Essential Tibetan Buddhism

330 Pages·1997·8.346 MB·English

by  Robert A. F. Thurman

USA $20.00/CAN $28.00
ESSENTIAL
TIBETAN BUDDHISM
Tibetan Buddhism increasingly rivals Zen in
its popularity as a path of Buddhist wisdom and practice.
This eminently readable introduction to the tradition's
vibrant literature, presented by a true insider, now
makes authentic Tibetan Buddhism accessible to
contemporary Western audiences as never before.
Robert Thurman expertly and lucidly surveys the basic
teachings and varieties of Tibetan Buddhism. A concise
summary of Buddhism's development across Asia, with
particular emphasis on its evolution in Tibet, provides a
vital orientation, but the core of this much-needed
volume is the first-ever collection of key Tibetan
teachings on Buddhism and attaining enlightenment.
Here are all the essential texts, freshly translated, the
hymns to Tara, the liberator goddess,- the riddle-like
songs of Milarepa, the wandering poet-saint of the
Himalayas,- instructions for the living the compassionate
Bodhisattva Way of Life, selections from The Tibetan
Book oj the Dead: and more.
Excerpts from rarely published tantric practice texts
complement Ceshe Chaykawa's Seven Point Mind
Training and selections from Nagarjuna's Five Stages.
Master teachers from all schools— Longchempa,
Nagarjuna, Shantideva, Atisha, and Tsong Khapa—
speak to the modern reader, providing advice on how to
integrate Tibetan Buddhism into daily life.
(continued on back Hap)
ESSENTIAL TIBETAN BUDDHISM

Essential Tibetan
Buddhism
^5T5fs% §pÖ j
ROBERT A. F. THURM AN
Castle books
Grateful acknowledgment is made to the following for permission to
reprint previously published material:
Bantam for excerpts from The Tibetan Book of the Dead
by R. A. E Thurman.
Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, which published earlier versions
of translations of “Three Principles of the Path” and “Transcendent
Insight” in Life and Teachings ofTsong Khapa by R. A. E Thurman.
Princeton University Press, which published an earlier version of “Praise
for Relativity” in The Central Philosophy of Tibet
by R. A. E Thurman.
Snow Lion Publications for the Nobel Prize lecture in A Policy of
Kindness by H. H. Dalai Lama.
Wisdom Publications for an excerpt from The Door of Liberation
by Geshe Wangyal.
The painting on the cover is The Refuge Tree, an array of enlightened
beings like the wish-fulfilling gems on the mythical tree of life.
Tibetan Buddhist meditators visualize such a tree in vivid details as present
before them in the sky of the mind’s eye, showering them with liquid
jewel light-ray nectar blessings that fill up body and mind with light
and understanding. One imagines one’s own mentor as the
Shakyamuni in the center, who has the Tantric
Buddha Vajradhara in his heart.
Tibet, eighteenth century, gouache on cotton.
Courtesy Shelley and Donald Rubin collection.
Photograph courtesy of Mokotoff Asian Arts.
ESSENTIAL TIBETAN BUDDHISM. Copyright © 1995 by
Robert A.F. Thurman. All rights reserved. No part of this work
may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or
any information storage and retrieval system without permission
in writing from the publisher.
This edition published by arrangement and with permission of
HarperSanFrancisco, a division of Harper Collins Publishers, Inc.
This edition copyright © 1997 by Castle Books.
Published by CASTLE BOOKS
A Division of Book Sales, Inc.
114 Northfield Avenue, Edison, New Jersey 08837
ISBN 0-7858-0872-8
MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Contents
Introduction 1
i. The Quintessence: The Mentor Worship 47
2. Seeing the Buddha 61
3. Meeting the Buddha in the Mentor 95
4. Practicing Transcendent Renunciation 115
5. Practicing the Loving Spirit of Enlightenment 135
6. Practicing the Liberating Wisdom 169
7. Practicing the Creation Stage 213
8. Practicing the Perfection and Great Perfection Stages 249
9. Various Treasures of Tibetan Spiritual Culture 265
Notes 291

To His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet
“You are Lama!
(all my mentors)
You are Archetype!
(all my deities)
You are Dakini!
(all enlightened women)
You are Protector!
(all fierce angels)
For now ’til enlightenment,
No Savior other than you! . . .
Be my eternal friend!”
May His wishes all come true!