Advice from a Spiritual Friend

by Geshe Rabten, Geshe Dhargyey, Stephen Batchelor (Introduction)

"Do not wish for gratitude.
Never strike at the heart.
Now if you die, you will have no regrets."
- The Seven-Point Thought Transformation

Like wise old friends, two Tibetan masters offer down-to-earth advice for cultivating compassion, wisdom, and happiness in every situation. Based on practical Buddhist verses on "thought training" ( lojong ), Advice from a Spiritual Friend teaches how to develop the inner skills that lead to contentment by responding to everyday difficulties with patience and joy.

Following Stephen Batchelor's introduction to the Kadamapa tradition that gave rise to these earthy, pithy instructions, Part One is a commentary by Geshe Dhargyey to Atisha's (982-1054) Jewel Rosary of a Bodhisattva . Part Two includes a commentary by Geshe Rabten to the famous Seven-Point Thought Transformation .

First published in 1977, Advice from a Spiritual Friend is a Wisdom classic that has enriched readers in many editions over the years. As Batchelor says in his introduction, "These teachings are as applicable today as they were when Atisha first introduced them to Tibet."

Genres: Spirituality, Buddhism, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1984

Reviews

[Will Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful commentary on Lojong Slogans.

[ThPA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4/5
Interesting read. A lot of helpful advice for dealing with struggles, annoying people and common life challenges

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 1986 edition of this wonderful book is the third edition of the text originally published in 1977 (1984's was the 2nd edition, and this is the second printing of that edition). It's a great book with clear and concise translation (by Brian Beresford) of teachings from Geshes Rabten and Dhargyey on the Mahayana tradition of "Thought Transformation" (Lojong) - a tradition of teachings which, although Buddhist, is universal and applicable to us all regardless of nationality, culture or religion). It's also a handsomely published book (firm soft-cover, "Wisdom Basic Book - Orange Series"), and although now out of print is well worth finding.

There is a later 1996 (and again in 2001) edition with the same title, also by Wisdom, but it isn't exactly the same book. The later edition puts the shorter text by Geshe Dhatgyey first, and does not include Part Four - A Daily Prayer, nor the texts in Tibetan for the Eight Stanzas and Seven Points, nor the illustrations from the original editions (a nice collection of black and white photos taken of the teachers-in-exile in India). For this reason I strongly recommend getting/reading the Basic Book Orange Series editions.