Spectrum of Ecstasy: Embracing the Five Wisdom Emotions of Vajrayana Buddhism [Paperback]

Ngakpa Chogyam (Author), Khandro Dechen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 8, 2003

Here two Western-born lamas of the Nyingma tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism explore what it means to be utterly emotionally alive. Written in contemporary, nonacademic language, this book is a radical challenge to the misconception that inner Vajrayana is primarily an esoteric system of ritual and liturgy. The authors teach that emotions can be embraced as a rich and profound opportunity for realization. This fiercely compassionate battle cry rallies all who are audacious enough to appreciate emotions for their supreme potential as vehicles for awakening.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A work of adept knowledge."—Kyabjé Chhi-'med Rig'dzin Rinpoche

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Here two Western-born lamas of the Nyingma tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism explore what it means to be utterly emotionally alive. Written in contemporary, nonacademic language, this book is a radical challenge to the misconception that inner Vajrayana is primarily an esoteric system of ritual and liturgy. The authors teach that emotions can be embraced as a rich and profound opportunity for realization. This fiercely compassionate battle cry rallies all who are audacious enough to appreciate emotions for their supreme potential as vehicles for awakening.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1 edition (July 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590300610
• ISBN-13: 978-1590300619
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,577 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Self-liberation, April 18, 2009

By 

Aro Gar - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spectrum of Ecstasy: Embracing the Five Wisdom Emotions of Vajrayana Buddhism (Paperback)

Spectrum of Ecstasy describes the Dzogchen view of emotions, emotional pain and pleasure - and the liberation of emotions. It is valuable reading for anyone interested in human psychology according to Dzogchen and a must-read for everybody seriously interested in Aro. The book is suited for experienced meditators as well as for beginners on the Buddhist path.

The teaching on the psychology of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) shows how we ourselves create unenlightenment through neurotic patterns of emotional reaction to our own spacious nature. It demonstrates in a direct and often amusing way how we are addicted to the form qualities of the five elements. We are obsessed with manipulating our experiential reality in order to prove to ourselves that we are solid, permanent, separate, continuous, and defined. However, as emptiness is always the basis of the equation, this obsession is doomed to interminably repeated failure.

Fortunately, by applying the practice of Dzogchen trèk-chöd, we can break this cycle. Our emotions become a powerful dimension of transformation in which we can discover innate enlightenment. This means that instead of acting out, suppressing or obliterating neurotic emotional patterns, we allow the energy of the emotions to expand into their enlightened qualities according to the five elements. Thus, the personality of the practitioner becomes the key to liberation.

Spectrum of Ecstasy is written in colourful contemporary language and introduces a wealth of practical examples. After each chapter, there are extensive question and answer sessions taken from teaching conversations between Ngak'chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen and their students. These sections highlight the teachings from different angles and are an informative display of the style of teaching chosen by the authors.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly great book., September 22, 2011

By 

Johannes Foufas - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spectrum of Ecstasy: Embracing the Five Wisdom Emotions of Vajrayana Buddhism (Paperback)

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Dzogchen. It is written in a clear and direct way, with many practical examples from everyday life.

This book is written form the perspective of Dzogchen trèk-chöd, and through the methods herein we can break our neurotic self defeating cycles of behavior.
Through these methods we can directly liberate our neurotic emotionality, that create our unenlightenment, into the liberated qualities of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Most Practical Explanation I Have Found, September 25, 2011

By 

Joseph - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spectrum of Ecstasy: Embracing the Five Wisdom Emotions of Vajrayana Buddhism (Paperback)

This is the most practical, useful explanation of the five-fold elemental system in Vajrayana Buddhism I have found. The authors really explain the function of the five elements as a system of psycho-physical tools, not . They discuss the symbolism of the Five Buddha Families from the Outer Tantras, which has been described in many different books, and explain how this relates to subtle systems from Inner Tantra and Dzogchen. These symbolic systems are explained as practical methods for helping us to see the ways we express both the neurotic human distortions of our enlightened nature and that nature itself.