Help with starting book for the Gelug tradition

[thorvid]

Hi, I am very new to Buddhism, and am looking to read more on the basics of Gelug Buddhism, to see if this is the tradition I want to follow. I've look about here and on the web in general but am confused, as to what would be a good book(s) to start with to give me a good overview of this tradition.

Some help in selecting a good starting point would be much appreciated!

[Caz]

Hi there thorvid

http://www.wisdom-books.com/Subject.asp ... =13&SID=87

Wisdom books do a great selection to read, I would reconmend you have a look through here for some basic gelug books and pick up liberation in the palm of your hand as well this is an essential Lamrim text something that all Gelug practitoners need to practise deeply.

http://www.wisdom-books.com/ProductDeta ... 54&MATCH=1

[dakini_boi]

Also check out fpmt.org and lamayeshe.com for lots of online material.

in particular, you will find many free books here:

http://www.lamayeshe.com/zencart/index. ... 2ce22d7f2f

[Sunyatavadin]

A very clear but short lamrim text is "The Path to Enlightenment," which is the 14th Dalai Lama's commentary on "Essence of Refined Gold," by Sonam Gyatso, the third Dalai Lama. http://www.amazon.com/Path-Enlightenment-Dalai-Lama/dp/1559390328/ref=cm_lmf_tit_24

As mentioned, Phabongkhapa's "Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand" is another very good text in the same genre. It is longer, but it is well worth the read.

Tsongkhapa, the progenitor of the Gelugpas, was very prolific; however, his works are very technical and, in my opinion, not the best option for someone looking for an introduction.

Three other books I would suggest are Geshe Sonam Rinchen's commentary on Atisha's "Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment" as well as two more books from the current Dalai Lama, "For the Benefit of All Beings" and "Practicing Wisdom." Atisha was a Kadampa but his seminal lamrim work is a foundational Gelug text, and Geshe Sonam Rinchen is a Gelugpa as well. The two other books from the Dalai Lama should really be a single volume as they comprise a single, short commentary on Shantideva's "Way of the Bodhisattva."

http://www.amazon.com/Atishas-Enlightenment-Geshe-Sonam-Rinchen/dp/1559390824/ref=cm_lmf_tit_9_russss0
http://www.amazon.com/Benefit-All-Beings-Commentary-Bodhisattva/dp/1590306937/ref=cm_lmf_tit_18_russss0
http://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Wisdom-Holiness-Dalai-Lama/dp/0861711823/ref=cm_lmf_tit_19_russss0

All these works focus mainly on the sutrayana. I am not as familiar with good introductory books on tantra within the Gelug school.

[Dechen Norbu]

Hi thorvid,

You may have more answers in the Gelug school sub forum, so I've moved the topic for your convenience. If you prefer it stays where you originally placed it, feel free to contact a moderator.

Best wishes.

[kerby]

You can gain a wealth of knowledge from the FPMT site and also maybe they have a dharma center near you, if not, they
have on-line studies and classes. Here's their site.
http://www.fpmt.org/


Discovering Buddhism CD's from FPMT are phenomenal. You can even pull up the series on Youtube.
All of the very best to you.