PENETRATING WISDOM: The Aspiration of Samantabhadra, by The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

PENETRATING WISDOM: The Aspiration of Samantabhadra

by The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

"The reason we rely on the Vajra master is that we have already tried many different methods to wake ourselves up, but none of them really worked. We set our alarm clock for the next morning and then, in the morning, it beeps with a very unconfident beep... When this feeble beep happens, our great samsaric command is to move a hand with tremendous habitual power and press the snooze button. Then we go back to our comfortable samsaric sleep. We go back again to the dreams and nightmares to which we are attached. Fifteen minutes later, the alarm clock beeps again. Again, we press the snooze button. We don't have this faith, this confidence in the inconceivable truth that can wake us up. This goes on for ages... That's why the Hinayana and Mahayana journeys take so long."

With deep compassion, sharp observations, and arresting metaphors, The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche explicates The Aspiration of Samantabhadra for both new and experienced practitioners. This Dzogchen prayer explores the different manifestations of rigpa, our basic awareness in daily life, and constitutes a set of instructions for refining the path of practice. Given as a series of talks in Germany and the United States, Penetrating Wisdom includes the text of the prayer, Rinpoche's always-lively commentary, and lucid answers to questions posed by his students.

"One of the most brilliant Tibetan Buddhist Teachers of his generation."—Sogyal Rinpoche

"Forty-two-year-old Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche is deemed an accomplished meditation master, calligrapher, visual artist, and poet, as well as gifted and innovative teacher. The present book, compiled from talks given by him in Germany and the United States, captures not only his sharp intelligence but also his poignant humor.

"Penetrating Wisdom is Ponlop Rinpoche's commentary on the well-known 'Aspiration of Samantabhadra' prayer, which summarizes the essence of Dzogchen by celebrating 'lucid awareness without bewilderment.' By generating oneself (that is, visualizing oneself) as the primordial Buddha Samantabhadra, one can not only be liberated from all illusion and confusion but also effect the liberation of others. This is the great aspiration of all Bodhisattvas.

"Ponlop Rinpoche’s lively commentary, grounded in his own experience and profound learning, can awaken in the attentive reader something of the Naked Awareness that in any given moment is available behind the theater of the conceptual mind and ego-driven emotions. We can discover Naked Awareness by overcoming duality-based doubt and attachment. Everything else, as Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche would say, is sour grapes."—Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D., Traditional Yoga Studies

"Inspiringly presents 'the powerful aspiration which makes it impossible for all beings not to attain buddhahood.'...Rinpoche makes difficult concepts understandable and assisted me to situate Dzogchen in the Vajrayana tradition. The inclusion of question and answer sessions between Rinpoche and his students also helped me to grapple with new ideas."—Thar Lam

"Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche’s explanations reveal that the entire path is contained in the words of this one short prayer... lively and humorous style."—Buddhadharma

"The living quality of the text based on the teachings from 'The Aspiration of Samantabhadra' by the author, who is a direct spiritual heir to these, gives clarity, meaning, insight and applicability in daily living. Presenting this commentary on the root text has been a mountainous, yet momentous effort in sharing knowledge which can only benefit all beings."—East and West Series

"...should be required reading for any student of Buddhist belief and Eastern religions: it blends observation, metaphor and a sharp analysis of faith to present ‘The Aspiration of Samantabhadra’ for new and experienced Buddhists alike, offering up a prayer which explores spiritual awareness in daily living... eye opening."—California Bookwatch

The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche is one of the foremost scholars and educators of his generation in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism. An accomplished meditation master, calligrapher, visual artist and poet, he is also well versed in Western culture and technology. He is the primary architect for the many websites under the Nalandabodhi/Nitartha umbrella and publisher of Bodhi magazine, an internationally distributed Buddhist periodical.

EXPLORE THIS TITLE FURTHER...

1559392665, 9781559392662