<p class="MsoNormal">Dzongsar Khyentse is one of the most creative and innovative young Tibetan Buddhist lamas teaching today. The director o...
read full description
reviews
Jun 03, 2008
Dia
rated it: 
When I started this book, I thought, "Oh, cool, a great book for those new to and curious about Buddhism. He's dispelling a lot of common misunderstandings about Buddhism that I don't have but that I know a lot of other people have -- like that we all have to be vegetarians, etc. And he's so charming and knowing and wry. Great book to read then recommend to family."
But as I kept reading, I became more unsettled. DKR discusses the four truths that essentially define Bu More...
But as I kept reading, I became more unsettled. DKR discusses the four truths that essentially define Bu More...
Apr 11, 2007
A title only a Buddhist could truly understand naturally intrigues me...this is on my list to read.
I love the way the title points up the concept that, in our finiteness, we can only really define things by defining what they are not.
That our minds lack the capacity to conceptualize what we truly are, (when we only think of ourselves as our solid and important selves), formless and void, nothing, merely a transitory and conditional movement of energy, that amounts to something as va More...
I love the way the title points up the concept that, in our finiteness, we can only really define things by defining what they are not.
That our minds lack the capacity to conceptualize what we truly are, (when we only think of ourselves as our solid and important selves), formless and void, nothing, merely a transitory and conditional movement of energy, that amounts to something as va More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 14, 2008
Gordon
rated it: 
I love the way this guy cuts right to the point - he's not caught up in teaching a religion. Instead, he talks about the basic observations about existence that the Buddha noted, and the practical implications of those. IMHO, "Buddhism" is a set of instructions for dealing with the situation in the most beneficial way that Siddhartha could come up with at the time - and so I don't know if I exactly agree with the idea that accepting the 4 marks of existence as an accurate depiction o
More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Jul 22, 2011
Angela
rated it:
The phrase that sticks out in my mind from this book is "naked babies missing their sex organs" (he's talking about cherubs in Christian art).
So: hilarious! This is a fresh, witty book that challenges (and even gently mocks) the certain, um, less aware forms of western Buddhism that have developed. Where by "less aware", I mean "Orientalist" and maybe even "ignorant" - but Rinpoche is much too kind to say something so mean. Nonetheless, he DOES More...
So: hilarious! This is a fresh, witty book that challenges (and even gently mocks) the certain, um, less aware forms of western Buddhism that have developed. Where by "less aware", I mean "Orientalist" and maybe even "ignorant" - but Rinpoche is much too kind to say something so mean. Nonetheless, he DOES More...
Dec 18, 2010
Henry
rated it:
A book for young and modern folks to understand Buddha's teachings. What is Buddhism talking about? A 14-year Buddhist myself, I feel it hard to explain in plain English. And my root guru Dzongsar Jamyang Kyentse Rinpoche has made this possible by writing such a book different from any other one introducing Buddhism. By "peeling off" all those outer phenomena often associated with Buddhism in people's mind such as religious rituals and culture trappings, Rinpoche's book finds and demon
More...
Dec 04, 2008
Zachary
rated it: 
Overall, this is a pretty decent introduction to Buddhism that sets aside the individual rituals and moral prescriptions of the various sects to focus on what the author considers the most basic and central teachings of Buddhism. For the most part, I agree with him and enjoyed the book. A few comments:
The author is from a Mahayana sect, but I didn't find any major deviation from Theravada teaching. The Four Seals that Khyentse describe are a Mahayana concept that correspond roughly t More...
The author is from a Mahayana sect, but I didn't find any major deviation from Theravada teaching. The Four Seals that Khyentse describe are a Mahayana concept that correspond roughly t More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 10, 2009
Ymfoo1
rated it:
Very easy to read. Good for anyone. Very practical ideas. 3 key points I learnt to apply to myself:
(1) Nothing is permament (helps learning to let go and not clinging on to something tightly).
(2) All emotions are pain (learn not to be emotional,
particularly at work).
(3) Self does not exist indepedently. (we are are interconnected. learnt to have less "self".
(3)
(1) Nothing is permament (helps learning to let go and not clinging on to something tightly).
(2) All emotions are pain (learn not to be emotional,
particularly at work).
(3) Self does not exist indepedently. (we are are interconnected. learnt to have less "self".
(3)
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 06, 2008
Dan
rated it:
I read the reviews of this book on Amazon as a prelude to writing my own. I think it is both fitting and ironic that those reviewers struggled mightily to describe what they had read.
I would struggle mightily too, if I tried to describe this book.
I'm reminded of a tee shirt in a gift shop here in Tucson that portrayed a cartoon image of the Dalai Lama opening a box presented as a birthday gift. The box contained nothing. He exclaims, "Nothing! Just what I've always w More...
I would struggle mightily too, if I tried to describe this book.
I'm reminded of a tee shirt in a gift shop here in Tucson that portrayed a cartoon image of the Dalai Lama opening a box presented as a birthday gift. The box contained nothing. He exclaims, "Nothing! Just what I've always w More...
0 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Nov 04, 2011
Kayla
rated it:
For those just beginning to contemplate buddhist theology, this book is a bit esoteric. The author explains the "four seals": All things are impermanent. All emotions are pain. All things have no inherent existence. Nirvana is beyond concepts. For me, it clarified a few fine points like that karma is gathered by consciousness...if your conscious self acts out of greed or aggression, negative karma is generated.
