<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: An ancient path through the modern world.
Review: "By reconnecting with the wisdom, sanity and warmth that . . . characterize our most basic nature," Tibetan Buddhism offers us a way to address the suffering and alienation in our lives, Reginald Ray writes (p. 449). Professor Ray teaches Buddhism at both Naropa University and the University of Colorado in Boulder. Focusing on Tibetan Buddhism, his 495-page book is among the best introductions to Buddhist history, teachings, and meditation practice that I have ever read. Ray's goal is to demonstrate that Tibetan Buddhism offers us a "living truth" powerful enough to lead "us ever more deeply into the unknown territory of what our life is" (p. 1). "Beneath the surface of our modern speed, ambition, and self-importance," he writes, Tibetan Buddhism provides "an ancient path" and a "way back" to a more meaningful experience of human life than the scientific and materialistic one evolving today (pp. 2; 57). Ray approaches his often esoteric subject matter in terms readily accessible to those of us without his scholarly background in Tibetan Buddhism. His book unfolds in four parts. Part One, "The Sacred Environment" (pp. 15-63), presents the traditional Tibetan view of "the sacred cosmos, with its living elements, forces, and beings and the critical role of ritual as a means for communicating with the unseen world" (pp. 3, 450). In Part Two, "Tibet's Story" (pp. 65-225), Ray travels to "wild and remote places" (p. 173) to describe the Buddhist history of Tibet beginning in India, and examines practitioners including Naropa (pp. 154-159), Marpa (pp. 159-164) and Milarepa (pp. 165-172), whose struggles enabled the lineage of Buddhist dharma to be transmitted from generation to generation (p. 450). In Part Three, "Core Teachings" (pp. 227-360), he describes the sophisticated teachings, practices, and results of the Buddhist path in nontechnical terms, frequently using personal anecdotes to illuminate his points. Part Four, "Buddhist Philosophy" (pp. 361-449) discusses Tibetan Buddhist perspectives of "the three turnings of the wheel of dharma" (pp. 450-51). For anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism, its history, culture, teachings or practices, or for anyone curious about how simply "sitting down to explore one's own mind" (p. 450)is relevant to our modern world "with its unprecedented levels of technology, information, and materialism" (p. 449), this book should not be missed. G. Merritt
Rating:
Summary: Solid place to start serious study
Review: "By reconnecting with the wisdom, sanity and warmth that . . . characterize our most basic nature," Tibetan Buddhism offers us a way to address the suffering and alienation in our lives, Reginald Ray writes (p. 449). Professor Ray teaches Buddhism at both Naropa University and the University of Colorado in Boulder. Focusing on Tibetan Buddhism, his 495-page book is among the best introductions to Buddhist history, teachings, and meditation practice that I have ever read. Ray's goal is to demonstrate that Tibetan Buddhism offers us a "living truth" powerful enough to lead "us ever more deeply into the unknown territory of what our life is" (p. 1). "Beneath the surface of our modern speed, ambition, and self-importance," he writes, Tibetan Buddhism provides "an ancient path" and a "way back" to a more meaningful experience of human life than the scientific and materialistic one evolving today (pp. 2; 57). Ray approaches his often esoteric subject matter in terms readily accessible to those of us without his scholarly background in Tibetan Buddhism. His book unfolds in four parts. Part One, "The Sacred Environment" (pp. 15-63), presents the traditional Tibetan view of "the sacred cosmos, with its living elements, forces, and beings and the critical role of ritual as a means for communicating with the unseen world" (pp. 3, 450). In Part Two, "Tibet's Story" (pp. 65-225), Ray travels to "wild and remote places" (p. 173) to describe the Buddhist history of Tibet beginning in India, and examines practitioners including Naropa (pp. 154-159), Marpa (pp. 159-164) and Milarepa (pp. 165-172), whose struggles enabled the lineage of Buddhist dharma to be transmitted from generation to generation (p. 450). In Part Three, "Core Teachings" (pp. 227-360), he describes the sophisticated teachings, practices, and results of the Buddhist path in nontechnical terms, frequently using personal anecdotes to illuminate his points. Part Four, "Buddhist Philosophy" (pp. 361-449) discusses Tibetan Buddhist perspectives of "the three turnings of the wheel of dharma" (pp. 450-51). For anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism, its history, culture, teachings or practices, or for anyone curious about how simply "sitting down to explore one's own mind" (p. 450)is relevant to our modern world "with its unprecedented levels of technology, information, and materialism" (p. 449), this book should not be missed. G. Merritt
Rating:
Summary: Culture and Practice
