The Path of Individual Liberation: The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume One

I respectfully disagree with another reviewer who called this "tough reading". I had assumed since it was so thick, and compiled from Tibetan teachings, that it would be a bit difficult to absorb, but it's quite the opposite actually. I credit both Chogyam Tungpa and editor Judy Lief for this, him for his down to earth relaying of otherwise complex teachings, and her in her style of editing and formatting for this book: each section is broken into subsections and the result is only a page or two for each topic. One can easily view the Table of Contents, choose a topic of interest and easily and quickly read what he had to say on that topic.Chogyam Trungpa himself was rather controversial, but I'll leave that for anyone interested to google for specifics. I personally have only mild curiosities about his eccentricities and don't take offense by any of them because he offered SO much GOOD to this world through his teachings. So I opt to take what is useful and leave what isn't, and his teachings were very useful indeed. He had a very good understanding of western ways, of western mentality. He had a keen way of wording things, using simple metaphors and examples that everyone can understand, regardless of geographical origin. He has managed to take extensive historical teachings and make them completely digestible and relate-able for the modern practitioner.The three volumes are parts of a Tibetan Path of practice, the Yanas. Hinayana (path of the Arhat, "the worthy one"), Mahayana (way of the bodhisattva, "the awake being"), and Vajrayana (path of the siddha, "holder of spiritual power"). The word "Hinayana" can be sometimes taken in a depreciating way because it translates to "lesser vehicle" (as opposed to Mahayana, the "greater vehicle"), but Chogyam Trungpa was careful to assert that he uses the term Hinayana to refer to the foundations of practice, the core teachings of Buddhism. Whether or not one chooses to continue on the Mahayana/Tibetan path of Buddhism to include teachings of the Mahayana and ultimately Vajrayana is individual preference, but this book "The Path of Individual Liberation" covers the Hinayana teachings, as in, the core teachings. Volumes two and three detail the Mahayana and Vajrayana, respectively. Therefore, each book can be used for stand-alone study or to form a complete perspective of the Path, depending on one's individual area of study.I am so very grateful this book has been offered in paperback form and recommend it to anyone with a general understanding of Buddhism and who considers him or herself a fairly serious practitioner. While it's a generally easily digestible read, it's not really a "beginner" intended book in my opinion. It's best suited for the student who already has a fair understanding of the basics of Buddhist teachings.

This is a large book that is detailed but easy to read. Trungpa Rinpoche has a way of explaining Buddhist doctrine while also telling stories and giving examples. I found the style approachable and relaxed, something that many spiritual writers should emulate.

First, a little background on myself and Zen as I think that is relevant to this book review: I started exploring Zen Buddhism a little over 5 years ago after reading "Sidharttha" by Herman Hesse. I read all sorts of Zen books - mystical and magical - started a meditation practice and waited for that inevitable, spectacular enlightenment experience that would change my life in a flash. After a year or so I decided that wasn't going to happen and gave up. However, something kept me coming back for more, and I would start and stop my Zen practice over the next 4 years or so. Well, lots of different things happened in those years, including studying under multiple different teachers, but nobody completely cut through the BS until I stumbled across this book. Trungpa Rinpoche pulls no punches, and this may not be the best book if you are looking for inspiration for starting out in Buddhism. But if you want a book that "tells it like it is", this is the book for you. The author talks about how boring the practice can be at times, and how difficult many aspects can be, but he also gives you step by step instruction on what you should do and what kind of experiences you can realistically expect at each stage of the path.This is the best book I have ever read on the actual practice of Buddhism (note that although this is not specifically a Zen Buddhism book, Trungpa Rinpoche is actually a Tibetan Buddhist, it is so similar that any differences are inconsequential). It has taken me months to read this book as it is a guidebook for practice, not just a description to be read and tossed aside. I have actually read the Shamatha chapters numerous times and use them as a daily guide for my meditation practice.I highly recommend this book for anybody who is already inspired to practice Buddhism, but needs a more specific path to follow than "sit like the Buddha."

