The Bodhisattva Path of Wisdom and Compassion: The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume Two

Description

The essential teachings on the bodhisattva path of wisdom and compassion, presented here in volume two of Ch gyam Trungpa's magnum opus, which offers a systematic overview of the entire path of Tibetan Buddhism. The second volume presents the bodhisattva teachings of the mahayana. At this point, having trained and seen the benefits of looking within, the student begins to shift their focus outward to the broader world. Formal entry into the mahayana occurs with taking the bodhisattva vow. Mahayana practitioners dedicate themselves to the service of all sentient beings, aspiring to save them from sorrow and confusion, and vowing to bring them to perfect liberation. This stage of the path emphasizes the cultivation of wisdom through the view and experience of emptiness, or shunyata, in which all phenomena are seen to be unbounded, completely open, ungraspable, and profound. From the ground of shunyata, compassionate activity is said to arise naturally and spontaneously. In addition to mindfulness and awareness, the mahayanist practices lojong, or "mind training," based on the cultivation of the paramitas, or "transcendent virtues"- generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and prajna, or "knowledge." As a component of lojong, tonglen, or "sending and taking," is practiced in order to increase maitri, or loving-kindness. The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma represents meditation master Ch gyam Trungpa's greatest contribution to Western Buddhism. This three-volume collection presents in lively, relevant language the comprehensive teachings of the Tibetan Buddhist path of the hinayana, mahayana, and vajrayana. This work will resonate with new students of Buddhism as well as the most senior students. Topics covered in detail in this volume include- Bodhichitta Loving-kindness, or maitri Compassion, or karuna Skillful means, or upaya Buddha nature and basic goodness The four limitless ones Bodhisattva vows Emptiness, or shunyata Madhyamaka Relative truth and ultimate truth Prajna The paramitas Lojong training Tonglen meditation The ten bhumis Dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, and nirmanakaya And more

h gyam Trungpa (1940-1987)-meditation master, teacher, and artist-founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, the first Buddhist-inspired university in North America; the Shambhala Training program; and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books including Shambhala- The Sacred Path of the Warrior, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, and The Myth of Freedom.

"The compassionate heart of my teacher, the Vidyadhara, Choegyam Trungpa Rinpoche, shines through in this, his articulation of the entire Buddhist path. He never lost sight of the fact that every aspect of the teaching is about nothing else than the freedom of awakening-and his great gift is that he never lets any of us lose sight of that either."-Pema Choedroen "One of the most remarkable and brilliant teachers of modern times."-Jack Kornfield "Choegyam Trungpa Rinpoche had a particular genius in presenting the Dharma to Western audiences. . . . These volumes display the far-reaching goodness that can be created in the world when compassion and devotion come together."-H.H. the Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje "With the publication of The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, these seminary transcripts have taken birth as three user-friendly volumes, beautifully arranged and elegantly edited without losing the author's intention or voice. The volumes offer a glimpse of the heart teachings of the Vidyadhara, given to his students over several years with his uniquely provocative and meticulous style, enhanced by his knowledge of Western epistomology and psychology."-Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Buddhadharma