Buddhahood Without Meditation: A Visionary Account Known As Refining Apparent Phenomena (Nang-jang) (Paperback)

by Richard Barron (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Buddhahood Without Meditation, widely known by its subtitle, Nang-jang (Refining Apparent Phenomena), presents the view of the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) through the approach known as trek-chöd (cutting through solidity).

Language Notes
Text: English, Tibetan (translation)
Original Language: Tibetan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 253 pages
• Publisher: Padma Publishing (1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881847071
• ISBN-13: 978-1881847076
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,538,308 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a holy relic, January 20, 2001

By	taylor caron (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This is a text usually reserved for those with years of personal guidance under a master, who would then explain the basically esoteric statements and explanations. However, those who do have some experience in Tantric Buddhism, especially Dzogchen, will likely benefit from studying this. As Chagdud Tulku explains at the start of the book, this text should be regarded as a holy object of veneration, and even to keep this on one's altar until transmission is received will bring blessings. The text is a compilation of visionary experiences had by Dudjom Lingpa, a famous lama-yogi of the 19th century. His next reincarnation, Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (Dudjom Rinpoche) edited them into the present format, and created a helpful outline of topics, appended to the translation.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Direct Transmission for Reaching Clarity, July 15, 2007

By	James M. Corrigan "James" (Stony Brook, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Buddhahood Without Meditation: A Visionary Account Known As Refining Apparent Phenomen (Paperback)

As the subtitle of this book points out, the intent of these visionary accounts is to subtly alter one's awareness of phenomena. The text consists of discrete dream visions recounted by Dudjom Lingpa (1835-1904) in which he posed a question to appearing deities and received a clarification on each particular point. This text pertains to the category of Direct Transmission within the Great Perfection tradition. As such, one receives great benefit simply from its meaning.

The text starts by pointing out the definitive conclusion that one must reach regarding four topics: ineffability, oneness, openness, and spontaneous presence. Dudjom Rinpoche provides a further breakdown of the topic of ineffability, highlighting the need to come to a definitive conclusion regarding personal identity and the identity of phenomena. For modern students this emphasis is perhaps the most important aspect of this book, as it is in exactly these two manifestations of the error of "identity" that most students find themselves stuck. Especially for students raised in the modern American culture with its emphasis on self-independence, self-interest, and self-aggrandizement, this introductory lesson is most beneficial.

Moving beyond the error of positing a "self" underlying "I", Dudjom Rinpoche then tackles the error of imputing identity of phenomena. This error, that particular things are real, is another great stumbling block to reaching clarity.

The text then consists of the dream teachings received by Dudjom Rinpoche in which that definitive conclusion is refined by dispelling remaining misunderstandings.

The book consists of the original text and its english translation, presented in a side-by-side (facing page) format, followed by Dudjom Rinpoche's excellent structural analysis epitomizing the text, followed by an expansive glossary of Tibetan terms, which alone is of great value.

This text is the personal teaching of Dudjom Rinpoche, and one can gain great merit and reach clarity by studying this text and its transmitted meaning.

James Corrigan
An Introduction to Awareness

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Precious Book, January 24, 2008

By	Daniel Dharmawan "booksuch" (DKI, IDR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Buddhahood Without Meditation: A Visionary Account Known As Refining Apparent Phenomen (Paperback)

The title of the book gives wrong impression that it is a book for a beginner who is lazy to do meditational practice.But actually it is a book for an advanced practitioner who practice atiyoga tantra called Nangjang (Refining one's perception). To actually benefit this reading, one must receive empowerment, oral transmission, and teachings from a qualified Dzogchen master.
If you have received Dzogchen transmission, then this book is one that you must read because the brevity of its pith instructions (men ngag de) on cutting the views (tregchod).
This book is structured by the direct revelation from the various Dzogchen deities to Dudjom Lingpa, a great meditational master from Nyingma tradition. It is said that the approach is so powerful that even hearing it read aloud ensures the listener will eventually escape the suffering of samsara.