa (scholar cum mahasiddha and the system's namesake), short texts by the Gelugpa sclolars Jey Sherab Gyatso, and Gyalwa Wensapa, Tsonkapa's short practice manual, and a text by the First Panchen Lama. Mullin's introduction and the brief chapter introductions are absolutely excelent providing context and a conceptual framework without being extremly dry or academic (in the prejorative sense) which is quite a feat considering the obscure subject matter. Mullin has brought out more quality information on the Six Yogas tradition than any other author and this may be his best effort to date.

There is solid material concerning the "nine blendings" (introducing the three "kayas" or "bodies" into the path in the three states of meditation, sleep, and intermediate state). There is some nice material on Tummo (especially the Panchen lama's text) and the material by Naropa and Tilopa while a brief and somewhat cryptic is great to have in English translation.

I was a little surprized that tise volume was smaller than his previous Tsongkhapa translation, but was very pleased by the quality of the material presented. Good Stuff.

Glen Mullen background explains why this translation is so good. Glenn Mullin is a Tibetologist, Buddhist writer, translator of classical Tibetan literature, and teacher of Tantric Buddhist meditation. Glenn lived in the Indian Himalayas between 1972 and 1984, where he studied philosophy, literature, meditation, yoga, and the enlightenment culture under thirty-five of the greatest living masters of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. His two principal tantric gurus were the late great masters Kyabje Ling Dorjechang and and Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang, who were best known as Yongdzin Che Chung, the two main gurus of the present Dalai Lama.
I cant say enough about how good this book is and since the other reviewer gives highlights I agree with I wont be redundant. WHat is also important about this book is that Glen Mullen comments openly on some of the more esoteric practices dealing with Karmamudra and the creation of the illusory bodies. The 6 Yogas of Naropa in my opinion are some of the most well known and important practices within Tibetan Buddhism. If you have any training in working with them and are looking to deepen your understanding in these yogas, as there are fewer and fewer Lama's teaching them these days then this book is for you.