Finding Rest in the Nature of the Mind (Trilogy of Rest Book 1)

This is Longchenpa's lam-rim (gradual stages of the path) presentation of the nature of mind from the Nyingma's dzogchen (sudden pathless) perspective, and as we'd expect, the Padmakara Translation Group does a very fine job with it. Before getting to his comprehensive text they start with a very helpful 29 page introduction where they place the 14th century Longhcenpa in context, giving a brief biography of his life and works that is as historically complete and accurate as the hagiographic record allows. In the course of describing his life they also give context to the two main streams of dzogchen's innermost pith instructions (Vima and Khandro Nyingthigs) which he is famous for combining (in the Nyingthig Yabzhi). Since there really isn't much that can be said about the essence of dzogchen I find these bits of historical context fascinating. (In regards to the ineffable nature of dzogchen the translators make clear earlier in the introduction how the views of the lower 8 yanas - or vehicles of Buddhism - "...all share a common feature. They are, as philosophical positions, established according to the rational process of the discursive mind...", while the 9th yana of dzogchen, "...which in the terminology of the Great Perfection is referred to as rigpa, is said to lie outside the range of the discursive intellect... It underlies and logically precedes every state of ordinary cognition, and for that very reason it can never itself become the object of such cognition.") Overall this trilogy of Longchenpa's is a very clear and complete presentation of the ground, paths, and fruits of spiritual practice, all from the rather unique point of view of the Great Perfection. And it is this first volume which deals with his explanation of the foundational ground - or foundational view of dzogchen. What follows is a mix of poetry (Part One - the root texts - pages 3-163) and prose (Part Two - a partial translation of the immense auto-commentary - pages 167-263), which gives a taste of the two sides of Longchenpa's remarkable teachings - direct experiential pith instructions for yogis and erudite explanations for scholars (full of copious scriptural passages quoted from memory in his isolated retreat without access to any reference library!). Here are a couple of quotes to show some of these two styles of presentation. Everyone who can read Tibetan and knows of Longchenpa's work always expresses a sense of awe when discussing his poetic ability, like he is on the literary level of a Tibetan Shakespeare or Blake. I can only imagine... and appreciate my lack in not being able to read it in Tibetan. At least with these translations we get a very readable version; "This is the primordial state, The one and single nature: The dharmakaya where the apprehending subject And the apprehended object are not found And where an unstained luminosity Arises like the essence of the sun. No center does it have, no limit: Blissful, clear and free from thought." (p.129) "Being primordially unstained, the buddha-element is pure; changeless and unmoving, it is the supreme identity (bdag dam pa); being at all times present, it is everlasting; and though it is fallen into the samsaric state of many sufferings, it is not overwhelmed thereby. Thus it is transcendent bliss. The Uttaratantra says, It's results are the transcendent qualities Of purity, identity, happiness and permanence." (p. 239)

An excellent translation of a wonderful poem that describes the complete path of awakening. However, to know the genuine meaning of words and to understand the subtlety of practices require the transmission of the auto-commentary entitled The Great Chariot. This book also contains some excerpts of the auto-commentary; the fifth excerpt, which is about alaya and the eight consciousnesses, is especially valuable-this teaching itself is worth the price, with a clear elucidation of samsara, nirvana, the nature of the path, and the intention of accumulating merit and purifying obscurations, etc. "Ultimate innate wisdom comes about solely as a result of accumulating merit and purifying obscurations, and the blessings of a realized master. Know that relying on any other method is foolishness."

Absolute 5 stars. There are two sections, the verse section and the prose section. The verse section is an excellent, inspiring, profound overview of the Dharma, and the prose section has remarkable analytic precision when it comes to sometimes difficult to discuss topics. Longchenpa has a way of writing so simply that you can't understand why it was ever difficult to understand in the first place, while still being remarkably profound and vast. It's like talking to an old friend while sitting around on a summer night, except this friend knows the secrets of the universe.

This book was recommended to me by a very famous meditation teacher. It is written in stanzas which can be read before bed, upon arising and pondered through the day and night. Profoundly illuminating. It is a must read for serious buddhist study.

Words of wisdom from one of the greatest Buddhist masters of Tibet.

I don't have much to add to previous reviews (especially applewood's comprehensive and excellent overview of the work) - except to say that I wholeheartedly agree. I received the three-part series as a gift from a friend. So far I have only read this first book, which covers many of the core points of the path on the way to the Dzogchen teachings - while also infusing all the building blocks with tremendous pith instructions on the view itself. Highly recommended for anyone engaged in dharma practice, especially those studying with contemporary Nyingma teachers.

