Dzigar Kongtrul guides us through intelligent reasoning to identify our deluded perception of a truly existing self and shows us the key to awakening from this fundamental confusion. Rinpoche's brilliant commentary on the classical Indian Buddhist text, The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva is a testament to this inspiring teacher's compassionate and compelling style. Uncommon Happiness is saturated with advice from an adept practitioner of the Buddhist Path. By expounding the essential meaning of the engaged Buddhism and introducing skillful methods to utilize along the way, he reveals our innate wisdom mind and challenges us to meet and employ our intrinsic enlightened capacity.
In this extraordinary book, we have the unique opportunity to connect with a realized teacher, renown for his compassion and kindness, who skillfully teaches us how to reach that same level of conviction and certainty in our self. This clarification overflows with the genuine delight and humanity Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche embodies. These qualities transcend time, race, and place and are universal principles for all people to live by.
Here is a combination of primordial notions expounded in the 8th century and practiced throughout the world till the present time and a modern interpretation pertinent to contemporary audiences. These values include loving kindness, compassion, joy and impartiality as well as generosity, patience, discipline, morality, diligence, peaceful abiding and intelligence. Instructions to engage in these trainings are presented with clear and precise language, easy to comprehend and apply.

We all just want to be happy, right? This book reveals that the true secret to attaining happiness has everything to do with shifting our focus from ourselves to others. According to Dzigar Kongtrul, author of "It's Up to You", when our natural intelligence and innate compassion are sparked by Buddhist meditation and contemplation, we discover insights into what true happiness means - and how to achieve it. The longing for happiness expresses the great natural potential of the heart and mind, and turns us toward our innately positive attitude. Kongtrul, who is Pema Chodron's teacher and friend, shows that when we include others in our wish for happiness, we move toward joy and contentment based on selflessness and the concern for others' well-being. 'In trying to articulate what is so profound about his style of presentation, I find that partly, it is the prolonged and intensive Buddhist training he received; partly, it is the way he never holds back but always challenges himself; partly, it is his good heart and humility; partly, it is that he has immersed himself wholeheartedly in Western culture; partly, it is that he knows the minds of students; partly, it is his almost ruthless directness; partly it is because you feel understood and appreciated; partly, it is because you feel you can't get away with anything' - Pema Chodron.

Practical instruction in a Tibetan Buddhist method for developing radical compassion--from a contemporary master with a gift for making the ancient teachings speak to modern hearts.

Dzigar Kongtrul's lively and accessible presentation of the Tibetan training method known as "lojong" (mind training) focuses on what he considers the heart of that practice: "tonglen," the practice of exchanging self for other, for taking in others' pain and suffering and sending out kindness, ease, and consolation. It's a powerful method for developing compassion of the most tranformative kind, and its supreme expression is found in the classic text "The Great Path of Awakening "by Jamgon Kongtrul. This book is Dzigar Kongtrul's commentary on that beloved text, based on a series of talks he gave on it. It includes his fresh translation of the "Great Path," and it is full of his characteristic humor as well as his skill in translating esoteric concepts into terms that not only are easily understood but that speak directly to the heart. "

On the spiritual path we speak of enlightenment. But how do we reconcile the idea of enlightenment with what we see when we look in the mirror--when insecurities, doubts, and self-centered tendencies arise in our minds? Dzigar Kongtrul suggests that we need not feel "doomed" when these experiences surface. In fact, such experiences are not a problem if we are able to simply let them arise without judging them or investing them with so much meaning. This approach to experience is what Kongtrul calls self-reflection.
Self-reflection is a practice, a path, and an attitude. It is the spirit of taking an interest in that which we usually try to push away. When we practice self-reflection we take liberation into our own hands and accept the challenge and personal empowerment in Kongtrul's title: it's up to you.