This is a wonderful instructive Buddhist text. For someone who was only familiar with Chan and Zen Mahayana Buddhism, this book provided what appeared to be a thorough description of Hinayana Buddhism. Very much appreciated was the encouragement to understand Hinayana Buddhism as an important part of Mahayana Buddhism. The first of three volumes was clear, illustrative, and accessible; perhaps Volumes II and III will be just as enjoyable to sit with. Kudos to Editor Judith Lief, Chogyam Trungpa was obviously a very special teacher.

As a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, this is a must-have volume as it contains many of his earlier writings, and then some, masterfully edited together by one of his scholars, Judith L. Lief. It contains the basics, the Four Noble Truths, Hineyana - Mahayana... The Wheel of Life explanations....a wonderful reference book as well as guide. What I love about CTR as he is now known is how he "translates" the magic of Bön, Dzogchen, Mahamudra into everyday language, and makes practice workable, achievable -- I understand my experience, my attachments, my habits... and can embrace the practices of letting go because it is do-able, because I understand what is going on.

An absolutely amazing series of books to teach you how to have peace and love in life at all times through proper mind training and meditation. These books will change you life in AMAZING ways if you let them. If you are someone who doesn't believe in the theistic religions, but is still feeling spiritually empty, then this is ABSOLUTELY what you are looking for. Honestly, it's what THE WHOLE WORLD is looking for. Do yourself a favor, please, and read these books. You WILL NOT regret it. I beg you.

Per chi è interessato al Dharma questo saggio è indispensabile. La prosa non è difficile ma alcuni concetti, per chi parte da zero, potrebbero essere troppo difficili. Se non avete mai letto nulla sul Buddismo, potreste trovare questo saggio difficile da comprendere. Diciamo che non è questo il testo adatto a chi parte da zero. Dovete partire da 0.5 per poter apprezzare questo saggio… dovete aver già capito che non state affatto partendo perché non dovete andare da nessuna parte.

Very precious books to study and to share the Bouddha Dharma properly.

This is a masterful overview of Tibetan Buddhist beliefs and practices written by a true master. He fled Tibet gruellingly in 1960 having been deeply schooled in esoteric monastic practice, studied at Oxford, help set up the first western monastery in Scotland which seeded interest in Buddhism in the UK, then in 1973 set up meditation centres worldwide and a study centre in Colorado that hired Ginsberg and Burroughs as professors! A lot of Buddhism’s spread through the West is probably down this this guy, his students have become famous in themselves. Joni Mitchell’s ‘Refuge of the Roads’ is about him.This book, and the others in the trilogy, are transcriptions of the talks and classes he held at retreats in the 70s and 80s and so represent a distilled summary of those retreats.We have these words then, and it seems important to understand and preserve them.As volume one of the huge Profound Treasury, this deals with mindfulness and insight of ourselves: why we feel a need to seek refuge from suffering; how our thoughts grasp at our desires; how meditation and right actions awaken a seed which builds discipline and clear thinking.And the author’s clarity of thinking is a joy here. He jokes himself that Buddhists can’t resist numbered lists: 4 noble truths, 8 fold paths, lists of jewels, kleshas, nidanas, patterns, degrees and whatnot. All speak of calm, focused thinking taught over millennia. All are presented here in Chogyam’s personable style, delivered with insight, compassion, encouragement and devotion. And this is no dry tome - he is a very funny writer whose insight into human beings gives him a strong talent for observational comedy.And this isn’t a intellectual treaty, there is some deep thinking involved but the book is hugely practical. The section on meditation is priceless, explaining how to sit (or walk), what might distract you and how to address distractions, and what might happen once the distractions have faded away. To meditate properly, for example, one needs posture, technique and joy.There is also a lot about how to live your life according to Buddhist principles, and the various delusions and desires that we might find guiding our day to day living.At no point do demons, ghosts, gods or water-nymphs make an appearance. In fact the book frequently returns to the theistic believes prevalent in much of the world, and the subtle and surprising ways these may promote ego-fixated thinking, even in seasoned atheists like yours truly.The book also takes time to explain both Sanskrit and Tibetan terminology in some detail. Concepts are always clearly illustrated by analogies the reader will understand, and the sense of compassion on the page should surely drive the reader on to volume 2, in which loving kindness and awareness of others is brought to the fore.

