The Double Mirror: A Skeptical Journey into Buddhist Tantra

By Stephen Butterfield and Stephen T. Butterfield

Book Overview

In The Double Mirror, the author's personal history-- as a student of the late Tibetan master Chogyam Trungpa, known for his unconventional lifestyle and crazy wisdom teaching style-- is the framework... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1556431767
• ISBN13: 9781556431760
• Release Date: September 1994
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.9" x 0.7" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

engrossing

A highly readable and sensitively written book. Butterfield was a follower of a Buddhist cult (using the term loosely: it was more kooky than vicious) that revolved around the enigmatic but dissolute Chogyam Rinpoche. The book is a chronicle of the author's years with these people, and why he, Siddharthalike, eventually had to turn and follow his own path. Perhaps the book's chief merit lies in its deliberate dissection of what it's like to really want to get into a belief system, yet know in the back of your mind that it doesn't add up. You don't want to embarrass people, you don't want to strain friendships, you have so much invested, your friends will think you foolish, etc. And yet you are unsuppressibly aware the whole thing is horse-puckey. Having said that, the book is certainly not an "expose" of Buddhism, or even of Rinpoche. It is clear that Butterfield has a high opinion of most of his co-religionists and is not necessarily out to take off Rinopoche's head or discredit the religion. Rather, it is a respectful and thoughtfully-woven account of the author's years of involvement with this group, and how he grew to be dissatisfied personally with its teachings and practices. And happily, this book is not so beset with specialized Buddhist terms that only the initiated could navigate it. I've seen some of those. No, it's fine material for a general reader, or for somebody just getting into Buddhism.

No spiritual materialism here

The author recounts the story of his journey on the Shambhala buddhist path, a path originated for Westerners by the controversial Trungpa Rinpoche. He speaks from his experience, relating both his experiences and his thoughts about them in a way that allows the reader to separate the two. And I might add that it's a well-crafted and enjoyable read. Butterfield views the ideosycracies and controversies of the Shambhala organization more completely than I have seen in print anywhere, at the same time that he introduces the reader to Tibetan Buddhist practice. Butterfield was an arhat; his book is embued with clarity and insight. I wish the reviewer who thought Butterfield missed the point of Tibetan Buddhism would explain what else he thinks it is. I was saddened to read that Butterfield was rejected by his sangha on account of this book. I don't get it.

Good commentary on Buddhist ideaology

Good book, very interesting. Stephen T. Butterfield is quite an entertaining writer. This book is especially good if you have read Trungpa's books. I found myself asking the same questions that Butterfield ask's after reading Trungpa, and came to the same conclusions he does. "Authentic response, fully experienced". Or as Trungpa himself once said, "perhaps there is no such thing as spirituality except stepping out of self deception".

In Memoriam

Raised in New England, Steve was well-indoctrined in our culture of plain speaking and no b.... For a time, opposition to the war and formation of a union occupied his best efforts, as well as an active teaching career. Then he discovered Tibetan Buddhism. What appealed to him most, I think, was its attack on vanity. When you strip away all the high-flown, hypocritical ideals that lead us hither and yon, what is left? Steve thus entered the cult already possessing what it had to offer, and not knowing it. One of the key tenets of Buddhism is no b.... (perfect honesty is the path of Nirvana). He practised that with might and with main. His total honesty in this book led the cult to reject him, and they refused to officiate at his funeral. One of his last memories was of standing unadmitted outside the hall listening to the drunken party going on inside and feeling hurt and rejected. The thing that made him hurt, that was his soul. He had one. I should know, I was his brother.

Skeptic describes Trungpas Vajrayana no holds barred

Stephen T. Butterfield was a student of the school of Buddhism founded by Chogyam Trungpa in the 1970's. At first enthralled by the authentic, liberating practices of Tibetian Buddhism, he also comes to grips with the inevitable corruption and authoritarianism inherent in any large organization. He grapples with the issues that every religious practitioner must confront, the paradox that the very practices so enriching and enlightening are contained within a structure full of ego, psychosis and greed. He discovers that Buddhism is not any more pure than Christianity, and that this is part of the thin line that a truthful, honest practitioner must always walk. He also describes the stages and teachings given at the stages within the Vajrayana tradition. Always honest in his critiques as well as praises, Stephen captures the journey of a seeker unwilling to settle for dogma, always seeking the truth behind the words, in actual experience. Although his conclusions are not always happy and comfortable, his appraisal of his Buddhist education is quite engaging.