True Perception: The Path of Dharma Art [Paperback]

Chogyam Trungpa (Author), Judith L. Lief (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 2008

Genuine art has the power to awaken and liberate. The renowned meditation master and artist Chögyam Trungpa called this type of art “dharma art”—any creative work that springs from an awakened state of mind, characterized by directness, unselfconsciousness, and nonaggression. Dharma art provides a vehicle to appreciate the nature of things as they are and express it without any struggle or desire to achieve. A work of dharma art brings out the goodness and dignity of the situation it reflects—dignity that comes from the artist’s interest in the details of life and sense of appreciation for experience. Trungpa shows how the principles of dharma art extend to everyday life: any activity can provide an opportunity to relax and open our senses to the phenomenal world.

An expanded edition of Trungpa's Dharma Art (1996), this book includes a new introduction and essay.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Trungpa’s notion of dharma art is an approach to art as meditation, an attitude of directness and unselfconsciousness in creative work. Lief’s inspired selection and careful editing make this an essential book for those committed to view that the artist should be a spiritual teacher.”—Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Chögyam Trungpa (1940–1987) was a meditation master, teacher, and artist who founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 2nd Revised edition edition (November 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590305884
• ISBN-13: 978-1590305881
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #264,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Chögyam Trungpa (1940-1987)--meditation master, teacher, and artist--founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, the first Buddhist-inspired university in North America; the Shambhala Training program; and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books including Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, and The Myth of Freedom.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful, December 9, 2010

By 

John R. Mckanna - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: True Perception: The Path of Dharma Art (Paperback)

This is a serious guide towards meshing creativity harmoniously with life. The concepts here are nothing like an occidental art class where you talk of composition and form, but the ideas here could potentially free the inner-creator to realize full potential.
I believe this book to offer something truly precious, advice worth cherishing.
(Not precious dainty but a real cosmic gift)

The earlier printing has nicer quality reproductions of the images...

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Freshness of Dharma Art, July 29, 2009

By 

Valerie Herres - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: True Perception: The Path of Dharma Art (Paperback)

I was delighted to see a new edition of Dharma Art by crazy wisdom Tibetan teacher, Chogyam Trungpa. His brief life has shone a fresh and awake light in our world. This is an important addition to Trungpa's Shambhala vision and books. May all beings benefit from this vision as it dispells the darkness of confusion.