Ich praktiziere seit 3 Jahren Meditation und studiere die Lehren in der Linie von Chögyam Trungpa (er selbst wurde in Kagyü- und Nyingma-Buddhismus ausgebildet). Da ich immer gerne autodidaktisch lerne, habe ich mir im Laufe der Zeit an die 20 Bücher über Meditation, Buddhismus, Kontemplative Psychologie zugelegt. Mit "The Path of Individual Liberation" und dem Folgewerk "The Bodhisattva Path of Wisdom and Compassion" habe ich nun endlich in zwei (bzw. bald vermutlich drei) Büchern das gefunden, was ich in den anderen 20 Büchern gesucht hatte. Ich kann garnicht ausdrücken, als wie wertvoll ich die Zusammenstellung der Themen empfinde. Bei der Buchreihe "The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma" handelt es sich um ein wahres Kompendium und Nachschlagewerk des tibetischen Buddhismus. Die Inhalte stammen aus Vorträgen von Chögyam Trungpa. Dass es sich um Transcripts vieler Talks aus verschiedenen Jahren handelt, merkt man dem Buch allerdings überhaupt nicht an; Judith Leif hat wirklich exzellente Arbeit geleistet, die Texte so aneinander zu reihen, dass sie ein schlüssiges Gesamtbild abgeben. Meinem Eindruck nach wird der Leser buddhistischer Literatur in vielen anderen Büchern gerne mal in Watte gepackt; ein Themenkomplex wird nicht in voller Tiefe erklärt, das Thema wird vereinfacht dargestellt, oder es werden nur Teilaspekte behandelt. Nicht so hier: Der komplette Dharma wird schonungslos und bis ins kleinste Detail aufgedröselt. Nicht zuletzt verfügt das Buch über ein sehr umfangreiches Stichwortverzeichnis, sodass tatsächlich sehr gut und praktisch damit gearbeitet werden kann.Update 2020: Das Buch ist nach wie vor mein Nachschlagewerk Nummer 1. Ich kann immer wieder drin stöbern und finde Neues oder kann bereits Gelesenes auffrischen. Der Inhalt ist fast unermüdlich (allgemein wird angeraten, 'Dharma' kontemplativ zu studieren; manchmal reicht die Lektüre einer halben Seite, um wieder genug Input für mehrere Stunden oder Tage zu haben). Im Jahr 2018/2019 wurde die Reputation der Shambhala-Organisation in Mitleidenschaft gezogen, weil es - vor allem in Amerika - zu berechtigten Anschuldigungen und Enthüllungen hinsichtlich Machtmissbrauch und sexuellem Fehlverhalten kam. Unter anderem gab es Anschuldigungen gegenüber dem Sohn von Chögyam Trungpa (Chögyam Trungpa's Verhalten zu seinen Lebzeiten war überdies auch nicht unfragwürdig; unter anderem war er wohl dem Alkohol recht stark zugeneigt). Während das für die weltweite Community ein derber Schlag ist, der gründlich aufgearbeitet werden muss, tut das dem Tenor meiner Rezension keinen Abbruch. Der Inhalt des Buchs ist meiner Einschätzung nach unabhängig davon überaus glaubwürdig und tiefgründig. Es sei zu beachten, dass in der 'Profound Treasury'-Reihe in erster Linie der klassische Buddhismus vermittelt wird; Trungpa lehrte erst später in seinem Leben die Shambhala-Lehren (welche nun in zweifelhaftem Licht erscheinen und teils als Kult aufgefasst werden).

You have to be in the correct frame of mind to begin this trilogy. Once you embark on this journey, it becomes clear that every other self help book is rendered obsolete.Need to improve public speaking? Better manage your time? Secrets of highly effective people? Save money?Its all in here. Beautifully written, simplistic yet entertaining. This book will deepen your practice and if the conditions are correct, change your life for the better