Union of Dzogchen and Bodhichitta: A Guide to the Attainment of Wisdom

By Anyen Rinpoche

Book Overview

An illuminating look at key aspects of Tibetan Buddhist practice--of interest to many practitioners--is presented in this practical and interesting book. Through demonstrating the interrelationship of the outer inner and secret teachings and a textual analysis of the words of four renowned Dzogchen yogis, it makes clear that the practice of Bodhichitta is a necessary aspect of every practice within Tibetan Buddhism.Unlike other books that present either the teachings of Bodhichitta or the teachings of Dzogchen as their own system of practice, this book presents them not as complementary practices but as a deconstructed inner and outer practices which are fundamentally intertwined. Anyen Rinpoche works to create a new generation of holistic practitioners who value the depth found in the entire spectrum of teachings. While Anyen Rinpoche acknowledges the profundity of the Dzogchen teachings, he dispels the myth that they are an effortless path to liberation and rather shows that they are a progressive path that requires diligence, insight, and the compassionate mind of a Bodhisattva. He presents a style of contemplation that combines Dzogchen meditation on the ultimate view with the generation of Bodhichitta, such as has been taught by Nyingmapa yogis throughout the centuries. This book presents the union of Dzogchen and Bodhichitta not only through philosophy and scripture but also through concrete methods for practice.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B002BA4HRE
• ISBN13: 9781559392488
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Shambhala
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Dzogchen from a down to earth view

This book presents the only description of the stages of the path in a down to earth way. The path is personal development, starts where you are, and proceeds as far as you want to go. The personal stories both indicate what is possible, that actual people do these things and a warmth that is not found in the "perfect expression" scriptural descriptions of reality. The "Union of" view is presented in a genuinely helpful way.

Sunlight for my mind

I just finished reading this book a few days ago and it has already been directly and obviously beneficial to my meditation practice. That is the highest compliment I can pay to any book. I found the writing style and general presentation pleasantly simple and easy to follow even when dealing with difficult subject matter. The book is presented systematically beginning from the outer teachings and culminating in the highest practices of the Dzogchen tradition. As this progression unfolds and one moves from outer, to inner, to secret teachings, nothing is left behind and each higher step is show to include and rely upon the previous. In this presentation one can see the entire tradition of Dzogchen as a holistic and comprehensive unfolding. One beautiful gem in these pages is a brief, lucid and logical introduction to Middle Way philosophy and its essential relationship to Dzogchen. As such teachings should be, they are completely clear yet just difficult and enigmatic enough to leave you questioning for yourself the nature of emptiness and appearance. In this very unique and important presentation of the Buddhist path, Bodhichitta and the view of Dzogchen are not just presented as separate abstract concepts but rather as the unified essence of every authentic Buddhist practice. This book opens up the full spectrum of the path and gives specific key practices for working with the "Union" in any mediation practice. Anyen Rinpoche's book has given me something very unique and absolutely imperative to my spiritual development. Dzogchen is described as the pinnacle of Buddhist meditation and until now it always seemed an isolated and utterly beautiful peak practice that made me feel special to study, but I honestly had no idea how to practice it from where I am at the beginning. I was always looking up at something because I had never seen the holistic nature of this profound practice. It now appears to me as complete, from beginning to end, and is no longer something that I only aspire to someday be able to practice. It is clear from examining the lives and instructions of the great Dzogchen lineage masters that there is no other way besides taking up the Union for me to reach the result of the practice. The Union of Dzogchen and Bodhichitta is something I can and will make the heart of meditation. I will invariably keep coming back to this book over and over, knowing that each time there will be a new level of applicable wisdom waiting for me.

perfect view, perfect practice

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is serious about becoming a Dzogchen practitioner. It would be challenging as an introductory text but, otherwise, it is rich and authentic, and exceedingly useful and inspiring because it addresses how to gain confidence and stability in the view. It's easy to take the Dzogchen view as a mere pleasing idea that doesn't apply to the way we actually live, doesn't alter our afflictive emotions, doesn't liberate us from ego attachment. Guru Padmasambhava tells us that while the view should be higher than the sky, the attention we pay to cause and result must be finer than flour. It's the finer than flour part that tends to trip us up. Through a systematic discussion of the inner, outer, and secret teachings, Anyen Rinpoche shows how to live and practice in accordance with the higher-than-the-sky view and how there can be no viable separation of Dzogchen from Bodhicitta. The material in this text is probably best for readers who are already familiar with basic Buddhist tenets and terminology. It draws on scripture and history to elucidate the ideas, freely uses Tibetan Buddhist terms, and refers to advanced practices to be approached only under the guidance of a qualified spiritual teacher. Still, it's an immensely practical book covering a broad range of teachings and practices, and the style is so clear and accessible that it is a book to grow into. It is also warmly intimate, with the author sharing his own experiences, as well as the inspiring and heart-wrenching stories that depict the courage and determination of the great Nyingma masters, the author's own Lamas, and several amazing humble, hidden Dzogchen yogis.

Illuminating

This is an amazing text! It changed my whole way of thinking about the Buddhist teachings. I just finished reading it, and I am going to read it again!