Perfect Clarity: A Tibetan Buddhist Anthology of Mahamudra and Dzogchen

by Marcia Binder Schmidt (Editor), Erik Pema Kunsang (Translator), Michael Tweed (Contributor)

For practitioners on the paths of Dzogchen and Mahamudra, one of the greatest joys is to personally receive oral instructions from a realized teacher. The excitement of being able to train based on that advice is further enhanced by the stimulation and support that guidance manuals provide. All of the selections presented in Perfect Clarity offer incredible teachings that are inspiring and vital. Pith instructions are so simple and direct that we can easily apply them without fear of mistakes.
These days, the most effective style of teaching is not lengthy scholarly explanations but rather direct guidance manuals The Dzogchen tantras themselves were written in a style that shrouds and conceals the meaning so that only a master who is extremely well-versed in oral instructions and treatises is able to clarify the meaning. On the other hand, based upon oral instructions a guidance manual is a short, comprehensive teaching written in a clear and simple manner. Such summaries of the Mahamudra and Dzogchen teachings contain all the teachings that a worthy practitioner requires to reach the state of primordial enlightenment in this very life.
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

The amazing collection in Perfect Clarity is rounded out by an introduction by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, a preface by Marcia Dechen Wangmo, biographical data of the authors, a glossary, line drawings and photos and Tibetan source material references.

Genres: Buddhism

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Jampa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential pith instructions for practitioners. This book is a jewel in hand. Extraordinary collection. One to keep close to the heart and contemplate for lifetimes. Many thanks.

[Abhishek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of carefully chosen excerpts from the works of various Tibetan masters from the last thousand years. It is expected that the reader will have some passing familiarity with meditation and of the praxis of Dzogchen and Mahamudra. If you do, it's not hard to get into. It striking how practical the advice is, and often, quite straight forward. It's also interesting to contrast Tibetan Buddhism with Srivaishnavism or other Indian traditions, where the object of meditation is not just the breath (as in Theravada), but various demigods, and frequently, one's Guru. One starts the practice by offering supplications to the gods. There's constant emphasis on devotion:

For completely realizing this teaching.
Always concentrate on devotion
To the guru, the Lord of Uddiyana,
And apply your body, speech, and mind to what is virtuous.
- Jamgon Kongtrul

Devotion is more important than scholarship.
- Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Considering that Tilopa and Naropa, Indian monks regarded as pivotal figures in various Tibetan Buddhist lineages, are from Bengal, I would be really interested in a comparative study of the evolution of Vajrayana and Bengal Vaishnavism.

Perfect Clarity is not meant to be read cover-to-cover, though I did exactly that. Consequently, I found it repetitive after a while. The pith of the instructions are always the same, even while being presented in a distinctive manner by different teachers over the centuries. My favourites are the ones from Pema Karpo and Mipham Rinpoche, easiest and most direct for this modern mind to understand. I am not sure why I am still reading books like this though. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche does say at the beginning, "Have you heard of anyone who recognized nondual awareness simply by reading books?" He's probably right.

P.S.: Learnt from the preface that this work was made possible by the Richard Gere Foundation. Hadn't thought of him in years, and didn't realize he was making material contributions to Tibetan culture. Impressed.

[Everett Grandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do You See It

Answer would be... Know. It is formless and rests on your formlessness, you really must let go and let be to embark on this awareness, hear

[Emil Petersen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perfect Clarity? The content of this book was essentially meaningless to me. I'm not going to pretend that I understood the profundities that, supposedly, exist somewhere in this body of teachings.