Book Review: Rebel Buddha: On the Road to Freedom

In Rebel Buddha, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche give us a guidebook for leaving behind the status-quo and becoming the rebel that's inside you.  No not like a James Dean rebel but a rebel from the world of illusion that we create.  DPR drops all the tradition Buddhist lingo and lays out the path to achieving freedom in an more accessible language.  I have to admit I initially was having difficulty resonating with the book  but about halfway it started to click and after re-reading it,  I really appreciate what he is writing much more.  The book offers a challenge to our normal habits, traditions, view of self and practice and truly discover the why of Buddhism.

What frees us from being stuck?  What cuts through our psychological blockages?  We need the courage of our rebel buddha heart to leap beyond forms, to go deeper into our practice and find a way to trust ourselves.  We must become our own guide.

The book has a wonderful appendix with an incredible explanation of meditation.  He describes mindfulness and analytical meditation practices and how to work with problems during the session.  He ends with some great poems like the following:

You are so creative
And your tricks are so original
Look at your magic
So deceptive, real, and endless

You are a great storyteller
So dramatic, colorful, and emotional
I love your stories
But do you realize that you're telling them over and over and over?

You are such a dreamer
And you're tirelessly so passionate
For your dream characters and the world
But do you see that you're just dreaming

You are so familiar
Yet no one knows who you really are
Are you not called "thoughts" by some?
Are you really there-or simply my delusion

Are you not taught to be the true wisdom mind?
What a beautiful world this could be
If only I could see through this mind.

Well, it doesn't really matter
Because I don't exist without you!
"Who am I?" is perhaps the right question
After all, I'm just one of your many manifestations!

Book Review: 8 Verses for Training the Mind

So while reading Rebel Buddha by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, I had to take a detour.  I can't explain why I am struggling through Rebel Buddha but I think about that later.  In the meantime, I decided to read Geshe Sonam Rinchen's commentary on 8 Verses for Training the Mind.  Geshe Ngawang Phende at Drepung Loseling in Atlanta is currently in the middle of a series of teachings on root text. 
I love to read Geshe Rinchen's commentaries.  I find them very straight forward and accessible for students of all levels.  This teaching in particular is a wonderfully simple explanation of Langritangpa's 8 Verses.  He expounds on each verse leading us though a practice to develop our love and compassion.  As Geshe-la explains:

Greater kindheartedness can transform our daily life and make all our activites meaningful.  This is something we can all practice whether or not we have extensive knowledge of philosophy.

 The value of these 8 verses in incalculable.  His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama includes them in his daily medititations.  Geshe Rinchen tells us in the book to take one verses that appears to be revelant to our current circumstances and ponder it over and over until until we feel its effect.  By studying all the verses in this manner and putting them into practice we begin to use every circumstance in our lives a chance to strengthen the Bodhisattva qualities, of insight, kindheartedness, and concern for others and result in greater happiness, peace and contentment on our life.

Book Review: Escape from the Land of Snows

Stephan Talty has created a mesmerizing account of the events around the escape of His Holiness from the Chinese Occupation of Tibet.  It expertly traces the background and decision making process of the Tibetan hierarchy that lead led to the eventual evacuation of the Norbulingka Palace and Lhasa.  He wraps us in the stories of several individual's narratives from Athar Norbu, a Khampa guerilla turned CIA operative responsible for keeping the US informed of events in Tibet to Ngawang Thondup Markyid, a monk that served as a high official on the Council of Lhasa.  The insights into the various aspects was wonderful,  you feel there devotion, fear, and uncertainty as the events unfold around them.  Talty describes the role of the international press in creating then destructing the myths about Tibet.  He narrates  the trek through the mountains and its effects on the life of His Holiness resulting in his policy of interviewing every refuge that arrives in Dharamsala.   The book is a vivid account of this brief but turbulent and time in Tibetan history.  The events it describes have been retold in various form but I found this to be one of the most insightful and open interpretations of the Chinese Occupation.  A must read for anyone interested in the Tibetan culture and people.

The escape also force the Dalai Lama to think beyond Buddhism.  "His exile was huge in his life," says Paul Jeffrey Hopkins, a Tibet scholar and former interpreter for His Holiness.  "Without it, it would be very difficult for him to develop a message that is applicable to the entire world.  Instead of becoming someone who's trying to drive Buddhism forward,  he's attempting to call to everybody in society and thus address their need for kindness and compassion.  There would be no way for that to develop had he remained in Tibet."

