"The English translation effectively captures the force and immediacy of the original Tibetan. This text is a reference treasure for a lifetime's practice, and a true spiritual classic." ― Eastern Horizon
"A comprehensive, accessible, straightforward guide on how to meditate on each step of the path." ― Tricycle
"I feel this guide has given me a friend whom I may consult and appreciate through the years." ― The Reader's Review
"The richest and most enjoyable volume from the Lamrim tradition... published to date." ― Golden Drum
--This text refers to the paperback edition.
About the Author
Pabongka Rinpoche (1878-1941) was one of the great lamas of the twentieth century. He was the root lama of both tutors of the present Dalai Lama and the teacher of many of the other Tibetan lamas who have been bringing the Dharma to the West.
Trijang Rinpoche (1901-81) was the foremost student of Pabongka Rinpoche, the Junior Tutor of the present Dalai Lama, and the root lama of many of the first generation of great Gelug masters to teach in the West.
Michael Richards is an Australian scholar who lived in the Tibetan exile community of Dharamsala for many years.
--This text refers to the paperback edition.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Top reviews
Top reviews from Canada
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
This is THE work for the Gelugpa Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Which is the tradition of His Holiness, the Dali Lama. It, for all practical reasons, is our Bible. While reading it, one becomes relaxed and feels at home. It outlines the entire path of the Lam-Rim or the graduated path of enlightenment. Pabonka Rinpoche gave a famous twenty-four day discourse on the teachings of the Buddha. These talks were translated by Trijang Rinpoche, the tutor of His Holiness. Finally, it was translated into English by Michael Richards. This book is a masterpiece. Each page fills the soul and heart with happiness and love. The illustrations are just marvelous. A couple caveats are in order before you buy this marvelous book. First, please understand that, despite what a few Occidental iconoclasts believe, Tibetan Buddhism flatly espouses a belief in cyclical existence. That at death, unless we have lived a life of firm morality and generosity, the mindstream can spin out of control and just about be reborn in any lifeform. In Tibetan Buddhism, this is a given. Secondly, is the belief in sin. The belief that if we harm others, the arrow comes back at us. And this karma is expandable. Yes. Bad things do happen to good people. With these two understandings under your belt, buy and enjoy. The vision which Pabonka Rinpoche gives us may seem horrible. Nevertheless, it may be true. In fact, it no doubt is true. May the dharma bless you.
This is the most detailed explanation of the seminal A Lamp on the Path by the Indian master Atisha in the English Language. Pabongka Rinpoche was a renowned master, teacher to some of the most respected masters of Tibetan Buddhism of our time - Kyabje Trichang Rinpoche (junior tutor to the Dalai Lama and Kyabje Ling Rinpoche (senior tutor of the Dalai Lama and Ribur Rinpoche among others. One could not ask for a better teacher. Drawing upon Lama Tsong Khapa's Great Stages of the Path (Lam Rim Chenmo), Pabongka Rinpoche elucidates all the main topics of meditation with anlaytical rigor and rich anecdotes, all the time, situating and linking his teaching to the vast corpus of the Buddha's teachings. This is a PRACTICE text of the highest calibre and, as such, to truly derive its essence one must try out what Pabongka Rinpoche teaches for himself/herself.
This is an excellent book, an excellent set of instructions for a serious practicioner of the dharma. While a meditation retreat is preferrable, this book is second best as a great teaching of Je Tsongkapa's Lam Rim. If you are an honest Buddhist practicioner, this book will not disappoint you. It will provide you with most beneficial instructions for your practice and study of the Lam Rim, including an excellent and extensive section on the Preparatory Rites. I recommend this dharma text, in fact, I would call it essential. Your hearnest study of this book should benefit all sentient beings. Om mani padme hum. Be well.
This book is a great companion to every Buddhist,or to anyone interested in Buddhism in general. Fun to read and easy to understand,
The book is a transcript of a 24 days teaching by Pabongka Rinpoche and features quotes from many Buddhist books and from people like Atisha, Je Tsongkhapa (founder of the Gelugpa school of tibetan Buddhism)the 7th Dalai Lama and many other main character in the elaboration of the Lam Rim....
