Recommend To Me Your Favorite Dzogchen Book

[Mr. G]

Objective reviews for Dzogchen books can be tough to find, and every Dzogchen book review on Amazon.com is always 4.5 - 5 stars.

So what do you all recommend?

[Josef]

The Practice of Dzogchen by Longchen Rabjam trans. by Tulku Thondup Rinpoche

Buddhahood Without Meditation by Dudjom Lingpa

and
If you are authorized to buy it; The Yeshe Lama by Jigme Lingpa that Snow Lion publishes as a restricted text.

[Pema Rigdzin]

Aside from the ones Nangwa mentioned, which are beyond excellent, I also like Tsoknyi Rinpoche's "Fearless Simplicity" and "Quintessential Dzogchen," which is a collection of Dzogchen teachings by various masters, including Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Shakya Shri, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Tsele Natsok Rangdrol, and so on.

Of all the texts mentioned so far, the Yeshe Lama is the most complete presentation of Dzogchen from A - Z, but of course as Nangwa indicated, one needs to have received the Yeshe Lama empowerments and the lung of the text, and it's really something to receive in depth, thorough teachings on rather than self-study alone. One would really profit from it the most by also going on to do retreat on the Khorde Rushen practices in a complete way according to the lineage before then being guided through the main practices. That's the way Yeshe Lama is practiced according to its own lineage.

[Sönam]

To those proposed, with The Practice of Dzogchen ahead ... there is the serie "The Seven Treasuries" of Longchen Rabjam, and specailly "The Way of Abiding"

Sönam

[Sönam]

and we all forgot The Supreme Source, Kunjed Gyalpo, proposed by ChNN

[Luke]

I found "Heart Drops of Dharmakaya: Dzogchen Practice of the Bon Tradition" quite amazing, but I don't practice Dzogchen, so my opinions in this area don't matter very much. I also enjoy any book by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche.

[Mr. G]

Thanks for the recommendations everyone. Looks like I've got some reading to do.

[Mr. G]

Of all the texts mentioned so far, the Yeshe Lama is the most complete presentation of Dzogchen from A - Z, but of course as Nangwa indicated, one needs to have received the Yeshe Lama empowerments and the lung of the text, and it's really something to receive in depth, thorough teachings on rather than self-study alone. One would really profit from it the most by also going on to do retreat on the Khorde Rushen practices in a complete way according to the lineage before then being guided through the main practices. That's the way Yeshe Lama is practiced according to its own lineage.

Hi Pema Rigdzin,

Is this empowerment given often?

[Pema Rigdzin]

It doesn't seem like it is. It actually includes 2 or more empowerments and lengthy pointing out instructions and supporting teachings that are given at appropriate places during the course of teaching practically the whole manual, so it's somewhat time consuming... Like, probably no less than 5 days. Maybe that explains why it's not given very frequently. I know Yangthang Rinpoche gave it in like 2007 at Tashi Choling in Southern Oregon, and a lama whose name escapes me apparently gave it at Tsultrim Allione's main retreat center a few yrs ago. If it's been given more than those times in recent yrs, it wasn't publicized very well. Maybe you could request it from Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. It would be extremely worth your while.

[Mr. G]

It doesn't seem like it is. It actually includes 2 or more empowerments and lengthy pointing out instructions and supporting teachings that are given at appropriate places during the course of teaching practically the whole manual, so it's somewhat time consuming... Like, probably no less than 5 days. Maybe that explains why it's not given very frequently. I know Yangthang Rinpoche gave it in like 2007 at Tashi Choling in Southern Oregon, and a lama whose name escapes me apparently gave it at Tsultrim Allione's main retreat center a few yrs ago. If it's been given more than those times in recent yrs, it wasn't publicized very well. Maybe you could request it from Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. It would be extremely worth your while.

Thanks Pema, I will look into it.

[Josef]

Of all the texts mentioned so far, the Yeshe Lama is the most complete presentation of Dzogchen from A - Z, but of course as Nangwa indicated, one needs to have received the Yeshe Lama empowerments and the lung of the text, and it's really something to receive in depth, thorough teachings on rather than self-study alone. One would really profit from it the most by also going on to do retreat on the Khorde Rushen practices in a complete way according to the lineage before then being guided through the main practices. That's the way Yeshe Lama is practiced according to its own lineage.

Hi Pema Rigdzin,

Is this empowerment given often?

The complete rigpai tsal wang isnt given very often.
Its a pretty unique empowerment.
Norbu Rinpoche gives the first part (the pointing out ) in many of his webcasts.

[Mr. G]

The complete rigpai tsal wang isnt given very often.
Its a pretty unique empowerment.
Norbu Rinpoche gives the first part (the pointing out ) in many of his webcasts.

Hi Nangwa,

I'll have to check as to whether I've received it now as I haven't taken a webcast in many years and am not sure if he gave it at the retreat I went to.

Does this first part allow me to view the book?

[Josef]

The complete rigpai tsal wang isnt given very often.
Its a pretty unique empowerment.
Norbu Rinpoche gives the first part (the pointing out ) in many of his webcasts.

Does this first part allow me to view the book?

I dont think so.
I do know that some students of his have purchased the book, but I dont know their individual histories.
Since Norbu Rinpoche doesnt teach Togal publicly I dont think webcast students are authorized to purchase the book.
Its best to get the Rigpai tsal wang in person and in its complete form before studying the Yeshe Lama.

