Customer Reviews

Tantric Grounds and Paths: How to Enter, Progress On, and Complete the Vajrayana Path

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For those who are studying and practicing Buddha's Tantric teachings this book explains everything. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso doesn't hold any information back. He is a very pure and qualified Tantric Master. His kindess and love for all living beings is shown through his clear and profound explanations.
This book has immeasurable benefits with many practices that can lead us to full enlightenment. Especially for those who have had Tantric empowerments and are able to rely fully on their Spritual Guide.

Most books spend the majority of the book telling you what they're going to write about and then in the last chapter throw in a few tidbits of useless information. From the first sentence of Tantric Grounds and Paths it is chock full of astounding information about true tantric practice. It's deep stuff and you really should try and find a teacher to guide along your path. A truly truly amazing book if you want to study Buddha's Secret Mantra teachings.

I can clearly say that by reading this text I have found meaning in my life. Integrating a pure tantric practice while referring to this text has been invaluable. This text is for someone who is interested in understanding Buddha's intention for a quick path to enlightenment. It is a bit technical but it gets to the point.

I am currently studying Buddhism seriously and have found this book invaluable. However I have the empowerments and a teacher. I stongly reccomend those interested in this path do the same.

I have read the translations of Je Tsongkapa's 'Great Exposition of Secret Mantra' and find this concise volume to be amazing. Why? Because it is written for busy westerners who still want to practice Tantra and gain some essential qualified experience.

For example, in Je Tsongkapa's text, in the section on Action Tantra, one finds that in order to properly practice Action Tantra, it is helpful to bathe in the river Ganges before each session, at least three times a day. Also, learning 100+ hand mudras is also a prerequisite. In 'Tantric Grounds...' Geshe Kelsang states that we need to gain essential experience of all four classes of Tantra but spends most of it's pages elucidating the practices of Highest Yoga Tantra.

This book is very practical.

The section on Completion Stage of Highest Yoga Tantra reveals the uncommon practise of Vajrayana Mahamudra extracted from the Kadam Emantion scripture revealed by Manjushri to Je Tsongkapa directly and is just now, with the publishing of this book, being presented in written form for the first time.

The book is deceptively small. I feel it is very profound.

Let's say the truth, "Tantric Grounds and paths" from Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is the perfect book, perfect practical tool that would bring you anything you expect without limits, going beyond this life, become a being that destroys aging, sickness and death.

If you read one book in your life, This could be the one.

If you want every moment of your existence to be meaningful, This is what you've been waiting for, the Pure truth,
The perfect book to attain knowledge and enlightenment.

Enlightenment means, to make in a few years, the evolution it could take you millions of years... through countless death and rebirth.

This book can save you millions of years of painful death and rebirth.
if you feel you are ready to live that process in one life time, this is here and now, in this book.

I have purchased the hardcover for myself and also as a gift. Physicially it is beautiful to look at and do display on your altar or in your home. Like all of Geshe Kelsang Gyato's books, it is beautifully and soundly written by a monk who sincerely wishes relief of suffering for his readers and all sentient beings. I believe this to be true Dharma. For those who are not so inlcined, it's probably not a "good read." This book made me aware that I needed some more basic knowledge of Lam Rim. I have been reading and studying The Joyous Path of Good Fortune and Eight Steps to Happiness among others. The foundation is extremely helpful. I will return to this when my foundation and progress in Lam Rim is more secure.

...as if it came in a bottle: squeeze enlightment into your busy life. As is always the case with reviews of this author's works, that claim is made: buy this book and you too can become enlightened. Problem with that is, no one actually has. Within its covers is "practical" information for "busy Westerners" who will never accomplish anything with the prescribed shortcuts. Supposedly, a costly empowerment by the author at one of his pricey festivals will smooth the path. I attended many of these when I was a member and was among thousands who echoed the easy enlightment phrase. Thing is, none were (or ever will be). Of interest is the way the positive reviews all pretty much use the same words; words garnered from the back cover, product description or from actually attending Gyatso events.

Oh, and by the way, the money charged at festivals does not go to charity or to any good causes, unless you think building NKT resorts, golf clubs and World Peace Cafes is charity. As a member, you pay upwards to $75/night for very Spartan accommodations at the festivals (and even a fee to camp outside!), so the resorts can offer every luxury imaginable to their guests, which happens to be staffed by NKT volunteers... money, money, and more money. Everything goes to building Gyatso's world financial empire or to fund his unseemly and on-going political wars with other Buddhist traditions. The Buddha said if the teacher asks for money, run.

Upon realizing Tantra is complicated stuff, not suited to "busy Westerners", should never be presented to beginners, and the claims being made were unrealistic, I left for more a more reasonable and mainstream tradition. This subject should never be approached by beginners (unless you insist on believing in magic).