"It's time for modern people like ourselves to give some More...
"It's time for modern people like ourselves to give some More...
Sep 05, 2008
Jasmine
rated it:
Okay this book is so short I read it without even adding it to my book list. The book is great it focuses really directly on the four seals. Here are some great things from the book:
"Not just a few Christians and Muslims feel passionate about converting heathens to escape hell-fire and damnation, while the existentialists zealously try to convert the religious into heathens." -44
"Buddha doesn't want Jack to be caught in a personal 'Hell,' but he can't tell More...
"Not just a few Christians and Muslims feel passionate about converting heathens to escape hell-fire and damnation, while the existentialists zealously try to convert the religious into heathens." -44
"Buddha doesn't want Jack to be caught in a personal 'Hell,' but he can't tell More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 24, 2010
Sarah
rated it: 
I read a few chapters but had to stop when my eyes got sore from too much rolling. Too bad you can't choose zero stars. Gratuitous pop culture references, needless trashing of world religions. I know it's not Buddhist to judge-- so hey, I guess he's right!
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 05, 2011
Pedro
rated it:
Venerable Dzongsar Khyentse sounds a little bit angry and anti-west. In fact, he is very anti-democratic and a homophobe for sure. No the best book on Buddhism, but it gets the job done for analyzing the main tenets of the notion of impermanence.
Jan 22, 2010
Mike
rated it:
This book is good for what it is, a discussion about what makes one a Buddhist and what a Buddhist is not. But in the end he says that the realization of Buddhism is Buddhist practice, which he does not really define except in a very general and useless way.
Nov 25, 2011
Elsie
rated it:
Well, being "not a Buddhist", I had the honour of meeting the author Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse for the first time in May 2004, at a lunch hosted by me and friends whom were members of the organising committee for a charity premiere of the movie "Travellers and Magicians" in Singapore. Though to everyone in the team he is to us, Khyentse Rinpoche, he reminded the team that as he is now in the position as director of the movie, that we should just address him as Director Khyent
More...
Nov 07, 2011
Steve
rated it:
This is a great little book. it is very clear and presents some of the most daunting concepts of Buddhist thought in a way that anyone can understand. It addresses the essence of what it is to be a Buddhist in practice; what that means to the way we conduct out life. It's a terrific introduction that may whet the appetite for something more orthodox. Even if a reader goes no further, a serious consideration of what is being put in this book could fundamentally alter the quality of the experience
More...
Jul 01, 2008
Melinda
rated it:
The basic four truths are delightfully delivered in this book along with plenty of pop-cultural references which make it easily to digest. Similar to his films, Khyentse illustrates the point that modern Buddhism is not about self-denial and suffering. His emphasis lies instead on emptiness, which I feel is one of the most difficult concepts to comprehend.
A point constantly driven home throughout the book is that Siddhartha was just a man. This along with an excellent chapter on nir More...
A point constantly driven home throughout the book is that Siddhartha was just a man. This along with an excellent chapter on nir More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 23, 2011
Brandon
rated it:
This short, concise book simply rocks! Incredible introductory Buddhist book for anyone with even the slightest interest of understanding Buddhism. Must read.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 21, 2010
Ronny
rated it:
An excellent alternate take on what Buddhism is. Rather than go through the 4 Noble Truths as many books do, the book instead covers the 4 seals, which I think are very useful for those who are interested in practice.
I would have liked the book to go into more depth about some of these seals, especially the one stating that all emotions lead to pain.
The book doesn't really talk much about what makes a person not a Buddhist, although it justifies its title at the begin
I would have liked the book to go into more depth about some of these seals, especially the one stating that all emotions lead to pain.
The book doesn't really talk much about what makes a person not a Buddhist, although it justifies its title at the begin
Mar 16, 2010
Lynn
rated it:
Khyentse effectively demystifies Buddhism, scrapes away Western misconceptions, and lays out the structure of this philosophy in clear, eloquent terms.
May 23, 2009
Petunia
rated it:
There was a lot of essential information in this book. Once again, I will probably have to go back and reread to make sure I get the concepts.
Jul 04, 2011
Jayalexn
rated it:
Readable, insightful, and provides practical thoughts/ideas worthy of further contemplation for Buddhists and non-Buddhists, alike.
Sep 14, 2011
Dharma Bum
rated it:
One of the great books of Buddhism that strips away a lot of the cultural and pop garbage that has accumulated around it.
Jan 07, 2011
Chris
rated it:
He outlines great stories of Buddhist culture and really why it is hard to truly be a Buddhist.
Jul 19, 2010
Jackie Jia
rated it:
It does clarify many Buddhist concepts for me, but I don't always find the jokes funny.
Jul 23, 2009
Erin
rated it:
Sometimes the translation is really poor, but the teaching is good. eye opening!
Jul 28, 2011
Brendan
rated it: 
Just ok. Quick read so not too much of an investment in time. Why not?
Sep 27, 2011
Willow
rated it:
I lOVED this book!
I finally found the book I would want to have if I get stuck on an island!
I finally found the book I would want to have if I get stuck on an island!
Jul 27, 2011
Need to read it more than once to get the complete meaning
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
