THE JEWEL TREE OF TIBET: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism, by Robert Thurman

THE JEWEL TREE OF TIBET: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism

by Robert Thurman

In this experiential course on the essentials of Tibetan Buddhism, Thurman—the first Westerner ordained by the Dalai Lama himself—shares a revered, once-secret text of a seventeenth-century Tibetan master, along with a thorough explanation for contemporary Westerners. A retreat in book form as well as a spiritual and philosophical teaching, it offers a practical system of understanding yourself and the world, of developing your learning and thought processes, and of gaining deep, transforming insight.

Because the path to enlightenment requires more than sitting in meditation, The Jewel Tree of Tibet offers a rich, intellectually riveting course with many specific spiritual practices, including: eleven steps to create the spirit of enlightenment, here and now; the truths and stories of the ancient Indian and Tibetan sages; and guided meditations to experience the blessings of the wish-fulfilling jewel tree. You can do these practices with others or on your own, while living your daily life. And as you travel this road to deeper self-realization, self-understanding, and infectious happiness, you will also learn how the principles of Tibetan Tantra can open the doors to "infinite compassion and continuity," and how to discover states of consciousness that transcend even death.

"I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in the path of peace, loving spirit, and enlightenment."--Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddha Within

"The Jewel Tree of Tibet is an extraordinary spiritual text that takes the finest wisdom of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and offers it to readers in a way that is not only very accessible, but deeply enthralling and inspiring."--Caroline Myss, author of Invisible Acts of Power, Sacred Contracts, and Anatomy of the Spirit

Robert A.F. Thurman currently teaches at Columbia University and holds the first endowed chair in Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in America. He received Upasika ordination in 1964 and Vajracharya ordination in 1971, both from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He is a co-founder of Tibet House in New York City, a cultural nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the endangered civilization of Tibet.