Book Review: My Spiritual Journey

Awesome book!  It was like sitting with His Holiness and going through an old trunk and having him tell an anecdote about each item he pulls out.  It starts with stories about his childhood and growing up.  Many have been covered in other books or movies but Sofia Stril-Rever makes them fresh as if you were sitting across the table from him.  The second section covers his life as a monk and covers many topics central to Buddhism.  The third section is about being the Dalai Lama, it relates story from the political happenings in his life and serves as a reminder to all of the atrocities that have befallen his people and country.

Book Review: Wake Up: A Life of the Buddha

I was excited to find this at my local Barnes and Noble; being familar with the Dharma books written by Kerouac, I eager to give this one a read.  It wasn't exactly what I expected.  I guess I thought it would read much like "On the Road" and "The Dharma Bums".  The language is a bit like reading a King James Bible, due to the reliance on Goddard's "The Buddhist Bible" but the Kerouac stream of consciousness is apparent.   

A little complex for a biography of Buddha Shakyamuni (leaving out many biographical details in favor of teaching philosophical lessons from various sutras), its complexity illustrates the depth of Kerouac's knowledge and devotion to Buddhism.  The well-written introduction by Robert Thurman explains the ideas behind the book itself.  

I look forward also reading Kerouac's other dharmic collection "Some of the Dharma".

Book Review: The World of Tibetan Buddhism

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama gives a wonderfully complete overview of the entire scope of Tibetan Buddhism in his book The World of Tibetan Buddhism.  He begins by explaining the 3 turnings of the Wheel of Dharma, first explaining the Four Noble Truths, then an explanation of the concept of Emptiness, and finally a commentary on the essence of Buddha-nature. He further expounds on topics including selflessness, the Four Seals and the Mahayana Path.  The second sections describes how to bring the altruistic attitude into your life through development of compassion and overcoming negative emotions.  The final section explores the Tantric traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.  He explains the process of empowerment and the different views of each sect as they relate to Tantra.  I enjoyed the questions and answer session that end each section.  The book was given to me as a suggested reading for my Intermediate Series classes at Drepung Monastery.  It was a great help in understanding the topics we covered in class.  I would recommend it for anyone needing a good overview of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and practice.

Book Review: Breakfast with Buddha

It wasn't as if I'd been suddenly turned gullible in western Indiana, but the raspy hard edges of my suspicion had been worn down, and I have to admit that it frightened me.  This was not a physical feat but something else, a shakiness at the base of who I thought I was.

Breakfast with Buddha is a wonderfully witty ride through America both physically and spiritually.  Through this road trip parable, Robert Merullo challenges us to analyze our own spiritual life and see the equality of compassion and happiness.  Without preaching, he weaves a tale that gives us reason to see all religious traditions in a different light.

I enjoyed every page as Otto Ringling takes us from his wonderfully upper middle class perfect life to the point where he is prostrating to a Skorodovian monk.  The journey begins when Otto is tricked by his sister into transporting her guru across the country on his way to North Dakota.  Along the way, he acquires some realizations about his life, his family, and his spirit.  Volya Rinpoche is an amalgam of several eastern traditions, zen master, tibetan lama, yoga guru all mixed in a delightfully wise and funny character whose purity of spirit runs through the pages.  Through his words, actions, and silence, Rinpoche shows Otto how to remove the chaos that controls his life and appreciate each moment.

We've all had moments when the fabric of our belief system is challenged and this book delves into that challenge with humor and wit.    The western skepticism of eastern philosophy is touched on through interaction with a Catholic nun, Philosophy professor, and Otto and handled in the inclusive manner of the Dalai Lama.  As the hard shell of Otto's belief system is cracked, the teachings reveal their truths in a way that is completely relevent to his life.

As Cecelia (Otto's sister) put it "The country needs help, spiritual help.  He'll change your life too, if you just let him".  While the book itself isn't going to necessarily change your life, hopefully it will give you pause to contemplate where your life is spiritually.

Book Review: How to Practice - The Way to a Meaningful Life

In How to Practice, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama presents the path to achieving enlightenment in these instructions for those seeking to follow the teachings of Shakymuni Buddha.  The book is written for practitioners of all levels from those who are curious or just beginning with meditation to an explanation of the philosophy of mind and emptiness for those further along there path.  I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter.  This title will be one I return to on a regular basis for guidance and wisdom.  The book is separated into sections that correspond to a practitioner's ability to gain understanding starting with morality.  Behavior and ethics are discussed as related to the 4 Noble Truth, Refuge and the ethical precepts taken by Buddhists.  He then moves on to explaining meditation and the types and methods for cultivating your practice.  The final section expounds upon the essence of emptiness and wisdom with an explanation of the Heart Sutra and then briefly explains Deity Yoga and Tantra and their relationship to the path.  This to me is a must have title for everyone seeking to understand the teachings of Buddhism.

