The Life and Teaching of Naropa

by Herbert V. Guenther (Translator)

In the history of Tibetan Buddhism, the eleventh-century Indian mystic Naropa occupies an unusual position, for his life and teachings mark both the end of a long tradition and the beginning of a new and rich era in Buddhist thought. Naropa's biography, translated by the world-renowned Buddhist scholar Herbert V. Guenther from hitherto unknown sources, describes with great psychological insight the spiritual development of this scholar-saint. It is unique in that it also contains a detailed analysis of his teaching that has been authoritative for the whole of Tantric Buddhism. This modern translation is accompanied by a commentary that relates Buddhist concepts to Western analytic philosophy, psychiatry, and depth psychology, thereby illuminating the significance of Tantra and Tantrism for our own time. Yet above all, it is the story of an individual whose years of endless toil and perseverance on the Buddhist path will serve as an inspiration to anyone who aspires to spiritual practice.

Genres: Buddhism, Philosophy, Psychology, Biography, Religion

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Kitap Yakıcı · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this volume, the late Tibetologist and Buddhist philosopher Herbert V. Guenther provides an incredibly dense and erudite translation of and commentary on the traditional account of Naropa, one of the primary figures in the Kagyu lineage of Vajrayana (aka "Tibetan") Buddhism.



According to Wikipedia, Guenther's "work is well known for being difficult to read," and this book is no exception—I made it to page 158 the first time I read it before I ran out of steam, and finished the entirety the second time only through sheer perseverance, or what the Tibetans call brtsong-’grus ("joyful endeavor," "diligence," or "zeal”—the fourth paramita or perfection of the bodhisattva).

One should not assume that "difficult to read" is a synonym for badly written, however; the difficulty of Guenther's prose is instead due to the subtle nature of the material he is translating and interpreting, and also to the fact that he is bringing together two (at least) different systems of philosophy, each with its own technical terminology and finely graded shades of meaning. Frankly it is a testament to Guenther's skill as a writer and educator that a knucklehead like me could wrestle as much understanding from this material as I did!

Despite the challenge it poses to the reader (especially to one without the erudition and knowledge base of Herr Doktor Guenther) this book is an excellent resource for students of Buddhist and comparative philosophy which deserves multiple readings. It provides a translation of the hagiography of Naropa, the scholar-turned-yogi (turned namesake of my alma mater), as well as an appendix in which the original Tibetan account of Naropa's "twelve acts of self-denial" is presented in transliteration. The bulk of the book comprises Guenther's in-depth explication of the philosophy behind the hagiography, which is in turn rooted in his understanding of both contemporary (as of 1963) Western existentialist philosophy and the oral transmission of the tantric philosophical content of Naropa's life and teachings.

At some point, I hope to refresh my memory of the Tibetan language I learned from one of Guenther's graduate advisees, my own mentor Steven D. Goodman, and see what I can make of that appendix. For now, I will content myself with reading more English translations of the lives and teachings of the great lineage holders and putting my modest understandings of these teachings into practice.

[Dawa Zangmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The life and Teaching of Naropa' provides a detailed account of the life and teachings of the renowned Indian Buddhist master, Naropa. Naropa was an important figure in the history of Tibetan Buddhist and was a key teacher in the Kagyu lineage.
The book is divided into two parts. The first part provides a detailed account of Naropa's life, including his early years as a prince, renunciation of his royal status and his journey to India to study under Tilopa. The author provides a rich description of Naropa's spritiual experiences, including his encounter with his master Tilopa and his experiences of meditation and mystical insight.
The second part of the the book focuses on the Naropa's teachings which are based on the "mahamudra" which is a type of meditation focusing on the direct perception of the nature of reality.
This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history and teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.

[Tom Booker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A challenging read that presents a translation of Naropa's biography and a commentary that is informed by Tibetan oral transmission and Western existentialism.

Prior knowledge of Buddhism is essential and of existentialism is ideal.

[Marlene Dehaquiz]

Very difficult to understand, had to reread several times.

[Alfonso José Pizarro Ramírez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es un muy buen libro, pero complicado. Es necesario tener alguna noción de traducciones típicas de sánscrito al tibetano (y, claro, su correspondente en inglés y español), y de la fenomenología de Heidegger. Esto, ya que Guenther hace unas traducciones que, sin esa formación, simplemente no se entiende nada. Yo disfruté mucho tanto la traducción como los comentarios (estos últimos están muy buenos), pero de verdad que no se entiende nada (y de hecho, sólo podría causar confusión) acercarse al texto con un interés introductorio (ya como introducción al budismo o, habiendo sido introducido, a la historia de Naropa, sin manejar los conceptos técnicos de Heidegger).