The True Source of Healing: How the Ancient Tibetan Practice of Soul Retrieval Can Transform and Enrich YourLife

by Tenzin Wangyal

Drawing from the practices of Tibetan Bön Buddhism, a meditation teacher offers tools for self-healing and unlocking your most authentic nature

In The True Source of Healing , meditation teacher Tenzin Wangyal introduces powerful practices to help you connect deeply with your authentic nature and heal your soul, so you can lead a more joyful and fulfilling life. Drawing on traditional soul retrieval teachings of Tibetan Bön Buddhism, Tenzin Wangyal offers practical guidance for overcoming feelings of disconnection and dissatisfaction, and reawakening your inherent creativity, playfulness, and sense of ease. Done daily, these transformative practices can help

• Overcome difficult life challenges
• Clear negative emotions and cultivate positive qualities
• Revitalize your personal and professional relationships
• Feel more engaged and productive at work
• Experience healing on all levels—physical, emotional, energetic
• Bring happiness and well-being to others

Using the meditations and informal practices in the book, you’ll learn how to tap into the healing power of nature as well as your own capacity for self-healing.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Health, Self Help, Spirituality

160 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 2015

About the author

Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche (བསྟན་འཛིན་དབང་རྒྱལ་ bstan 'dzin dbang rgyal) is a teacher (lama) of the Bön Tibetan religious tradition. He is presently based in the United States of America, where he founded the Ligmincha Institute in 1992 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, in order "to preserve the ancient teachings, transmissions and practices of the Bön Buddhist tradition."

The degree of "Geshe" is the highest academic achievement of traditional Tibetan culture, roughly equivalent to a Doctorate in Divinity; it's use in names is similar to that of the Western "Doctor." Similarly, "Rinpoche" is an honorific, meaning "Precious one," frequently bestowed on respected teachers.

Reviews

[Lorilin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The basic premise of The True Source of Healing is that our souls are made up of five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space), and these elements need to be balanced if we want to be healed, whole people. In more practical terms, being balanced in earth means you feel grounded and connected, being balanced in water means you feel comfortable and fluid, being balanced in fire means you feel joy and inspiration, being balanced in air means you are flexible, and being balanced in space means you are open and accommodating. If you are out of balance in any one element, you are out of balance in all elements. But if you balance that one element, it may bring into balance all of the others.

You can become unbalanced for many different reasons: unhealed trauma, war, the sudden death of a loved one, or sometimes you just gradually become unbalanced from the accumulated stress of everyday life. The important thing is that you actually notice–because once you know you are “off,” then you can begin to change it.

But Rinpoche warns about trying to “think” your way out of your problems. Instead, he advocates a different kind of approach–one that focuses on stillness, silence, and spaciousness. In order to heal yourself, Rinpoche suggests acting like a gracious host to negative emotions and painful experiences. He says, “Allow your guests [your pain and negative thoughts] to come as they are, stay as long as they wish, leave when they’re ready, and even return…Allow the pain to freely arise, abide, and dissolve.”

“Stillness, silence, and spaciousness” is a theme repeated many times over in this book. Actually, a lot of this book is repetition. Normally that would irk me, but not here. The book becomes a meditation in and of itself and helps reinforce soothing ideas. And because those main ideas are repeated again and again, I finished reading the book and felt like I genuinely understood how to help myself. I’ve been embracing the painful feelings I’ve been holding on to; I’ve been trying to accept them and then let them go. Instead of dwelling on negativity or trying to “figure out my mood,” I’ve been shifting my attention and focus to (what else?) still, silent space. And, amazingly, it has actually been working for me. (FYI, I found the guided meditations in Chapters 5 and 6 [“Finding the Friend Within” and “Nourishing Your Inner Being”] to be especially helpful.)

Ultimately, I really connected with The True Source of Healing. Maybe I am just in a place that needed to hear Rinpoche’s message, but his words spoke to me. Maybe not everyone will respond to this book the way I have, but it is such a short, quick read–it really doesn’t require a huge time investment. And, who knows, maybe it will help you find a little peace.

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼]

THE TRUE SOURCE OF HEALING is a short volume but not necessarily a simple one. I think anytime someone writes about thinking and the soul that it can be difficult to assimilate the information.

My own approach to books like this is to explore the philosophy and if I understand it and if it makes sense to me, I incorporate it into my world view. I learned things from this book and it provided me with things to think about but I failed to connect with the book. I would read and re-read some sections and my brain shed the words like a duck's back sheds water. It was almost as if it was explained on too simple a level. The examples too targeted for those with particular problems.

