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Reflections on a mountain lake : teachings on practical Buddhism / Venerable Tenzin Palmo.

By: Material type: TextTextPublication details: Ithaca, N.Y. : Snow Lion Publications, c2002.Description: 254 pages, [8 pages] of plates : illustrations ; 23 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9781559391757 (pbk.)
  • 1559391758 (pbk.)
Subject(s): LOC classification:
  • BQ992.E6 T46 2002
Contents:
A Western yogini -- Motivation and Practice -- Ethics and the three trainings -- The six realms -- Women and the path -- Shamatha, or calm abiding -- Vipashyana, or insight -- Awareness -- Difficult points for Westerners -- Tonglen -- Nature of mind -- The role of the spiritual master -- Vajrayana -- Visualizing the deity.
Holdings
Item type Current library Collection Call number Copy number Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Non-Fiction Davis (Central) Library Non-Fiction Non-Fiction 294.34 TEN 1 Available T00581810
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"Tenzin Palmo is one of the most genuine and accomplished of western practitioners. Her voice is simple and pure, wise and true." --Jack Kornfield, author of Path with a Heart

This sparkling collection of Dharma teachings by Tenzin Palmo addresses issues of common concern to Buddhist practitioners from all traditions. Personable, witty, and insightful, Tenzin Palmo presents an inspiring and no-nonsense view of Buddhist practice.

A Western yogini -- Motivation and Practice -- Ethics and the three trainings -- The six realms -- Women and the path -- Shamatha, or calm abiding -- Vipashyana, or insight -- Awareness -- Difficult points for Westerners -- Tonglen -- Nature of mind -- The role of the spiritual master -- Vajrayana -- Visualizing the deity.

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Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Excellent writing and a solid grasp of their subjects mark the efforts of these two authors. While both treat aspects of Buddhist thought, Boorstein's perspective derives from the Mahayana school, while Palmo's tradition is Tibetan. Boorstein (That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist) focuses on the ten paramitas (perfections of the heart), which include generosity, morality, renunciation, wisdom, energy, patience, truthfulness, determination, lovingkindness, and equanimity, and she devotes a chapter to each. (Of course, concepts like wisdom and equanimity are also a part of Tibetan Buddhism, but they operate differently in that tradition.) In each chapter, Boorstein follows the same format, first offering an explanation of what the particular paramita means within Buddhism, then instructing us on how to use the concept effectively in meditation, and finally illustrating the paramita with stories that grow out of her own experience and usefully show how that quality can be applied in life. By contrast, Palmo, a Buddhist nun, begins with a brief account of her life and training in Tibetan Buddhism. She then considers many of the major concepts of this school, including the six realms (e.g., hell, which she describes as a mind filled with anger; shamatha, or calm abiding; and vajrayana, or meditation that makes use of visualization). In addition, Palmo provides some wonderfully informative and useful chapters such as "Women and the Path" and "Difficult Points for Westerners." The latter includes an insightful discussion of karma and rebirth. Boorstein treats a more limited subject matter, while Palmo offers both greater breadth and depth. Both books are recommended, not only because they treat material from different schools of Buddhist thought but because both offer thorough explanations of their chosen subjects. Furthermore, the stories used to illustrate and clarify the various topics are effective and interesting, offering clear illustrations of how the teachings can be applied to life. David Bourquin, California State Univ., San Bernardino (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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