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Dangerous Friend: The Teacher-Student Relationship in Vajrayana Buddhism by [Dorje, Rig'dzin]

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Dangerous Friend: The Teacher-Student Relationship in Vajrayana Buddhism Kindle Edition

by Rig'dzin Dorje (Author)

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Although Tibetan Buddhism continues to grow in popularity, the crucial relationship between teacher and student remains largely misunderstood. Dangerous Friend offers an in-depth exploration of this mysterious and complex bond, a relationship of paramount importance in Tibetan Buddhist practice.

According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the student must have complete trust in the teacher (the "dangerous friend") if he or she is to achieve any understanding. It is the teacher's responsibility to uphold the integrity of the tradition, the basis of which is compassion for all beings, by transmitting it properly to an appropriate student. Likewise, it is the student's responsibility to meet the challenge of carrying on the lineage of teachings. By entering such a relationship, both teacher and student accept the burden of protecting those teachings by understanding them completely and correctly, by practicing them fully and faultlessly, and by transmitting them without omission.

Dangerous Friend includes discussions of the following topics:

   • Meeting and recognizing an appropriate teacher.
   • Understanding the gravity of entering the teacher-student relationship.
   • Shifting one's approach from spiritual materialism to genuine Buddhist practice.
   • Accepting the challenge of being truly kind, honest, and courageous.

Length: 144 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
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Product details

File Size: 748 KB
Print Length: 144 pages
Publisher: Shambhala; 1st Shambhala ed edition (November 6, 2001)
Publication Date: November 6, 2001
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B00FK3QBDM
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

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Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported

Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,116,960 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #668 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism > Rituals & Practice
- #728 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism > Tibetan
- #1613 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Eastern > Buddhism > Rituals & Practice

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Revealing the Guru-Student Relationship - an important book

January 10, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I am a teacher of vajrayana, called a "vajracharya". Therefore, I speak from experience and found this book is not only relevant but necessary for any serious Buddhist teachers who have their students' and/or disciples' hearts and minds in their hands. The most important message, from a western author, the book offers to teachers is in not diluting the precious esoteric lineage teachings in order to satisfy timid western mindsets. Important quotes from the brilliant minds of lamas and rinpoches, like Choygam Trungpa Rinpoche, are included to bolster and understand the author's viewpoint, which can sometimes be rambling. Additionally, qualities a teacher, as well as, a student should possess for a positive journey, in the often other-wordly experience of Vajrayana, are outlined. I would recommend this book to any Vajrayana teacher or student who needs a bit of a roadmap or reminders on how to stay the course. One helpful chapter has Vajrayana Q&A. My only complaint was a few too many Tibetan words and names, which are impossible to pronounce anyway if unfamiliar. Short and fast read, definitely worthwhile.

One person found this helpful

a fascinating book about a fascinating subject

October 9, 2011

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a fascinating book about a fascinating subject: the teacher-student relationship in Vajrayana Buddhism. The author, who is both a student and a teacher himself, is a passionate advocate of vajra relationship and he presents a well-written, well-researched discussion of how this relationship has functioned over the centuries as the most important method of practice in Vajrayana. Rig'dzin Dorje presents numerous anecdotes, both historical and from his own experience, illustrating the power and effectiveness of this style of teaching. His devotion to his own teachers is eloquent and touching, and his writing style is erudite and entertaining at the same time.

Most books on the teacher-student relationship constitute dull exercises in being cautious and sensible above all. In contrast, Rig'dzin Dorje encourages us to reach for the stars. I really enjoyed this book.

9 people found this helpful

When the Student is ready, the Teacher appears

February 13, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book gives the student guidelines in the requirements needed for entering into a deeper understanding of Buddhism. When one is ready to take a deeper training into the customs, Pujas, Sutras of Buddhism, one might need to seek out a teacher who can guide you deeper into these areas. Finding a teacher to enter into this deeper study requires certain conditions to be met. The Student needs to know what they need to do to prepare for this relationship, and the Student needs to know what the Teacher requires; this book helps one to understand what is needed to enter into this important step in ones Buddhist studies.

