Atisha's Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment

by Geshe Sonam Rinchen, Ruth Sonam (Translator)

A key resource for modern-day Tibetan Buddhists, this lucid and engaging commentary distills the age-old wisdom of Atisha's celebrated overview of the Buddhist pathAtisha, the eleventh-century Indian Buddhist scholar and saint, came to Tibet at the invitation of the king of Western Tibet, Lha Lama Yeshe Wo, and his nephew, Jangchub Wo. His coming initiated the period of the second transmission of Buddhism to Tibet, formative for the Sakya Kagyu and Gelug traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Atisha's most celebrated text, Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, sets forth the entire Buddhist path within the framework of three levels of motivation on the part of the practitioner. Atisha's text thus became the source of the lamrim tradition, or graduated stages of the path to enlightenment, an approach to spiritual practice incorporated within all schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Philosophy, Religion, Nonfiction

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Gerardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

(IN SPANISH BELOW)

Very concise (68 verses) yet extremely wonderful summary and explanation of the whole Path to Enlightenment by one of the foremost Indian masters, Atisha, deeply revered for re-introducing Buddhism in Tibet after the first wave of teachings had decayed.

The original text, along with the commentary, notes and translation of Geshe Sonam Rinchen and Ruth Sonam provide a great overview of both the exoteric (paramitayana) and the Esoteric (tantrayana) Mahayana path to enlightenment. The commentary provides insightful explanations about everything Atisha mentions, while the notes by Ruth Sonam dispel any trace of doubt or curiosity about the historical context, the metaphysical terms or the Tibetan terminology that might have been left. The original text in itself is amazing by how it synthesizes the spiritual path from beginning to end in such a short length: the three different approaches to the practice, developing bodhicitta and the bodhisattva bow, the need to develop mental stability (and the associated powers that come from it) and wisdom, both in its philosophical aspects (ascertaining the need to study the Madhyamika-Prasangika school views on emptiness) aswell as the contemplative way to realizing them experientially - including, at the end, the requisites and benefits of practicing the Vajra vehile.

A wonderful text without any doubt. I would really recommend this volume to Mahayana, and especially Tibetan-oriented, Buddhist practicioners who already have some knowledge and experience about the path and its basic aspects, and want to know about one of the seminal texts that contributed to the formation of the Sakya, Kagyu and Gelug schools (especially the latter one, since Je Tsongkhapa's Lam Rim is extensively based on Atisha's work).


Un resumen y explicación muy concisos (68 estrofas), aunque maravillosos, del Camino hacia la Iliminación por uno de los más importantes maestros indios, Atisha, reverencialmente apreciado por reintroducir el Budismo en Tibet después de que la primera ola de enseñanzas hubiera decaído.

El texto original, junto con el comentario, notas y traducción de Geshe Sonam Rinchen y Ruth Sonam dan una gran visión de conjunto del camino Mahayana hacia la iluminación, tanto exotérico (paramatiyana) como del esotérico (tantrayana). El comentario da explicaciones profundas de todo lo que Atisha menciona, mientras que las notas de Ruth Sonam disipan cualquier duda o curiosidad que pudiera quedar sobre el contexto histórico, los términos metafísicos o la terminología Tibetana utilizada. El texto original, en sí, es increíble por cómo sintetiza el camino espiritula de principio a fin en tan poco espacio: las tres diferentes aproximaciones a la práctica, desarrollar bodhicitta y el voto de bodhisattva, la necesidad de deasrrollar estabilidad mental (y los poderes asociados que vienen de ello), y la sabiduría, tanto en sus aspectos filosóficos (afirmando la necesidad de estudiar la visión de la vacuidad dde la escuela Madhyamika-Prasangika), así com ode la manera contemplativa de realizarlas de manera experiencial - incluyendo, al final, los requisitois y beneficios de practicar el vehículo Vajra.

Un texto maravilloso sin ninguna duda. Lo recomendaría a practicantes de Budismo Mahayana, y especialmente a aquellos orientados a la práctica de su vertiente Tibetana, que quieran saber sobre uno de los textos seminales que contribuyeron a la formación de las escuelas Sakya, Kagyu y Gelug (especialmente de esta última, ya que el Lam Rim de Je Tsongkhapa'está basado extensamente este trabajo de Atisha).

[Craig Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

As is often the case with classical Buddhist texts, I found Atisha--who lived in the 11th century and is celebrated for bringing crucial teaching to Tibet--alternately enlightening and borderline impenetrable, which probably means I should just relax a bit, smile. In this case, the dividing line was fairly clear: when Atisha and the commentator shift from the emphasis on sutra to the emphasis on tantra, I lose the thread. The book consists of the 69 verses of Atisha's original teaching supplemented by commentary from a writer who's part of Atisha's spiritual line. The last ten or so verses on the tantra veer off into highly mystical atmospheres, working around more than into questions involving various stages of initiation which are simply beyond my grasp. Prior to that, I found a great deal to think on, especially involving the dynamics of appearance/illusion. Not the place to start with Buddhism, but recommended for those who have done some groundwork.

[Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times straight forward (here's how to practice and what to meditate on), at other times very difficult to understand. There is a long section on form/emptiness which reads very much like Nagarjuna. 'The Lamp' is a key Mahayana text. I lean more towards the Theravada, though I'm glad I read it.

[Logan Streondj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty short little article, has some good stuff, though a bit vague.
Apparently formed the basis of many Tibetan paths to enlightenment,
I look forward to reading the expanded editions.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in Tibetan Buddhism this book is one of the most fundamental and accessible OG texts out there- definitely a must-read, with beautiful commentary.

[Jim McGurn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I read was The Complete Works of Atisha translated by Richard Sherburne which includes the Lamp. Excellent readable translation and beneficial to get back to the tributaries that lead to so much of the Mahayana teachings.

[Stephen C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this easy to read with very down to earth, practical commentary. Not that I was able to grasp it all, but I came away with a clearing understanding of emptiness and stages of the path. I would highly recommend this.

[EruditeBirdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very powerful and well done.
The translation was easy to follow and thorough.

There is the Tibetan on the left page and the English translation on the right page.
No need to flip back and forth all the time.
A great book to study Lam Rim.

[David Mason]

(One of the texts covered by HH Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya)

[Mckinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top 10 on Buddhism.