Help with starting book for the Gelug tradition

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thorvid
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Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:55 am

Help with starting book for the Gelug tradition

Post by 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
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Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:49 am

Re: Help with starting book for the Gelug tradition

Post by Caz »

Hi there thorvid

http://www.wisdom-books.com/Subject.asp ... =13&SID=87" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:thumbsup:
Abandoning Dharma is, in the final analysis, disparaging the Hinayana because of the Mahayana; favoring the Hinayana on account of the Mahayana; playing off sutra against tantra; playing off the four classes of the tantras against each other; favoring one of the Tibetan schools—the Sakya, Gelug, Kagyu, or Nyingma—and disparaging the rest; and so on. In other words, we abandon Dharma any time we favor our own tenets and disparage the rest.

Liberation in the Palm of your hand~Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche.
dakini_boi
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Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 1:02 am

Re: Help with starting book for the Gelug tradition

Post by 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" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Sunyatavadin
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Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:10 am

Re: Help with starting book for the Gelug tradition

Post by 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-Enlightenmen ... 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-Enlighten ... _9_russss0
http://www.amazon.com/Benefit-All-Being ... 18_russss0
http://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Wisdom ... 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.
Last edited by Sunyatavadin on Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Dechen Norbu
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Re: Help with starting book for the Gelug tradition

Post by 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. :smile:
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kerby
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Joined: Fri Apr 16, 2010 8:43 am
Location: San Francisco

Re: Help with starting book for the Gelug tradition

Post by 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/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Discovering Buddhism CD's from FPMT are phenomenal. You can even pull up the series on Youtube.
All of the very best to you.
In the land encircled by snow mountains
You are the source of all happiness and good;
All powerful Chenrezig, Tenzin Gyatso,
Please remain until samsara ends.
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