5.0 out of 5 starsOne of the best book on Lam-Rim!
Reviewed in India on October 31, 2019
Verified Purchase
To understand Lam-Rim this is one of the best book available!. Easy to understand this complex subject!. The Great Lama Pobonka Rinpoche given oral teaching for 24 days in 1921.. And then his one of the closest disciples Trijang Rinpoche who edited this book for next 37 years!!! And published in Tibetan language.. And then it has been translated into English by Michael Richards!.. So this story is also fascinating! Book has every detail about Lam-Rim, described in very detailed. Language is very easy to understand interesting to read!.. So anyone who is studying Lam-Rim must read this book! Highly recommend!
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best book on Lam-Rim!
Reviewed in India on October 31, 2019
To understand Lam-Rim this is one of the best book available!. Easy to understand this complex subject!. The Great Lama Pobonka Rinpoche given oral teaching for 24 days in 1921.. And then his one of the closest disciples Trijang Rinpoche who edited this book for next 37 years!!! And published in Tibetan language.. And then it has been translated into English by Michael Richards!.. So this story is also fascinating! Book has every detail about Lam-Rim, described in very detailed. Language is very easy to understand interesting to read!.. So anyone who is studying Lam-Rim must read this book! Highly recommend!
This book is the transcript of an oral teaching of Je Phabongkha Rinpoche in 1924 in Lhasa; it contains a full elaboration of the lam rim, a traditional representation of the complete sutra system of buddhism, according to the Kadam tradition. The book covers the topics of the importance of the personal teacher, and then of the low, middle, and high types of motivation. All teachings are then covered, beginning with suffering and karma, across the 12 links and the development of the two types of bodhichitta, mind training, the 6 paramitas, in short: everything, ending with explanations about mental calmness and wisdom meditations. Other lam rim works are Je Tsonkhapa's "lam rim chen mo", or Je Gampopa's "jewel ornament of liberation", the one being longer, the other being more concise. Je Phabongkha's text is probably more vivid, as it is an oral explanation with many examples. It can safely be taken as one of the main sources of information for the sutra path and will set the motivation of the practitioner in a correct way.
Dieses Buch ist die Transkription einer 24-tägigen Belehrung des Phabongkha Rinpoche 1924 in Lhasa. Es handelt sich um eine vollständige Darstellung des Stufenwegs ("lam rim"), einer traditionellen Gesamtdarstellung des Sutrayana, wie sie von der Kadam-Tradition kommt ("bkah dam"). Das Buch beginnt mit der Erörterung der Wichtigkeit des persönlichen Lehrers und beginnt dann mit der Darstellung der kleinen, mittleren und großen Motivation. Gemäß diesem Hintergrund entwickelt er alle Lehren des Buddha von den vier edlen Wahrheiten ("bden pa bzhi") über z.B. die 12 Glieder des abhängigen Entstehens, Geistestraining ("blo sbyong") und die 6 Paramitas ("phar phyin drug") bis hin zur Anleitung für die Geistesruhe- ("zhi gnas") und Einsichtsmeditation ("lHag mthong"). Vergleichbar ist das umfangreichere "lam rim chen mo" von Je Tsongkhapa ("tshong kha pa") oder das konzisere "Juwelenschmuck der Befreiung" von Je Gampopa ("sgam po pa"). Dieses Buch ist gut lesbar aufgrund seines eindringlichen mündlichen Stils mit zahlreichen Beispielen. Es gibt übrigens auch eine zweibändige deutsche Übersetzung dieses Buches. Ich kaufe es fast regelmäßig, weil ich es mitunter jemandem schenke :-)
4.0 out of 5 starsA fundamental Tibetan Buddhism text
Reviewed in Italy on February 26, 2016
Verified Purchase
It is one of the most used Lam-Rim texts, which means a text explaining the stages of the path to enlightment, from the beginning until the realization. A text to meditate upon, page by page (which is exactly how Tibetan Buddhists use it).