Perfect Conduct: Ascertaining the Three Vows

By G.R.S. Mead and Pema Wangyi Gyalpo

All religions teach codes of ethical behavior. So too does Buddhism. This books is a translation of an indispensable exposition of the three sets of vows that are central to Tibetan Buddhist codes of discipline--the pratimoksa vows of individual liberation; the vows of the bodhisattva, who selflessly strives for the liberation of all beings; the vows of the esoteric path of tantra. Here, the late Dudjom Rinpoche provides his authoritative commentary on the role of ethics and morality in Buddhist practice, outlining in detail the meaning and scope of the vows, and giving practical advice on maintaining the vows as supportive tools in the journey toward enlightenment.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0861710835
• ISBN13: 9780861710836
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Very good book

This is an excellent book covering the whole spectrum of vows and samayas and it is a must read for any serious Tibetan Buddhist practitioner. It is very hard to find in one place the inner tantra samayas (like the series of 25 & 27 vows, etc.) and they are all here, masterfully and concisely explained by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche. Buy it.

essential

I'm not of a caliber to review a book like this, but suffice to say it is a complete exposition of the three levels of vows as understood within the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. The author of the "root text," Ngari Panchen (1487 - 1542), was a famous scholar, and his text is used widely to teach both the vows themselves and how to maintain them. The lengthy commentary, by Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, Dudjom Rinpoche, adds much to the very concise style of the main text. Dudjom Rinpoche's qualifications for this are beyond challenge. If you are interested in the nature of the three vows, and how to maintain and restore them within Nyingma, there is no other book. However, as far as Tibetan Buddhism as a whole is concered, there is another book on the same subject, but from a master of the Kagyud school, translated as "Buddhist Ethics," which is equally profound and informative. The translations of both of these books are top-notch. Both teams referred and deferred to lama-consultants within the lineage. This sort of book is especially important these days, when so many people are diving into traditional practice without perhaps all of the traditional education (for lack of resources or whatever.) Even for this reason alone, I highly recommend carefully perusing both of these texts.