Customer Reviews

Treasures from Juniper Ridge: The Profound Treasure Instructions of Padmasambhava to the Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal

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This book is an amazing collection of teachings. These teachings are given by Padmasambhava and recorded by Yeshe Tsogyal ... not sure it can get much better than that. I find Eric's translation style to be extremely practical and understandable. I would highly suggest for those sincerely interested in Vajrayana.

TREASURES FROM JUNIPER RIDGE is the 3rd part of a series of teachings (collection of termas - hidden treasure texts) of Padmasambhava (8th century Indian yogi responsible for planting the buddhadharma in Tibet). As translator Erik Kunsang says in his preface, this 3rd book is more subtle and insightful (than the previous 2 volumes; Dakini Teachingsand Advice from the Lotus-Born: A Collection of Padmasambhava¿s Advice to the Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal and Other Close Disciples) - holding nothing back, following instead the command of Tulku Urgyen to, "Translate everything. Remain faithful to the original. Don't correct anything, and don't leave out the view, otherwise Padmasambhava looks too pietistic."

I really love Tuku Urgyen's teachings and Erik Kunsang's translations. Yet this text like the other 2 doesn't really grab me in it's form and presentation (being mostly short dialogues and Q & A sessions between Padmasambhava and his main disciple Yeshe Tsogyal). Yet, the content here is amazing; profound, relevant, subtle and magical in a very real and ordinary way. Tulku Urgyen starts the book off with a delightfully direct dzogchen teaching, then the rest of the text is like going on to his source.....

The analogy that comes to my mind is of the classic (ultra classic!) American movie, THE WIZARD OF OZ. It's weird and cool and outrageous (the first color movie in the history of the universe perhaps...), but it is also symbolic and speaks clearly of some very down-to-earth political/social issues of the day, as well as having more universal psychological meanings (layers of hidden meaning).

This book of termas is much the same. We have an array of odd characters, led by young Yeshe Tsogyal, moving through a Pure Land, receiving the teachings of Guru Rinpoche in a "twilight language" - which in the end leads us to return home with the simple click of our heels (and pure intention/awareness-presence). It is easy for the casual reader to get lulled into the fantasy and miss the point...But beyond such poetry there is real meat and potatoes here (or lamb and tsampa). This is not "like" sitting at the feet of a dzogchen master - it IS sitting at their feet (via Yeshe Tsogyal) - here Padmasambhava, THE quintessential archetypical Master - receiving teachings spanning the full range (transmission and application) of dzogchen's vision - the ever-present, un-elaborate, fully realized nonduality that is this life's true face.

Thank you Erik for the wonderful translation. Thank you Urgyen Rinpoche for the context, and Padmasambhava for the content, and Yeshe Tsogyal for your devotion, example and transmission.

What a treasure! This text is chocka full of timeless revelations you can savor indefinitely. Padmasambhava also provides some very unique antidotes to the various impediments to meditation.

The more I read of Padmasambhava, the less qualified I feel to comment on the treasures he left. I think that may be because the great depth of the written teachings is at first disguised by their simplicity. It is quite rare, in my experience, to find material so profound and helpful which actually leaves one with a feeling that there is hope. I gave the book to a friend as a Christmas gift after reading it. I'll soon be buying another one so that I can read it again.

I can't thank Master Padma and his lineage enough for this record of his profound realization. Hits right in the heart. Keep up the good work!