Scan barcode
s_n_arly's review against another edition
2.0
Something (or several things) may have been lost in translation with this one.
The Dalai Lama's work tends to be pretty dense and can be quite the slog. That said, it usually contains some pretty interesting insight, even when I'm half lost. I feel bad giving this book 2 stars, but I had a lot of trouble with it, and gained so little from it.
Given the title, I was expecting an overview on Tibetan Buddhism, perhaps something of a summary explaining how it differs from other forms of Buddhism. You know, the basics. This was about as far from the basics as pluto is from the sun. Okay, maybe Jupiter. But this was pretty high level stuff, which is great if that's what you're looking for.
This book requires past knowledge of or experience with Buddhism. I'm not new to this, and I had to look up several words that weren't clear from context.
The language was a bit wordy and vague at times, making it tough to follow. This is unfortunate, as it does not tend to improve understanding on concepts.
I got so lost on the first chapter on tantra that I never fully recovered. There were words on the page, and they were in English. But their arrangement left me baffled.
There were a few concepts that seemed to severely violate the eightfold path, that were inadequately explained or justified (specifically the encouragement to eat meat in the highest yoga tantra).
The Dalai Lama's work tends to be pretty dense and can be quite the slog. That said, it usually contains some pretty interesting insight, even when I'm half lost. I feel bad giving this book 2 stars, but I had a lot of trouble with it, and gained so little from it.
Given the title, I was expecting an overview on Tibetan Buddhism, perhaps something of a summary explaining how it differs from other forms of Buddhism. You know, the basics. This was about as far from the basics as pluto is from the sun. Okay, maybe Jupiter. But this was pretty high level stuff, which is great if that's what you're looking for.
This book requires past knowledge of or experience with Buddhism. I'm not new to this, and I had to look up several words that weren't clear from context.
The language was a bit wordy and vague at times, making it tough to follow. This is unfortunate, as it does not tend to improve understanding on concepts.
I got so lost on the first chapter on tantra that I never fully recovered. There were words on the page, and they were in English. But their arrangement left me baffled.
There were a few concepts that seemed to severely violate the eightfold path, that were inadequately explained or justified (specifically the encouragement to eat meat in the highest yoga tantra).
se_wigget's review against another edition
3.0
Editing my 2008 travel journal about Dharamshala, India; Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, Nepal; and Tibet inspired me to pull this book off a shelf. I became a Tibetophile circa 2003, when I first got into meditation, but it's good to brush up and better your understanding.
I will say that the Dalai Lama has great energy. After standing 3 feet away while he walked past, I was euphoric for 24 hours. He meditates 5 hours a day, so I suspect that's why.
This book is divided into different parts. Part 1 is a general introduction to Buddhism. Part 2 is about Buddhist altruism. Part 3 is specifically Tibetan Buddhism, especially Vajrayana, the complicated tantric stuff.
This is a pretty good introduction to Tibetan Buddhism... except:
Homophobia and lack of understanding of gender. He emphasizes that the sexual attraction in tantric practice must be for "the opposite sex."
And he uses the expression "Hinayana." This is a misnomer--an insult la-de-da Mahayana Buddhists use against Theravada Buddhists, accusing our practice of being the "lesser wheel" and claiming that it's a selfish practice. If it were so selfish, why is loving-kindness meditation so central to Theravada Buddhism/insight meditation?!?
Also, you're insulting the original Buddhist practice of the historic Buddha, Siddhartha Gautoma, and his sangha. Yes, that's right: I just said Mahayana Buddhists insult the Buddha. Theravada Buddhism/insight meditation is the closest we have now to the Buddha's practice.
The way he talks about gender equality in Tibetan Buddhism didn't quite sit well with me. Sure, he says the genders are equal and women can attain enlightenment, but he doesn't sufficiently acknowledge the misogyny so commonly practiced in his religion. There's a gap between theory and practice. (I know--this book would go off in a tangent if he sufficiently addressed this. I've heard and read horror stories. Seriously, read Being a Buddhist Nun if you want nightmares about nuns being treating badly and "monks" getting away with being sexual predators.)
Bear in mind with these criticisms: the book was published in the 1990s. Gender studies have come a long way since then. Maybe Mahayana Buddhists have by now ceased using that misnomer "Hinayana." (My days of regularly reading Buddhist magazines were between 2003 and 2008, so I'm not sure about the latter--just hopeful. Theravada Buddhists have been complaining about this for some time, so maybe Mahayana Buddhists have finally started listening.)
I guess Vajrayana (tantra) isn't for asexuals. Yabyum practice, according to this book, requires sexual attraction... which aces don't have (depending on where you are on the ace spectrum--basically, not demi or gray-ace). And as I mentioned above, it specifies exclusively heterosexual attraction.
(Buddhist and Hindu allosexuals do spiritual practices to cultivate detachment from sexual attraction; so they strive to be like asexuals. It's kind of amusing for those of us for whom it's our orientation all along.)
It's another reason to stick with insight meditation/Theravada Buddhism--not that I was planning on switching. Admittedly, while allosexuals have desire issues, I have aversion issues--asshole magnet.
(If you want simple, straightforward Buddhist meditation instruction that's a great introduction and free of cultural baggage, I recommend the book and CD set called _Insight Meditation_ by Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein. Tibetan art is exquisite, but for me Buddhism is psychology.)
danicapage's review against another edition
Not an intro book. Assumes you have base knowledge and is very technical at parts but informative.
sjc1992's review against another edition
4.0
A helpful overview that mostly went over my head. I believe this is book revisit often on my path