Open Heart, Open Mind
A Guide to Inner Transformation
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- $19.99
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
'Rinpoche is a powerful and eloquent link between the great yogi practitioners of old Tibet and our bewildering 21st century' - from the Foreword by Richard Gere
Tsoknyi Rinpoche's story is an unusual one: as a rebellious young man, he fled a monastery to marry and raise a family, then returned to Nepal and has since become a preeminent Tibetan Buddhist teacher.
As a married man raising two daughters, Tsoknyi Rinpoche has interesting views on how to balance a life dedicated to Buddhist practice with the demands of a husband and father. In addition, he has a keen interest in the ongoing dialogue between Eastern philosophy and Western research, especially in neuroscience. His writing reflects this awareness of the Western psyche while also imparting the earliest tenets of Buddhism.
OPEN HEART, OPEN MIND offers Rinpoche's extraordinary history as an example of how to lead a compassionate life, regardless of status, tradition or circumstances. Accessible and relevant to every variety of reader, this is an illuminating guide from a man who truly is a bridge between ancient wisdom and the modern mind.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this intermediate guide to Buddhist principles, popular Tibetan teacher Tsoknyi Rinpoche III writes, "Learning to live with... courage requires us to see the nature of the challenges we face, the nature of ourselves, and the nature of reality, in a radically different light." To this end, the author addresses such obstacles as habitual patterns and the process of identification, then outlines ways to access the individual's "tremendous inner potential for openness, warmth, and wisdom." He provides detailed insights on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness body, feeling, thoughts, and dharma, which he interprets as space, along with discussions of the subtle body, bodhicitta (seeking enlightenment for all), tonglen (cultivating compassion), dzogchen ("great perfection"), and the six paramitas (perfections). Raised in Nepal and now married with two children, Tsoknyi Rinpoche uses many examples from his challenging teenage experiences at a monastery in India and includes anecdotes from his students. His notable skill is using clear language and homespun analogies to illuminate Buddhist concepts. Tibetan terms are explained as well as their Sanskrit equivalents. Simple practices are scattered throughout; a glossary is included. Warm and largely accessible, this book is a master class for practitioners looking for clear explanations of Buddhism's ideas from a Tibetan perspective.