[Mr. G]

OK, thanks Nangwa!

[Heruka]

dzogchen is not a book......lol

it is your real nature.



so i recommend you greet your real nature, and not a book.

make contact with authentic spiritual friend.

[Pema Rigdzin]

Heruka,

Mr. Gordo has a Dzogchen lama and has received the pointing out from him. I don't believe he's trying to, or expecting to, "get Dzogchen from a book." It's not as though it's pointless to study texts treating Dzogchen, otherwise there would be no Dzogchen tantras and masters like Longchenpa wouldn't have wasted their time composing things like the 7 Treasuries. Mr Gordo just wanted to know what requirements there were to study the Yeshe Lama text.

[narraboth]

Heruka,

Mr. Gordo has a Dzogchen lama and has received the pointing out from him. I don't believe he's trying to, or expecting to, "get Dzogchen from a book." It's not as though it's pointless to study texts treating Dzogchen, otherwise there would be no Dzogchen tantras and masters like Longchenpa wouldn't have wasted their time composing things like the 7 Treasuries. Mr Gordo just wanted to know what requirements there were to study the Yeshe Lama text.

It's always tricky about reading Dzogchen books.
In one tradition (actually the mainstream tradition: Patrul Rinpoche-Nyushu Longdor-Khenpo Ngawang), it's almost forbidden for beginners to read Dzogchen books, even they have received Dzogchen empowerment and Lung. Once someone got the instruction, firstly he should go for retreat for months or years, and then come back to check if it fits the book. If you know what might happen in advance, you might have expectings and worries, which are very bad for Dzogchen practice.
But nowadays people know more and want to know even more; actually people know much about Dzogchen before they receive Dzogchen... Some lama said 'yes, you can read'... maybe that's also a way when people already know part of it. Maybe it's still worse to know particially and think 'hmm, i know a lot'.

[Pema Rigdzin]

It's always tricky about reading Dzogchen books.
In one tradition (actually the mainstream tradition: Patrul Rinpoche-Nyushu Longdor-Khenpo Ngawang), it's almost forbidden for beginners to read Dzogchen books, even they have received Dzogchen empowerment and Lung. Once someone got the instruction, firstly he should go for retreat for months or years, and then come back to check if it fits the book. If you know what might happen in advance, you might have expectings and worries, which are very bad for Dzogchen practice.
But nowadays people know more and want to know even more; actually people know much about Dzogchen before they receive Dzogchen... Some lama said 'yes, you can read'... maybe that's also a way when people already know part of it. Maybe it's still worse to know particially and think 'hmm, i know a lot'.

Well, this can tend to be very true. I think people who have not yet had the opportunity to do in depth, guided retreat on the Dzogchen teachings they've received (particularly retreat on the outer, inner, and secret Khorde Rushen) need to examine their minds and determine if they're likely to have that habit of holding onto to concepts/expectations/assumptions/conclusions before deciding whether or not to read such texts. Or they could simply have the discipline to only study the portion of the text explaining how to do the particular practice they're currently working on to clarify and refresh their understanding.

In the end, hopefully all people seriously interested in Dzogchen can have the opportunity - and will try to create the opportunity - to engage in the transmissions and instructions they've received with qualified guidance in a retreat setting. I hope anyone reading this for whom that's not a possibility right now doesn't get the wrong idea or become discouraged. Of course, until that time, one can always be training as best one can and making progress. Guided retreat, particularly on the Rushens, is just the optimal context.

[Heruka]

I hope anyone reading this for whom that's not a possibility right now doesn't get the wrong idea or become discouraged. Of course, until that time, one can always be training as best one can and making progress. Guided retreat, particularly on the Rushens, is just the optimal context.

Dear pema and naraboth-la's,

you are both correct, It makes for discussion traffic is all.

[Pero]

Objective reviews for Dzogchen books can be tough to find, and every Dzogchen book review on Amazon.com is always 4.5 - 5 stars.

So what do you all recommend?

My favourite is The Crystal And The Way Of Light, it's easy to read and easy to understand. Recently I've been thinking of reading it for the 3rd or 4th time.

Other than that, one of the best books I've read, if not the best other book, was Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's Primordial Purity. I'm not sure it counts because it's restriced unless you've had direct introduction. You can get it at Namse Bangdzo Bookstore.

I've read most of Dudjom Rinpoche's Buddhahood Without Meditation but throughout I had a strong impression it's not really a book to just read but also practice. Actually I felt kind of like I'm reading about how to do a practice haha. So I put it down to read another time when I'll put it to more practical use. Though I think it can still clarify some points.

Another book that I though was amazing is Dilgo Khyentse's Crystal Cave. I've had a chance to look at it when I was in Yeselling (Austrian Ling of DC). It's a actually a collection of various teachings. I think I remember one member of E-Sangha saying it was mind blowing and after reading parts of it I could see why he thought that way. They sell it at Rangjung Yeshe but unfortunatelly, this one is restricted even more. Not only do you need direct introduction but also need finished preliminaries.

At the same time I saw Flight of the Garuda translated by Erik Pema Kunsang (I think the former too). It's also been translated by Keith Dowman, however the impression I got from looking at excerpts was that Erik's is much better. Unfortunatelly this one too is restricted in the same way.