Upon reflecting upon the elements I just didn't see the connection to myself or the logic of them and the proposed solutions.

[Taylor Ellwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the pages of this book you will find the keys to unlocking your awareness and ability to be present with yourself. While this book is a quick read, the work is anything but and I recommend doing an initial reading, just to read the book, and then do a second reading, where you go slower, and work through the exercises. By doing this you'll be present with the lessons of the book in a deeper way and get more from it. Tenzin approaches this work in a careful, measured manner that helps you discover your inner resources and liberates you from your inner demons. There is also an audio meditation that you can download with the book, which is helpful for doing the work. The wisdom and teachings in this book helped me a lot, but giving it a second reading was what really made the most impact.

[Clark R Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit repetitive but overall great

Coming back and sitting with self is the most important of messages in this book. Allowing events and emotions to take place is what ultimately leads to growth is the message here.

[Ariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing

[Christine Zibas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This small but powerful book offers a guide to the resources within, based on ancient Tibetan Bon Buddhist principles. Each chapter deals with an aspect of reaching within yourself to find a balanced and fulfilled life, based on "retrieving your soul." In essence, Author Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche demonstrates how readers can access the three essential gifts of silence, stillness, and spaciousness.

In addition, the author offers a guided mediation on "Retrieving by Taking Inner Refuge" via an online video (with the user code provided in his text). Each chapter ends with a guided meditation, providing both practical and spiritual instruction.

Despite some Tibetan terminology, the book is easy to follow. For those who practice meditation or are interested in learning to apply the technique to deal with either psychological or physical pain, this is very straightforward book to follow. The imagery suggested by the author is easy to apply, and his instructions are clear.

While some may feel that "retrieving your soul" may be some woo-woo stuff, rest assured that what the author means by this is simply returning to your true self, your essence. Losing your soul is letting life's circumstances draw you away from that knowledge. Finding your way back through nature and meditation simply requires some time and commitment...a very small price to pay indeed.

[Merel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book except the part about pain and illnesses. I do believe there are different ways to ease pain with acceptance and love but sometimes it is not really up to you or about your attitude. Spiritual books and traditions tend to make it seem like it was easy and about your decision while people who live with chronic pain and illnesses know it is not that easy at all or even possible at all times.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tibet is not only an appalling theocracy, the scammers from there can also sell you any sorts of mysticism you might care to buy. And it works, all famous Hollywood actors were blessed by the Holy Dalai Lama and their incomes have went up and their taxes have went down right after making a money donation for the spirits or something.

[Johnny Cordova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was at the Singapore National Library looking for a copy of Tenzin Wangyal's The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep, and found this book instead. It's a short book, but full of deep, ancient wisdom. I liked it so much I think I will purchase a copy to add to my collection.

[Andre Vaillancourt · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK

[Jenks Van de Voorde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of repetition but a few great new insights for me

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes a book comes along at the perfect time, and this one has been that and more. Very practical and easy to read, I found this book to be helpful and useful.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meditation and mindfulness practices are something that I know I can benefit from, but finding information suitable for my absolute novice status can be a challenge. This book is a great start. It is simple and easy to read, and is presented in fairly uncomplicated problem/answer format.

The book is based on tradition Bon Buddhism, and centers around the "three precious pills" - stillness, silence, and spaciousness. It also discusses the five elements (air, water, earth, space, and fire), their associated qualities, and how to figure out if you have too little or too much of any of them.

The book includes formal/informal meditation practices to go along with each chapter, and it recommends that people do - to start - 30 minutes of meditation, eventually bumping up to 30 minutes, twice a day. For someone new like me, I think that will be a bit much to start off with. Actually, I think my goal will be 30 minutes, and I will start with 10. However, as part of the book, there is also a guided meditation that can be downloaded to assist with the path to healing prescribed by the book.

Overall, I look forward to going back and using the book as a guide to working on beginning my own mindfulness practice.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting take on meditation, even more than that, soul retrieval. It was nice to read again about the impact of nature on the soul and how important it is, not only to get out, but to do so without a goal. So many people get caught up in a certain number of miles or a certain time rather than relaxing and opening to nature.
Read about this book on MindBodyGreen and it definitely could fit with question 4.

[Gustavo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good book to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism, with some useful lessons. However I would like it had more detailed step for the meditations practice