Quick praise for a great book…

One of the biggest reasons I study Buddhism is to understand myself and the world better and from a certain angle, the angle I feel shows me more of the truth, through the eyes of Buddha. It’s not easy and takes some work, even lately I’ve felt as if my progress has slipped back to where I was 6 months ago but that’s just a perception.

What spawned this post was in cleaning out a bookshelf I came across a book I read over last Christmas that really stuck some chords in me; “It’s Up to You, The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path” by Dzigar Kongtrul. I wish I could have found it to add to the site store but sadly Amazon can’t find this book. In practice we spend so much time looking out and practicing non-attachment, often it’s time to look back at the self as a way to gain insight. As well, often we hit bumps in the path that make us wonder if we have done anything or do we feel different now? What hit me as so great about this book is it’s rather; “this is my path, does it look like yours?” as opposed to “this is your path, the quicker you follow the quicker you get there” kind style.

Dzigar Kongtrul is a trained Tibetan lama who became a professor of Buddhist philosophy at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado and now as established a mountain retreat center in souther Colorado and Vermont. This guy is trained no? Yes, he is but what makes this book and his stance so special is the following quote from the Author’s Preface in the book:

“These teachings are inspired by the needs and questions of my students as they work to integrate genuine practice with their lives. Although they teachings here are rooted in the traditional teachings I received from my teachers, I do not consider them traditions teachings as such. Rather, they are my own contemplations and insights. They are also intended to encourage students to engage in joyful and honest self-reflection as a way to deepen their understanding of the spiritual path. In the end, all teachings – traditional or informal – have one aim: to help reduce self-importance and make room for the truth.”

Hello! Could we get any more real? How refreshing is this stance?

The book is great and Dzigar’s thoughts and understanding are fantastic, I have woven a few concepts that really struck me for some upcoming posts and articles.  If you are struggling with you path maybe it’s time to look back at your reflection in the mirror.

Kris