This Precious Life: Tibetan Buddhist Teachings on the Path to Enlightenment

By Khandro Rinpoche

Book Overview

Using the traditional Tibetan Buddhist framework of the Four Reminders--the preciousness of human birth, the truth of impermanence, the reality of suffering, and the inescapability of karma--Khandro... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1570623074
• ISBN13: 9781570623073
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Shambhala
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.7" x 0.8" x 5.7"

Customer Reviews

Tibetan Buddhism

This is a beautiful presentation of Tibetan Buddhist teaching about making the most of our precious life. It's based on many of her seminars and talks one of which I was able to attend. This is an excellent book that brings awareness and meaning to our lives.

True words from a great teacher

I had the honor of attending Rinpoche's seminars twice in Boston and her book is a clear written version of her teaching style. For new students of Buddhism the book offers a succinct presenation of the fundamentals; for seasoned practioners it offers a true reminder of the basics and hopefully strengthens the practice.

The Buddhist Path to Enlightenment: Simplified

This is an exceptionally well-organized and simplified exposition of the Buddhist path to enlightenment. Drawing upon the Tibetan tradition represented by the Dalai Lama's The Path to Enlightenment, Khandro Rinpoche re-introduces us to the four reminders: 1) the preciousness (and rarity) of a human birth, 2) the certainty of death, 3) the six realms of existence and the sufferings of each realm; this is particularly detailed and descriptive, and 4) the effects of karma on our continued reincarnations through samsara. In the fifth part, she shows us how to escape from samsara to nirvana through seeking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. She also reveals the beginnering, intermediate, and advanced practicioner's motivation for attaining enlightenment and finishes with a convincing case for dedicating one's life to the Buddhist path through formal monastic vows. Highly recommended for anyone interested in learning about the Buddhist path to enlightenment.

Brilliant

Khandro Rinpoche is particularly exceptional, exceptional in that she is a female Rinpoche who is both an upbeat, but also very insightful, Tibetan Buddhist teacher. She's very well versed in the English language and understands well our culture. This places her in a unique position to be able to translate Tibetan wisdom with astonishing clarity and legitimacy to all of us readers. She has been traveling Europe and the United States teaching the Tibetan way for over 15 years. It's remarkable.In Tibetan Buddhism, there is a teaching called the Four Reminders. Khandro uses these teachings as the framework for this important work. The 4 reminders include: preciousness of human birth, the truth on impermanence, the reality of suffering, and the inescapability of karma. She uses this book to explain to us just how and why we should and can use our lives to make this world a much more enjoyable place to live. This text also includes contemplative exercises which help us grow to a ripened state in our spiritual lives. A wonderful book."The Four Reminders, explained here, form the bedrock of Buddhist practice. Khandro Rinpoche has had the benefit of combining religious upbringing and training with modern education, which lends a fresh contemporary clarity to her explanation." - His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Not simply for beginners and based upon experience

This book is not another dry academic tome, adding to an already considerable collection of ngondro teachings. If you've think you've heard everything about karma and the six realms, try this book! Like Gen Lamrimpa and some of Alan Wallace's books, Khandro Rinpoche uses actual experiences of selflessness experienced in meditation in order to re-examine the nature of karma and the six realms. It's one of a few books that tries to actually encapsule how selflessness is discovered in meditation, how we elaborate and distort what we experience, and how this gives rise to the dream-like aspects of life. Then, within this context, that of a meditator, she re-examines what karma, the six realms, and dream-like nature of the world really mean. This book is very clearly written and a joy to read.