Very nice and well done. Very clear explanations!

Ok

This is Longchenpa's lam-rim (gradual stages of the path) presentation of the nature of mind from the Nyingma's dzogchen (sudden pathless) perspective, and as we'd expect, the Padmakara Translation Group does a very fine job with it. Before getting to his comprehensive text they start with a very helpful 29 page introduction where they place the 14th century Longhcenpa in context, giving a brief biography of his life and works that is as historically complete and accurate as the hagiographic record allows. In the course of describing his life they also give context to the two main streams of dzogchen's innermost pith instructions (Vima and Khandro Nyingthigs) which he is famous for combining (in the Nyingthig Yabzhi). Since there really isn't much that can be said about the essence of dzogchen I find these bits of historical context fascinating. (In regards to the ineffable nature of dzogchen the translators make clear earlier in the introduction how the views of the lower 8 yanas - or vehicles of Buddhism - "...all share a common feature. They are, as philosophical positions, established according to the rational process of the discursive mind...", while the 9th yana of dzogchen, "...which in the terminology of the Great Perfection is referred to as rigpa, is said to lie outside the range of the discursive intellect... It underlies and logically precedes every state of ordinary cognition, and for that very reason it can never itself become the object of such cognition.") Overall this trilogy of Longchenpa's is a very clear and complete presentation of the ground, paths, and fruits of spiritual practice, all from the rather unique point of view of the Great Perfection. And it is this first volume which deals with his explanation of the foundational ground - or foundational view of dzogchen. What follows is a mix of poetry (Part One - the root texts - pages 3-163) and prose (Part Two - a partial translation of the immense auto-commentary - pages 167-263), which gives a taste of the two sides of Longchenpa's remarkable teachings - direct experiential pith instructions for yogis and erudite explanations for scholars (full of copious scriptural passages quoted from memory in his isolated retreat without access to any reference library!). Here are a couple of quotes to show some of these two styles of presentation. Everyone who can read Tibetan and knows of Longchenpa's work always expresses a sense of awe when discussing his poetic ability, like he is on the literary level of a Tibetan Shakespeare or Blake. I can only imagine... and appreciate my lack in not being able to read it in Tibetan. At least with these translations we get a very readable version; "This is the primordial state, The one and single nature: The dharmakaya where the apprehending subject And the apprehended object are not found And where an unstained luminosity Arises like the essence of the sun. No center does it have, no limit: Blissful, clear and free from thought." (p.129) "Being primordially unstained, the buddha-element is pure; changeless and unmoving, it is the supreme identity (bdag dam pa); being at all times present, it is everlasting; and though it is fallen into the samsaric state of many sufferings, it is not overwhelmed thereby. Thus it is transcendent bliss. The Uttaratantra says, It's results are the transcendent qualities Of purity, identity, happiness and permanence." (p. 239)

An excellent translation of a wonderful poem that describes the complete path of awakening. However, to know the genuine meaning of words and to understand the subtlety of practices require the transmission of the auto-commentary entitled The Great Chariot. This book also contains some excerpts of the auto-commentary; the fifth excerpt, which is about alaya and the eight consciousnesses, is especially valuable-this teaching itself is worth the price, with a clear elucidation of samsara, nirvana, the nature of the path, and the intention of accumulating merit and purifying obscurations, etc. "Ultimate innate wisdom comes about solely as a result of accumulating merit and purifying obscurations, and the blessings of a realized master. Know that relying on any other method is foolishness."

Absolute 5 stars. There are two sections, the verse section and the prose section. The verse section is an excellent, inspiring, profound overview of the Dharma, and the prose section has remarkable analytic precision when it comes to sometimes difficult to discuss topics. Longchenpa has a way of writing so simply that you can't understand why it was ever difficult to understand in the first place, while still being remarkably profound and vast. It's like talking to an old friend while sitting around on a summer night, except this friend knows the secrets of the universe.

This book was recommended to me by a very famous meditation teacher. It is written in stanzas which can be read before bed, upon arising and pondered through the day and night. Profoundly illuminating. It is a must read for serious buddhist study.

Words of wisdom from one of the greatest Buddhist masters of Tibet.

I don't have much to add to previous reviews (especially applewood's comprehensive and excellent overview of the work) - except to say that I wholeheartedly agree. I received the three-part series as a gift from a friend. So far I have only read this first book, which covers many of the core points of the path on the way to the Dzogchen teachings - while also infusing all the building blocks with tremendous pith instructions on the view itself. Highly recommended for anyone engaged in dharma practice, especially those studying with contemporary Nyingma teachers.

Very nice and well done. Very clear explanations!

Ok