Book Review: Surviving the Dragon

Arjia Rinpoche was born in Tibet in 1950. He was recognized 2 years later as the 8^th Arjia Rinpoche, the reincarnation of the father of Lama Tsong Khapa, founder of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. As the Arjia Rinpoche, he is the Abbott of one of the largest and most influential Monasteries in Tibet, The Kumbum Monastery. In his book, Surviving the Dragon, he tells the story of his life as first, a monk; second, a Tibetan under the occupation of the Chinese Communist Party; and third, a refugee without a home to return to.

I met Arjia Rinpoche when he came to Atlanta to visit Emory and Drepung Loseling Monastery. I was enthralled with his retelling of the travesties done to the 10^th Panchen Lama at his death and the subsequent choreographed Golden Urn Ceremony to chose his successor. As I read the book, I developed a great respect for Rinpoche as he illuminated the problems he faced growing up under the Chinese abuse. He tells of the times he lost himself in the secular world forced upon him by Communism and the great teachers that gave him inspiration to carry on and return to his roots. His struggles to cooperate and work within the Communist bureaucracy are illustrative of the intentions of the Tibetans and His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Middle Way solution to the Tibetan problem. It also illustrates the intentions of the Chinese to never truly allow a compromised solution.

"The current regime in China is uneasy with political and social changes of any sort.  But if a federation of autonomous regions were ever to be established, if a democratic way of life were ever to prevail, then His Holiness the Dalai Lama's dream of the Middle Way, his hope for a genuine autonomy for Tibetans and other minorites, could be fulfilled, At last minorities could be free to follow their particular religious beliefs and celebrate their unique customs.  The five stars on the Chinese flag could truly stand for the equality of China's ethnic groups - the Han majority and the Tibean, Manchurian, Mongolian, and Muslim minorites - just as the 50 stars on the US flag stand for 50 separate but united states.  Like those white stars in a field of blue, China's golden stars would shine for free peoples who share the daunting but glorious duty of governing a free country.  Then the dreams of His Holiness the Dalai Lama will come true for Tibet -- and for the world.

This too is my dream;  this is my hope;  this is my prayer. "

His Holiness the Dalai Lama asked Arjia Rinpoche to write this memoir. He also asked him not to make any angry public statements against the Chinese despite his mistreatment by them. Rinpoche follows this request perfectly: he describes the abuses and mistreatment without any hatred or disgust, just as you would expect a Buddhist monk to.

Surviving the Dragon is an excellent book: a must-read for students of Tibetan/Buddhist history as well as an inspiration to the practitioners of the Buddha's teachings.

Book Review: The Art of Happiness

What else needs to be said about a classic?  This book literally changed my life.  When I first read the book I was in a really bad spot in my life and need to "change my perspective" and sure enough this book that me how.   The 10th chapter of the book is entitled "Shifting Perspective".  His Holiness explains his philosophy on perspective as such "The ability to look at events from different perspectives can be very helpful.  Then, practicing this, one can use certain experiences, certain tragedies to develop a calmness of mind.  One must realize that every phenomena, every event, has different aspects.  Everything is of a relative nature."  He goes on to explain that allowing our perspective to be so narrow and self-center just furthers our problems and doesn't allow us to see solutions.

The book, in my opinion, is required reading for anyone.  It isn't a Buddhist book, its a wonderful self discovery book written by a psychiatrist and a monk.  Their discussions are incredibly relevant to our busy, over-loaded society where issues of anxiety, depression, anger far outweigh those instances of true sublime happiness.  We all need to learn this Art of Happiness.

Book Review: Buddhism for Beginners

"In answering the most basic questions, this book will help new practitioners dispel confusion and gain a realistic, down-to-earth approach to the Buddhist path..."  Alexander Berzin, The Berzin Archives

I think that quote sums up my feeling on this book that I have gone back to numerous times during my fledgling practice.  Ven. Thubten Chodron's explanations are concise and easily accessible.  The book is an overview of all the central concepts involved in Buddhist practice.  The book's question and answer format makes it very easy to return to again and again for answers I was unclear on.  I find myself using it to answer questions that non-Buddhist ask of me because she explains the answers in such simple but thorough manner.  This book was recommended to me when I first started investigating Buddhism.  Since then I have found great wisdom in Ven. Thubten Chodron books and online resources.