One person found this helpful

A much needed commentary

January 21, 2008

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is an amazingly well-written book filled with insight. It is an important book for western students of Vajrayana to understand in terms of their relationships with their root teacher. However, it is sad that such a commentary is necessary. Since it is written using the terms and phrases of Vajrayana Buddhism, it is unlikely that non-Buddhists will understand many of the concepts. It is also written from the perspective of a Nyingma tradition using Dzogchen as the primary example of Vajrayana practice, but those of us from the other traditions should be able to substitute our own common terms in place of the Nyingma terms (for example, students of a Geluk lama may be more likely to hear about the self-cherishing mind than the dualistic mind) and still understand the point. I recommend this book.

4 people found this helpful

Florian Frommlet

Most important for serious students in Vajrayana

September 28, 2011

Format: Paperback

This book is about the often misunderstood teacher student relationship in Vajrayana. The author Rig'dzin Dorje clarifies in detail what is the essence of this relationship, without which the practice of Vajrayana is entirely non-functional. We are living in a time where Buddhism is still new to the Western hemisphere, and it is natural that its spread is meeting many cultural obstacles. Being confronted with such an extremely colourful tradition like the Tibetan one it is very difficult to distinguish between specific cultural forms and essential ingredients of the tradition. "Dangerous friend" gives an outstandingly clear answer to the question which aspects of the relationship with the Vajra master are based on Tibetan culture, and which aspects are absolutely essential to make Vajrayana work. In a wonderfully refreshing contemporary language it is made utterly clear what is meant by devotion to the lama and to the lineage, and how this form of devotion is transformative.

Like with any good Dharma book the reader is finding herself reading a "different book" after several years when she has progressed on the path. "Dangerous friend" is written from a practicioner for practicioners, and this you can experience in any single line. When the understanding of a practicioner deepens, then also the profundity of this book is becoming more and more transparent. For anybody who is seriously interested in practicing Vajrayana this is an absolute must to read.

3 people found this helpful

An excellent guide

October 7, 2013

Format: Paperback

As a practitioner in the Nyingmapa tradition and as someone who is involved in a Lama/apprentice relationship I found this book highly valuable. I actually read this book a few times. When I first read it, a few years back, I was not formally studying with a teacher and did not relate with the material that well. Re-reading it now, as a student, I find the material very relevant and informative. I would recommend this book to any practitioner of Vajrayana.

One person found this helpful

January 25, 2015

Format: Paperback

The author of this book is a teacher from a highly controversial lineage, the so-called Aro Ter. I recommend to everyone to do their own research on this group before reading this book. There are much better books about the student-teacher relationship, such as the great Jamgon Kongtrul's book The Teacher-Student Relationship, which is a chapter from his book The Treasury of Knowledge: Book 5: Buddhist Ethics (v. 5).

Also highly recommendable is Alexander Berzin's book Relating to a Spiritual Teacher: Building A Healthy Relationship which is also available for free online on Alex Berzin's archives. Better learn from uncontroversial teachers and books, especially when you're a beginner.

5 people found this helpful

Most recent customer reviews

Gives little hope to souls

The book has many good points. It's true all of it, but only relatively, for a spiritual teacher of today should always present hopes for aspirants and seekers on the path, no...Read more

Published on June 18, 2012

A Dangerous Method

"According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the student must have complete trust in the teacher (the "dangerous friend") if he or she is to achieve any understanding.Read more

Published on March 26, 2012

there have to be better books on the topic

Even though I'm enamored of the Nyingmapa school and highly idealize the student-teacher relationship traditional to several different religions, I found this book to be highly...Read more

Published on October 12, 2004

An Excellent Book

The author has done the world of Vajrayana Buddhism a true service by writing this book. I knew early on in the book that I was going to enjoy it immensely.Read more

Published on January 17, 2003

Amazon Customer

Much-Needed Clarification

This book is an excellent introduction to the practice of vajra commitment (samaya or damtsig), which is an essential part of Vajrayana Buddhism but is very much misunderstood in...Read more

Published on February 8, 2002

great help to anyone desiring to practice tantra/dzogchen

Nga-la Rigdzin does a fabulous job of defining the differing relationships one has with a Buddhist teacher.Read more

Published on February 7, 2002

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