The Spirit of Tibetan Buddhism (The Spirit of ...)

Description

A leading writer and researcher on Tibet, Sam van Schaik offers an accessible and authoritative introduction to Tibetan Buddhism by examining its key texts, from its origins in the eighth century to teachings practiced across the world today. In addition to demonstrating its richness and historical importance, van Schaik’s fresh translations of and introductions to each text provide a comprehensive overview of Tibetan Buddhism’s most popular teachings and concepts—including rebirth, compassion, mindfulness, tantric deities, and the graduated path—and discusses how each is put into practice. The book unfolds chronologically, conveying a sense of this thousand-year-old tradition’s progress and evolution. Under the spiritual leadership of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism has an estimated ten to twenty million adherents worldwide. Written for those new to the topic, but also useful to seasoned Buddhist practitioners and students, this much-needed anthological introduction provides the deepest understanding of the key writings currently available. Cover page ......Page 1 Halftitle page ......Page 2 Title page ......Page 4 Copyright page ......Page 5 Dedication ......Page 6 CONTENTS......Page 8 CHAPTER ONE AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PRACTICE OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM......Page 10 Buddhism in Tibet......Page 13 The schools of Tibetan Buddhism......Page 16 Reading the texts......Page 20 The ten virtues......Page 22 Bringing Buddhism to Tibet......Page 23 Virtues and vows......Page 25 Reading the ten virtues......Page 26 Sources for the translation......Page 29 TRANSLATIONA TEACHING ON THE TEN VIRTUES......Page 31 The role of the teacher......Page 37 Atiśa in Tibet......Page 39 The Kadampas......Page 41 Atiśa’s advice......Page 43 Advice to Jangchub O......Page 47 Advice at Yerpa......Page 51 The genre of mind-training......Page 56 The practice of parting from the four attachments......Page 59 TRANSLATIONA KEY TO THE PROFOUND ESSENTIAL POINTS: A GUIDANCE MANUAL ON THE MIND-TRAINING OF PARTING FROM THE FOUR ATTACHMENTS......Page 66 Parting from attachment to this life, your mind turns toward the dharma......Page 70 Parting from attachment to sam sāra, you proceed along the dharma path......Page 72 Parting from attachment to self-interest, confusion about the path is cleared away......Page 73 Parting from attachment to the four extremes, confusion arises as wisdom......Page 75 Dependence and emptiness......Page 78 Madhyamaka in India......Page 80 Seven arguments for non- self......Page 83 The emptiness of dharmas......Page 85 Madhyamaka in Tibet......Page 88 The arguments of Distinguishing the View......Page 90 1. Identifying the student to whom reality is taught......Page 94 2. The state of reality......Page 95 3. Relating the above to the scriptures to inspire confidence......Page 105 CHAPTER SIX THE PATH Introduction to the Tantras......Page 109 The practice of vajrayāna......Page 111 Vajrayāna in Tibet......Page 114 Introducing the Tantras......Page 115 2. Subdivisions......Page 118 1. The basis for the divisions......Page 125 3. Identifying their number......Page 126 4. The significance of names......Page 128 1. The definition of the vehicle of the perfections......Page 129 2. The definition of the secret mantra......Page 136 CHAPTER SEVEN PRAYER Liturgy of the Sixteen Elders......Page 144 Aspects of ritual......Page 145 How the practice works......Page 148 Visualizing the pure realm......Page 150 Invitation......Page 151 Prayer to the sixteen elders......Page 153 Offerings......Page 157 Rejoicing......Page 158 Dedication......Page 159 Dedication of merit......Page 160 Prayer for auspiciousness......Page 161 Biography in Tibetan Buddhism......Page 163 The life of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo......Page 165 Meditation and visions......Page 167 The outer biography......Page 170 The inner biography......Page 174 The secret biography......Page 175 Conclusion......Page 177 Previous lives......Page 178 Colophon......Page 179 NOTES......Page 181 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 193 INDEX......Page 202