Music in the Sky: The Life, Art and Teachings of the Seventeenth Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje

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Summary: The Story of the 17th Karmapa
Review: I highly recommend this book, which recounts the story of Orgyen Trinley, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, who is the spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The Karmapa, now eighteen years old, made a daring escape from Tibet to India in early January of 2000. He was born in 1985 to a nomad family in eastern Tibet. From an early age he showed special qualities, and in 1992 was discovered and brought to Tsurphu, the main Kagyu monastery in Tibet, which was being rebuilt after its destruction during the cultural revolution. Karmapa was recognized by the Chinese government as well as by the Dalai Lama, but decided to leave when the Chinese would not allow him access to his main teachers to receive the special training necessary to continue his lineage. He now lives in Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama, where he gives teachings and audiences and writes poetry as well as pursuing his studies, and from which he travels to teach and visit pilgrimage sites. Michelle Martin tells his story, including the thrilling details of his escape, and then presents translations of his teachings and poetry. Well researched and beautifully written, Music in the Sky introduces Karmapa to the world as a profound leader of a deep spiritual tradition.

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Summary: check for yourself
Review: I read through the life of the Karmapa in this book in three intense nights, simply because I could not put it down! Ms. Martin's writing is truly a pleasure. It is beautifully descriptive and shockingly informative with many endnotes to embellish existing points. In correction to Namgyal's comment below, Ms. Martin indeed does cover the situation of the Karmapa's validity in great detail, including letters sent by Shamar Rinpoche, the most important person who was in contrast to the mainstream view. I saw the contraversey in a very fair and even light.

The teachings are inspirational and usefull in everyday life and the poems show the maturity and artistry of the young Karmapa.

Having had the pleasure of hosting Ms. Martin when she was visiting my area with a Rinpoche, I can attest that she knows what she is doing and that her interest in the Karmapa is genuine. This book is a must read for anyone interested in Buddhism.

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Summary: Enlightened Reading
Review: Music in the Sky is a thoroughly engaging account of a young Tibetan leader's dangerous escape over the Himalayas to India. This recent, true-life adventure of the fourteen-year-old, Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, underscores the present day realities of the Chinese presence in Tibet. Not only does Michelle Martin's book contain the factual details of his escape, along with wonderful color photographs, but it also includes original teachings given by this extraordinary Tibetan monk. Anyone interested in Tibet and its form of Buddhism will want to include this book in their "must read" list.

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Summary: Well-documented and researched
Review: Music in the Sky is a well-documented and articulate account of Buddhist practice and philosophy as it is presented by Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th Karmapa, who is the leader of one of the main lineages in Tibetan Buddhism, the Karma Kagyu. The author, who is a well-known and experienced translator, has worked with all the major Kagyu teachers, including Shamar Rinpoche, who decided to create his own candidate for the head of the lineage. Wisely, the author has chosen not to dwell upon the politics of one small group, and instead followed the advice of the Dalai Lama when he confirmed Ogyen Trinley Dorje as the 17th Karmapa: "What is important is to focus on what has real and profound significance." This, of course, refers to the teachings of Buddhism, which are presented in this remarkable book along with the Karmapa's deeply-insightful poetry, the history of his lineage, and the amazing story of his life in Tibet, his discovery, and his escape to India. I would highly recommend this book to both old and new students.

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Summary: A blend of biography and Buddhist teachings
Review: Music In The Sky: The Life, Art And Teachings Of The Seventeenth KARMAPA Ogyen Trinley Dorje is the story of Karmapa (who is now 18 years old) and receiving the personal guidance of the Dalai Lama and other senior Buddhists in preparation for his ecclesiastical destiny in Tibet. Music In The Sky is an unique and very highly recommended blend of biography and Buddhist teachings.

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Summary: Introduction to a Great Spiritual Leader
Review: The book tries to cover a lot of information, which can mislead new buddhists and pleople who dont know about buddhism. In addition it does not state that Orgyen Trinley Dorje's title as the Karmapa is disputed and the fact another Karmapa appointed by the Shamarpa (present karma-kagyu lineage holder)also exists. I would say this book was written for only a certian group of people who totally do not know what is happening in the Karma Kagyu School and those who refuse to admit that indeed there is a faction within the Karma Kagyu School of Buddhism. A very good example of partisan information.

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Summary: An all incompassing book
Review: This book begins with an intriguing look into the life of the famous Buddhist teenager from Tibet, head of one of the four traditional lineages, who escaped over the Himalayas to India. Bound under one cover are actually five small volumes. The first is the Karmapa's life story from the time of his discovery and return to his monastery through to his education, escape from Tibet (a thrilling adventure) and his residence in India. The second section is a selection of his teachings, including a series on meditation that would allow anyone to begin. There are also sophisticated descriptions of the nature of mind according to different philosophical schools.

The third section presents his wonderful and varied poetry with notes to elucidate it. The fourth is a history of his previous reincarnations and a traditional narrative of his lineage. The fifth generously provides 40 pages of color photos of the Karmapa, his teachers, and family. The book is rich in Tibetan lore and Buddhist teachings, accessible to the beginner, and also full of treasures for one familiar with this tradition.

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Summary: He risked his life for freedom
Review: Unbeknownst to his thousands of followers who gathered at centers throughout the world to welcome the new millennium by praying for peace at dawn on the morning of January 1, 2000, His Holiness Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, was at that very moment risking his life and the lives of those closest to him to escape from Tibet. His goal? Freedom in India, and the ability to meet with his primary tutors in order to receive necessary instruction-an opportunity denied him by the Chinese regime that now controls Tibet. Meticulously researched and entertainingly written by Michele Martin, a translator with impeccable credentials who trained with the esteemed teacher Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso, this book gives a fascinating account of His Holiness's early life, the political milieu-including an attempt on his life-that forced his decision to escape from the Chinese, as well as teachings, poetry, and art by a young man who seems destined to change lives around the globe, perhaps even the course of Asian history. Highly recommended!