Review: If you are seriously interested in learning about Tibetan Buddhism, at more than a History or Travel Channel level, this book is a good place to start. Ray has a done good job boiling things down to essentials without sacrificing the breadth and depth of the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual dispensation. This is a "big picture" text, but much more than merely an outline or "Tibetan Buddhism For Dummies" kind of book. Clearly, Ray is in love with his subject, and obviously more than qualified to explain anything a beginner or even a moderately well acquainted devotee might need to know. Unfortunately, the author's love of his subject clouds his vision in places, and Ray neglects certain themes that don't fit his own sectarian preferences. For instance, mentioning the Panchen Lama only once in passing without explaining this central figure's signal importance for Tibetan polity and spirituality; also glossing over generally the dreadful mischief, intolerance, silliness, superstition, and outright cruelty (homicide and assassination) that often accompanied the practice of Buddhism in Tibet. Alas, Buddhism, like every other religion, comes with blood on its hands, and its long-term interests are not really served when those of us who were born west of Suez fail to acknowledge this sorry fact. I was also troubled to discover that Ray's bibliography was limited, leaving out other good introductory texts (like Hopkins and Thurman). Nonetheless, this is very good place to begin, a book that is easy to read and full of wonder and wisdom.
Rating:
Summary: Solid place to start serious study
Review: Ray offers an accessible introduction to the origins, cosmos and cultural context of Tibetan Buddhism. Easier to follow than other intros (like Thurman's Essential Tibetan Buddhism), but doesn't ignore important details. Especially good delineation of the four principal schools. If Ray included a discussion of the important role of the indigenous Bon religion in shaping modern Tibetan Buddhism, I missed it. Focused more directly on the knowledge component of wisdom than on experience. Still Ray's explanations burned through the fog of my confusion
Rating:
Summary: Culture and Practice
Review: This engrossing book promises to be of enduring value to those with an interest in Tibetan Buddhism, or the history and culture of Tibet itself. Ray is a student of Chogyam Trunpa Rinpoche and an accomplished teacher in his own right, benefitting students at Naropa University and Rocky Mountain Shambhala Center, both in Colorado. His decades of experience and thoughfulness shine through in this text, reportedly the first of two volumes providing historical and cultural context to the practice of Tibetan Buddhism. "Indestructible Truth" does not attempt to address every aspect of Buddhism as it has developed in various countries. Rather, it examines how Tibetans have traditionally viewed the teachings and the cosmos from within their own cultural framework. Ray skillfully blends objective data, personal experience, and teachings from accomplished masters to relay this perspective. The book provides portraits of each of the four principal schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the great masters and teachers that founded each. The reader is left with a strong preliminary understanding of the differences between the lineages, which can sometimes seem overly subtle to the beginner. A recurring theme is the varying emphases placed on meditation versus study among the four schools. Ray cogently describes how the four lineages approach the Dharma differently, without diluting the power and importance of any. His careful attention to the Nyingma and Kagyu schools, typically downplayed in many introductions, is alone a valuable addition to the literature. In addition, he provides a short but insightful introduction into the Rime tradition that highlighted the value and usefulness of all the lineages. Another section describes the principal views of the Buddhist paths of Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, both in theory and practice. This is a useful outline of the practices and study points Buddhism makes available to interested students and practitioners. It shows how each is interrelated and yet can also stand alone, depending on the needs and inclinations of the practitioner. One small caution. Ray's identification with the Kagyu tradition (one I admittedly share) is subtle, but noticeable in his selection of quotations from teachers to describe various Buddhist views. I personally found the approach interesting and the descriptions cogent, and certainly the teachers are themselves above reproach. Students of, for example, the Gelug view of emptiness, however, may prefer an explanation delivered from an adherent. On the other hand, this approach does provide a strong foundation for describing each of the three Turnings of the Wheel of the Dharma with continuity in the teachers' voices. The discussion of the "shentong," or empty-of-other view of buddhanature is as good an introduction as is possible for so profound a topic, and again, an unusual find in an introductory text. I eagerly await the companion volume, "Secret of the Vajra World," which is to focus on the esoteric views and practices of Tantric Buddhism, due later this year.
<< 1 >>
|
