Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand: A Concise Discourse on the Path to Enlightenment

by Michael Richards and Pabongkha Rinpoche

Book Overview

Pabongka Rinpoche was one the twentieth century's most charismatic and revered Tibetan lamas, and in Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand we can see why. In this famous twenty-four-day teaching on the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0861715004
• ISBN13: 9780861715008
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications
• Length: 896 Pages
• Weight: 2.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 6.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Incredible Treasure Trove of Teachings

This book intimidated me at first -- it's so large! And such a long teaching just on Lam Rim? However, the instant I started reading it, I was hooked in, and I've been at it non-stop ever since. I can safely say that no other book has provided me with as many eye-opening realizations as this one. Every few pages strikes a chord in me and helps me to understand on a deeper level the many aspects and facets of Lam Rim. What is Lam Rim? It is "Stages of the Path" -- one of the central kinds of teachings in Tibetan Buddhism. In Buddhism, the goal is enlightenment -- to free oneself from suffering, and to help others free themselves as well. Yet the teachings of the Buddha are so voluminous and complex, that it is difficult for a beginning student to know where to start, what to study, what to practice, in what order, etc. For this reason, the great Indian master Atisha (10th-11th c.AD) composed the first Lam Rim text, which presented the entire path to Buddhahood, leaving nothing out, in a clear way, and in the correct order for practice. Since then, Lam Rim teachings have been central for most Tibetan schools of Buddhism. This systematic and clear approach is not found in most other schools of Buddhism. In Lam Rim, one develops realizations along 3 major stages: Small Scope, Medium Scope, and Great Scope. In the first two, one develops a strong wish to free oneself from present and future sufferings, to achieve a state of total liberation and peace. In the third, one expands this through compassion to wish that all sentient beings may be in this liberated state. Each stage involves contemplating and thinking about a number of different aspects of life and human experience. As one does so, one is almost guaranteed to start to see things more clearly. This will lead to a stronger wish for liberation, a more powerful compassion, and greater wisdom into the nature of reality. Thus, Lam Rim is really essential, especially for those who intend to practice Tantra, since it is like the base and foundation. While there are many texts of Lam Rim, Pabongka Rinpoche's teaching is so direct, so clear, and filled with so many brilliant examples and stories, that it can be ranked among the best. In the Gelukpa school especially, it has become a classic that every student should read at least once. I hope it will benefit you greatly!

Most Auspicious

This is an excellent book, an excellent set of instructions for a serious practicioner of the dharma. While a meditation retreat is preferrable, this book is second best as a great teaching of Je Tsongkapa's Lam Rim.If you are an honest Buddhist practicioner, this book will not disappoint you. It will provide you with most beneficial instructions for your practice and study of the Lam Rim, including an excellent and extensive section on the Preparatory Rites. I recommend this dharma text, in fact, I would call it essential.Your hearnest study of this book should benefit all sentient beings.Om mani padme hum.Be well.

Essential

A stong understanding of Lam Rim is very important, it is the foundation of Tibetan buddhism. This book on Lam-Rim is essential, it is the published notes from a teaching of Pabongka Rinpoche out lining the steps to/on the Lam Rim path. Anyone interested studing buddhism will benefit from the teachings of Rinpoche.

A Cool Bath on a Hot Day!

This is THE work for the Gelugpa Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.Which is the tradition of His Holiness, the Dali Lama. It, forall practical reasons, is our Bible. While reading it, one becomes relaxed and feels at home. It outlines the entire path of the Lam-Rim or the graduated path of enlightenment. PabonkaRinpoche gave a famous twenty-four day discourse on the teachingsof the Buddha. These talks were translated by Trijang Rinpoche,the tutor of His Holiness. Finally, it was translated into English by Michael Richards. This book is a masterpiece. Each page fills the soul and heart with happiness and love. The illustrations are just marvelous. A couple caveats are in order before you buy this marvelous book. First, please understand that, despite what a few Occidental iconoclasts believe, TibetanBuddhism flatly espouses a belief in cyclical existence. That at death, unless we have lived a life of firm morality and generosity, the mindstream can spin out of control and just about be reborn in any lifeform. In Tibetan Buddhism, this is a given. Secondly, is the belief in sin. The belief that if weharm others, the arrow comes back at us. And this karma is expandable. Yes. Bad things do happen to good people.With these two understandings under your belt, buy and enjoy.The vision which Pabonka Rinpoche gives us may seem horrible. Nevertheless, it may be true. In fact, it no doubt is true. May the dharma bless you.

A must for anyone seriously interested in Tibetan Buddhism

This is the most detailed explanation of the seminal A Lamp on the Path by the Indian master Atisha in the English Language. Pabongka Rinpoche was a renowned master, teacher to some of the most respected masters of Tibetan Buddhism of our time - Kyabje Trichang Rinpoche (junior tutor to the Dalai Lama and Kyabje Ling Rinpoche (senior tutor of the Dalai Lama and Ribur Rinpoche among others. One could not ask for a better teacher. Drawing upon Lama Tsong Khapa's Great Stages of the Path (Lam Rim Chenmo), Pabongka Rinpoche elucidates all the main topics of meditation with anlaytical rigor and rich anecdotes, all the time, situating and linking his teaching to the vast corpus of the Buddha's teachings. This is a PRACTICE text of the highest calibre and, as such, to truly derive its essence one must try out what Pabongka Rinpoche teaches for himself/herself.