Journey to Certainty: The Quintessence of the Dzogchen View: An Exploration of Mipham's Beacon of Certainty

by Anyen Rinpoche, Allison Choying Zangmo (Editor)

Overview

Approachable yet sophisticated, this book takes the reader on a gently guided tour of one of the most important texts Tibetan Buddhism has to offer. "Certainty" in this context refers to the unshakeable trust that develops as meditators discover for themselves the true root of reality. In this authoritative presentation, master teacher Anyen Rinpoche opens wide the storehouse of this richly philosophical text in a way that lets readers of all backgrounds easily benefit.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781614290179
Publisher:	Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date:	06/12/2012
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	248
File size:	456 KB

About the Author

Anyen Rinpoche was born in Amdo, Tibet. His lineage can be traced back directly to the renowned Dzogchen master Patrul Rinpoche, author of Words of My Perfect Teacher. Anyen Rinpoche's training included more than fourteen years of intensive study combined with solitary retreat before he obtained the degree of khenpo (master teacher) and became the head scholar of his monastic university in Kham, Tibet. Rinpoche is known for his profound understanding of the scriptures as well as his easy-to-understand interpretation of them. He has taught extensively in Tibet and China and now mentors students throughout Southeast Asia, Japan and North America.

Allison Choying Zangmo is a student of Anyen Rinpoche and his root master, Tsara Dharmakirti Rinpoche. She has been studying Tibetan language and Buddhism under Anyen Rinpoche's personal guidance for the past ten years. She is Anyen Rinpoche's personal translator for both Dharma talks and textual translations. She lives in Denver, Colorado.

Table of Contents

Introducing Certainty

Chapter 1 Introducing Mipham Rinpoche's Beacon of Certainty 1

Chapter 2 The Introductory Sections 15

Chapter 3 Introducing the Seven Questions 27

Exploring Certainty through the Seven Questions

Chapter 4 The First Question-Do you explain the view according to an affirming negative or a nonaffirming negative? 35

Chapter 5 The Second Question-Do shravaka and pratyeka arhats realize both the selflessness of phenomena and the selflessness of the individual? 63

Chapter 6 The Third Question-When abiding in the unborn, ultimate nature, is conceptual grasping present or not? 85

Chapter 7 The Fourth Question-Which is best: analytical meditation or actual abiding? 109

Chapter 8 The Fifth Question-Of the two truths, which is most important? 129

Chapter 9 The Sixth Question-Is the perception of sentient beings based upon common objects? 153

Chapter 10 The Seventh Question-In our own tradition of Madhyamaka, is any position taken? 175

Chapter 11 Concluding the Text 217

Index 225

About the Author 235

Editorial Reviews

"Anyen Rinpoche flawlessly presents the reader with the unique perspective that belongs to a true scholar-yogi: that the most essential insights within the Buddha’s teachings—be they of the Middle Way, Prajnaparamita, or Dzogchen—are not only mutually supportive and without any conflict, but describe the same nature of reality. A must-read for philosophers and practitioners." —Erik Pema Kunsang, author of Wellsprings of the Great Perfection and compiler of Blazing Splendor

"This book beautifully demonstrates the profound unity of study and practice at heart of Tibetan Dzogchen tradition. Remarkably accessible, this book is essential reading for anyone attempting to understand or practice Dzogchen today." —John Makransky, author of Awakening Through Love

“In the rich Tibetan tradition of oral commentary, Anyen Rinpoche draws from personal experience and deep understanding to breathe fresh life into Mipham Rinpoche’s classic.” —Douglas Duckworth, author of Mipam on Buddha-Nature

"This is a wonderful manual for dedicated practitioners to study and contemplate."—Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche

“A book that adds a most important aspect to the discovery of Mipham Rinpoche's original, genial understanding of the dharma, for it expounds quite clearly his approach to and explanation of Dzogchen. It is definitely a must for anyone interested in the topic!”—Elías Capriles, University of The Andes

From the Publisher

"This book beautifully demonstrates the profound unity of study and practice at heart of Tibetan Dzogchen tradition. Remarkably accessible, this book is essential reading for anyone attempting to understand or practice Dzogchen today."

John Makransky

"Anyen Rinpoche flawlessly presents the reader with the unique perspective that belongs to a true scholar-yogi: that the most essential insights within the Buddha's teachings—be they of the Middle Way, Prajnaparamita, or Dzogchen—are not only mutually supportive and without any conflict, but describe the same nature of reality. A must-read for philosophers and practitioners."

Erik Pema Kunsang

"In the rich Tibetan tradition of oral commentary, Anyen Rinpoche draws from personal experience and deep understanding to breathe fresh life into Mipham Rinpoche's classic."

Douglas Duckworth

"This is a wonderful manual for dedicated practitioners to study and contemplate."

Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche

"A book that adds a most important aspect to the discovery of Mipham Rinpoche's original, genial understanding of the dharma, for it expounds quite clearly his approach to and explanation of Dzogchen. It is definitely a must for anyone interested in the topic!"

Elías Capriles