Songs of Naropa: Commentaries on Songs of Realization [Paperback]

Khenchen Rinpoche (Author), Marcia Binder Schmidt (Compiler), Erik Pema Kunsang (Translator), Thrangu Rinpoche (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 24, 2004

This translation contains subtle and penetrating wisdom expressed through the age-old tradition of spiritual songs. Two songs by the great Indian master Naropa are explained in detail by Thrangu Rinpoche, a realized Tibetan Buddhist teacher of the present time. His approach is traditional, but his style is conversational and pragmatic. He includes refutations and limitations of other approaches, a comparison of Mahamudra vs. regular Shamatha, 5 wisdoms, as well as the 6 paramitas. Reading this book, one realizes that Mahamudra ultimately encourages turning the eye on the "I."

Editorial Reviews

Review

The basic nature is in itself the state of realization of all buddhas. To fully awaken to this natural state, it is not necessary to go to some other place to reach enlightenment. The state of enlightenment is not extrinisic to ourselves. Buddhahood is not something that will appear suddenly in the future, but exists inherently within ourselves right now.
- Thrangu Rinpoche

About the Author

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche ranks as one of the foremost masters of the Kagyu lineage. He lives in Kathmandu, Nepal, and teaches in numerous countries around the world. He is the author of King of Samadhi and The Practice of Tranquillity and Insight.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books; 1st edition (May 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9627341282
• ISBN-13: 978-9627341284
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,871,459 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two great texts translated with extensive commentary, January 28, 2005

By 

Neal J. Pollock (VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Songs of Naropa: Commentaries on Songs of Realization (Paperback)

This book resulted from a seminar in Nepal. It is based on 2 short "songs" by Naropa ("The View Concisely Put" and "A Summary of Mahamudra") but also includes: Thrangu Rinpoche's commentary, a legendary history of Naropa's training by Tilopa, and Q&As. His approach is quite traditional, but his style is conversational and pragmatic. He includes (p. 89-90): refutations/limitations of other approaches, a comparison of (pp. 119 & 128): Mahamudra vs. regular Shamatha, (p. 140-6), (p. 152): 5 wisdoms, the 6 paramitas, (pp. 166-7): "bringing joy & sadness onto the path," etc. He also includes several teaching stories such as: (p. 126): the master wrestler looking for his jewel (while he was wearing it) story and the (pp. 187-8): Milarepa teaching Paltabum story-with lots of analogies. Reading it, it seemed to me that Mahamudra meant turning the eye on the "I". The author gave a number of quotable statements:

p. 71: "The fully manifested state of anger is what is called the hell reams, where one perceives everything as a battleground, a realm of murder and violence."

p. 79: "Tilopa said, `to request teaching after teaching is like drinking water from the ocean-the more you drink, the more thirsty you get. You'll never end this craving.'"

p. 89: "Without cutting the root of disturbing emotions, true liberation is a `Mission: Impossible.'"

p. 103: "By shifting our attitude away from selfishness and aspiring to help others, disturbing emotions can be reduced."

p. 133: "the very essence of that which thinks is the Dharmakaya"

p. 143: "The Buddha said, `Analyze my teachings as carefully as you would test gold before buying it...Don't accept my words without questioning. You must discriminate and examine them for yourself."

p. 193: "To touch base with the practice itself, sometimes it is more helpful to have everything condensed into short, concise words. That way we can remember, understand, and remind ourselves to utilize them from time to time."

I found 2 particularly valuable: p. 168: "bringing the bardo onto the path" and

p. 120: "There's a method called `abrupt cutting' which is useful with very strong, forceful thoughts or opinions that we nurture. Abruptly cutting means we simply sever the involvement in that thought. You could say that it is a wrathful approach. [vs. letting go into whatever arises w/o fabrication]