Product Description A favorite of Tibetans and recommended by the Dalai Lama and other senior Buddhist teachers, this practical guide to inner transformation introduces the fundamental spiritual practices common to all Tibetan Buddhist traditions."The Words of My Perfect Teacher" is the classic commentary on the preliminary practices of the Longchen Nyingtig-one of the best-known cycles of teachings and a spiritual treasure of the Nyingmapa school-the oldest Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Patrul Rinpoche makes the technicalities of his subject accessible through a wealth of stories, quotations, and references to everyday life. His style of mixing broad colloquialisms, stringent irony, and poetry has all the life and atmosphere of an oral teaching. Great care has been taken by the translators to render the precise meaning of the text in English while still reflecting the vigor and insight of the original Tibetan. A preface by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, insightful introductory essays, explanatory notes, and classic illustrations enhance this quintessential introduction to Tibetan Buddhist practice. This new edition includes translations of a postface to the text written a century ago (for the first printed edition in Tibetan) by the first Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, and a new preface by the late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. The notes, glossary and bibliography have been expanded and updated, Sanskrit names and terminology have been given their proper transliterated form, and the illustrations have been improved in quality and supplemented with new material.
Should you buy the revised edition if you have the original?September 4, 2008 This review is for those few people out there who, like me, already have the original version of this translation and are wondering if it's worth it to buy the revised edition.
The translators state that they made 3-4 revisions per page from the original to the revised edition. In a 400 page book, that's 1200-1600 revisions. Yes, they're probably small changes - I haven't gone through and actually looked for what was changed. But in a precious text like this one, which you will probably be taking into your heart and thinking about a lot, it seems well worth paying about a penny per revision.
If you're looking for a first introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, you will probably be happier with something like Sogyal Rinpoche's The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying - again, get the revised edition. However, if you are looking for a deeper introduction to the ngondro practices, this is a book of great depth - and humor, and charm.
It seems a previous reviewer was upset that the translators didn't get it "perfect" the first time, and felt that a revision was merited. However, translation is very difficult; I'm glad that they incorporated new insights and clarifications into a revised edition.
A book for a lifetimeJune 2, 2008 The book "The Words of My Perfect Master" is, together with "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" by Sogyal Rinpoche, a source of inspiration, guidance, direction and motivation for people interested in getting to know the ultimate reality of life without any strings attached.
For people interested in using both these books to help them in their knowledge and practice of Tibetan Buddhism, the best way to find a detailed "users' guide" is to contact [...] and ask for Sogyal Rinpoche's home study packs, et al.
In his study plans, Sogyal refers to many Buddhist books and authors, but these two are by far the most complete ones to help one advance in the thrilling path of self-knowledge, beyond religion, beyond sectarism of any kind.
I heartily recommend these two books as gifts to the soul. Whomever reads them with a sincere heart will experience the direct touch of the writers' enlightened minds inspired by loving compassion.
One of the most excellent books!February 13, 2008 I cannot even begin to understand why P. Carey gave this book that kind of rating -- maybe P. Carey missed the point -- or must me a translator him/herself. This is an excellent book for beginners and advanced practitioners. Others have outlined many reasons why -- SO, I will say only this: If one is a Zennie you may not like this unless you are interested in growing a bit more into Tibetan or have no problem with that brand of buddhism. If you want to read Tibetan as a diehard Zennie I recommend Trungpa or Pema Chodron. That said, this is a wonderful book . . .
Marvelous!February 19, 2007 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Right to the heart of the matter. Words of my Perfect Teacher is a spiritual friend.
A handbook to being a Buddhist.January 12, 2007 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This text is wonderfully written, concise manual on how to be a Buddhist. Written for the layperson and illustrated with fabulous examples. If you have read the Lamrim this book will strengthen your foundation of Buddhism.
