Product Description

With wit and irony, Khyentse urges readers to move beyond the superficial trappings of Buddhism--beyond the romance with beads, incense, or exotic robes--straight to the heart of what the Buddha taught. And after he explains what makes you not a Buddhist, he kindly explains what a Buddhist is. The author is one of the most creative and innovative young Tibetan lamas teaching today.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #90268 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

Customer Reviews

irritating but a gem it is!
The book gives a clear concise exposition of buddha's teaching, his life, of buddhism as a wisdom tradition, and most importantly, it explains the FOUR SEALS that makes for a life liberated from mental and emotional anguish. It is, as the author pointed out, a very abbreviated generalisation of the vast depth of buddism, but that compactness is also what makes the so wonderful becuase every word sticks. As if by magic, I found myself daily being nudged to change my usual habits and ways of thinking and seeing. But if like me, you don't share the author's sense of humor and his penchant for being ' hip' and up' to date' with his take on popular culture and the ( possibly tongue in cheek) ' attitude' that verges on arrogance and cynicism, you may find the work somewhat irritating. But hey, that hows oysters grow pearls.

A Must-buy for anyone interested in the teachings of Buddhism
I found this book resonating with my inner thoughts. For someone who is curious about Buddhism (such as myself), this book is a must-buy. It is written in a no-nonsense accessible way, taking you through a journey into the life of Lord Buddha, while at the same time imparting the wisdom of the path in everyday language, using incisive and contemporay examples to illustrate various points, with humour and even some irreverence. I have always thought it important to read books on Buddhism, written by one who is a practising Buddhist who lives what he or she writes about. With this author you cannot get any better as he is an eminent and very high Lama in Tibetan Buddhism. It is a book that opens your mind to a very different way of living and of seeing life. It is a must for anyone who is serious about understanding that which is beyond the intellect.

What makes this such a great book
Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche is probably one of the greatest Buddhist teachers of all times. He masters the art of transmiting the most profound teachings in a simple, modern and humurous way.
Those with expectations on how a Buddhist teacher should be (traditional, boring, "zen", a saint...), might get a bit shocked with the way DKR teaches, but those of us who are really commited to destroy our ego by laughing at ourselves, will surely love him.