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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Non-Christian religions > Religions of Indic & Oriental origin > Buddhism > Tibetan Buddhism
An indispensable guidebook through the journey of life and death,
"Mind Beyond Death" weaves a synthesis of wisdom remarkable in its
scope. With warm informality and profound understanding of the
Western mind, the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche makes the mysterious
Tibetan teachings on the bardos--the intervals of life, death, and
beyond--completely available to the modern reader.
Drawing on a breathtaking range of material, "Mind Beyond Death"
shows us how the bardos can be used to conquer death. Working with
the bardos means taking hold of life and learning how to live with
fearless abandon. Exploring all six bardos--not just the three
bardos of death--"Mind Beyond Death" demonstrates that the secret
to a good journey through and beyond death lies in how we live.
Walking skillfully through the bardos of dream meditation and daily
life, the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche takes us deep into the
mysterious death intervals, introducing us to their dazzling
mindscape. This tour de force gives us the knowledge to transform
death, the greatest obstacle, into the most powerful opportunity
for enlightenment. With both nuts-and-bolts meditation techniques
and brilliant illumination, "Mind Beyond Death" offers a clear map
and a sturdy vehicle that will safely transport the reader through
the challenging transitions of this life and the perilous bardos
beyond death.
The Buddha Party tells the story of how the People's Republic of
China employs propaganda to define Tibetan Buddhist belief and sway
opinion within the country and abroad. The narrative they create is
at odds with historical facts and deliberately misleading, but,
John Powers argues, it is widely believed by Han Chinese. Most of
China's leaders appear to deeply believe the official line
regarding Tibet, which resonates with Han notions of themselves as
China's most advanced nationality and as a benevolent race that
liberates and culturally uplifts minority peoples. This in turn
profoundly affects how the leadership interacts with their
counterparts in other countries. Powers's study focuses in
particular on the government's "patriotic education" campaign-an
initiative that forces monks and nuns to participate in propaganda
sessions and repeat official dogma. Powers contextualizes this
within a larger campaign to transform China's religions into
"patriotic" systems that endorse Communist Party policies. This
book offers a powerful, comprehensive examination of this ongoing
phenomenon, how it works and how Tibetans resist it.
In this rare personal investigation, His Holiness the Dalai Lama
discusses his vision of science and faith working hand in hand to
alleviate human suffering. Drawing on a lifetime of scientific
study and religious practice, he explores the great debates and
makes astonishing connections between seemingly disparate topics -
such as evolution and karma - that will change the way we look at
the world. While he sees science and faith as 'complementary but
different investigative approaches with the same goal of seeking
the truth,' the fact is that the two have often been at the root of
human conflict for centuries. The Dalai Lama challenges us to see
that the benefits of opening our hearts and minds to the
connections between science and faith are far preferable to
perpetuating the divisive rhetoric that often surrounds them. Now,
as we face such troubled and uncertain times, the need has never
been greater for this extraordinary man's compassion and wisdom.
In the shamanic world-view of Tibet, the five elements of earth,
water, fire, air, and space are accessed through the raw powers of
nature and through non-physical beings associated with the natural
world. In the Tibetan tantric view, the elements are recognized as
five kinds of energy in the body and are balanced with a program of
yogic movements, breathing exercises, and visualizations. In these
Dzogchen teachings, the elements are understood to be the radiance
of being and are accessed through pure awareness. Healing with
Form, Energy, and Light offers the reader healing meditations and
yogic practices on each of these levels. Tenzin Rinpoche's purpose
is to strengthen our connection to the sacred aspect of the natural
world and to present a guide that explains why certain practices
are necessary and in what situations practices are effective or a
hindrance. This is a manual for replacing an anxious, narrow,
uncomfortable identity with one that is expansive, peaceful, and
capable. And the world too is transformed from dead matter and
blind processes into a sacred landscape filled with an infinite
variety of living forces and beings.
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