Roaring Silence: Discovering the Mind of Dzogchen [Paperback]

Ngakpa Chogyam (Author), Khandro Dechen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 3, 2002

According to the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition, Dzogchen is the direct experience of enlightenment. In Roaring Silence, Vajrayana teachers Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen walk the reader through the meditation techniques that "enable us to side-step the bureaucracy of intellectual processes and experience ourselves directly"—to discover this direct experience of enlightenment that is the mind of Dzogchen.

Surprisingly, the approach is very pragmatic. Offering an investigation of the necessary steps, the authors begin with how to prepare for the journey: the lama is essential; as are a sense of humor, inspiration, and determination. They continue by describing the path of Dzogchen from sitting meditation to the direct perception of reality.

The chapters include exercises for sharpening the presence of our awareness, for simple visualizations, and for investigating how to "remain uninvolved" with mental activity for a period—with follow-up guidance on how to view our experiences. Both practical and inspirational, the authors' exquisitely precise guidance is all presented with the caveat, "be kind to yourself, don't push yourself beyond your limits."

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The authors, husband and wife, are both Westerners who teach meditation and other spiritual practices of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Here they discuss the four traditional meditation practices (in Tibetan, Naljors) for achieving Dzogchen, i.e., utter totality. Readers conversant with Buddhism (especially Zen) will find much that is familiar, but this is no dry doctrinaire treatise. The authors have a pleasant conversational style and a lighthearted approach to religious practice. They strive to make Buddhist spiritual ideals intelligible to Westerners. Each chapter consists of a brief discussion, followed by some typical questions and answers. Specific meditation exercises are included. The text, however, frequently uses technical Tibetan religious terms without giving good definitions; a Tibetan glossary and cross-index to other Buddhist traditions would have been valuable. Thus, this volume will probably not appeal to casual readers. Nevertheless, it is recommended for academic libraries and public libraries with substantial religion collections. James F. DeRoche, Alexandria,
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Readers conversant with Buddhism (especially Zen) will find much that is familiar, but this is no dry doctrinaire treatise. The authors have a pleasant conversational style and a lighthearted approach to religious practice. They strive to make Buddhist spiritual ideals intelligible to Westerners."— Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1 edition (December 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570629447
• ISBN-13: 978-1570629440
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #781,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Introduction to Dzogchen, April 18, 2009

By 

Aro Gar - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roaring Silence: Discovering the Mind of Dzogchen (Paperback)

This is a guide for anyone wanting to deepen their meditation practice and a key text for Aro students. It discusses in depth the preparation practices for Dzogchen (which include shi-nè and lhatong meditation) and gives an introduction to Dzogchen itself.

Roaring Silence guides the reader through a series of nine practical sitting exercises - constantly encouraging the testing of experience against the theory. It is more than a manual however - it explains the practices within the context of Dzogchen. It is down to earth and accessible, yet shimmers with the realisation of the path described.

Ngak'chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen demonstrate that through our own practice we have access to a world of extra-ordinary ordinariness. It is not beyond our capacity to experience and re-experience ­in every moment ­the fresh and startling reality of non-duality. This book inspires you to bite the bullet in terms of living on the precipice of total openness and awareness in every moment - and then shows you how.

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clear, step-by-step instruction in Dzogchen, May 4, 2003

By 

James Grob - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roaring Silence: Discovering the Mind of Dzogchen (Paperback)

The editorial review(above) says that this is not for casual readers. Of course not, what "casual reader" would be looking for a book which shows how to enter directly into a fully enlightened condition of life. Anyone not interested in such information should read nothing on Dzogchen or Zen. Those who are interested can begin Dzogchen studies very successfully with this clear, convincing and inspiring book. The meaning of Dzogchen, its methods and its results are superbly presented -- and offered in a series of steps which include meditation guidance to be followed in moving into and on from each step presented.
There is nothing obscure, vague or misleading about the writing in this book. For those stumbling on the book and simply curious to find out what this odd sounding business of Dzogchen is all about -- don't bother, YOU will find it obscure and certainly uninteresting. If, on the other hand, you are a serious spiritual seeker with some familiarity with Zen or Vedanta(non-dual traditions) then you will probably be excited to find such a direct, clear and useable volume as this.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cloud danse, February 2, 2007

By 

Fredrick S. Ware "Dawa Gompa" (Paris France) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roaring Silence: Discovering the Mind of Dzogchen (Paperback)

Well, what can one say? I've been reading (and buying ;-) hundreds of books on Tibetan buddhism, mysticism, quantum physics, cosmology, philosophy of possible worlds...

Well, I've been impressed but ... this is my FIRST review... which means (for me - for you) that THIS BOOK is powerful...

A true, no let me say that again, TRUE - EmPoWERMenT !

Let me explain. Buy the book called, "Religious Reading". Read Paul Ricoeur on Hermeneutics, Heidegger on learning to think, Herbert Guenther on the Gzhi, Tondrup Tulku on all the Nyingmapa tradition, David Germano on Longchenpa and Mathew Kapstein on Assimilation of Tibetan tradition...

yeh, read read read. But, hey, just for a second, do me a simple favor.
Put on Steve Roach's WACHUMA'S WAVE, open up your door, step outside, and read this book !

Open it to the Preface, open it randomly (Jungian synchronicity at work), just look at the beautiful cloud danse on the cover.

Hey, if you DON'T READ THIS BOOK, believe me, you will be missing out on a POWERFUL empowerment experience these people provide.

Thanks Ngakpa and Khandro ! Thanks for making these strange and esoteric mindbits accessible to another "seeker of the meaning-stream" that runs like the River of Eden through our lives.

P.S.
If you read this, PLEASE also read their book on Ecstasy. It makes A LOT OF STUFF on tibetan (esoteric teachings) very accessible.

Ok, back to my contemplative surroundsound ;-)

P.S.S.
Sorry if this isn't a very "conventional" review ! Aren't you all SICK of conventional mindsets by now
???