The Essential Jewel of Holy Practice - Softcover

Garfield, Jay L.; McRae, Emily W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 161429447X ISBN 13: 9781614294474

Publisher: Wisdom Publications, 2017

Synopsis

An exquisite poem from one of Dzogchen’s greatest teachers.

The Essential Jewel of Holy Practice is a vibrant philosophical and ethical poem by one of Tibet’s great spiritual masters. Patrul Rinpoche presents a complete view of the path of liberation from the perspectives of the Madhyamaka understanding of emptiness and the Mahayana ideal of compassionate care refracted through the Dzogchen perspective on experience, yielding a sophisticated philosophical approach to practice focusing on the cultivation of clear, open, luminous, empty awareness and of liberation leading to the transformation of one’s moral capacity and sensitivity. Patrul Rinpoche’s verses speak intimately and directly to the reader and inspire one to develop one’s mind for the sake of ethical perfection and liberation.

The translators’ introduction provides a foundation for reading the poem and their commentary to the verses assists the reader in understanding Patrul Rinpoche’s allusions and technical terms.

About this title

About the Author

Jay Garfield is Doris Silbert Professor in the Humanaties and Professor of Philosophy, Logic, and Buddhist Studies at Smith College and the Harvard Divinity School, and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Melbourne and Central University of Tibetan Studies. His work addresses topics in cognitive science, the philosophy of mind, Buddhist philosophy, and cross-cultural interpretation. Professor Garfield has worked extensively with Tibetan scholars at the Central University of Tibetan Studies and the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics and is the founding director of the Five College Tibetan Studies in India Program, the oldest academic exchange program linking the Tibetan academic community to the Western academic community.

Emily McRae is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of New Mexico. Her work addresses topics in Buddhist ethics, moral psychology, and feminist philosophy. She has studied Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy at the University of Wisconsin and Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Review

“Here translated into very accessible English, beautifully presented in a spacious edition appropriate to the expansive Dzogchen doctrine, is Patrul Rinpoche's summary of the path of integrated practice for an authentic compassionate practitioner. It is a moving and transcendent vision of Buddhism uniting wisdom, care for others, and mantra.” Author: Gareth Sparham, translator of Vast as the Heavens, Deep as the Sea

“Patrul Rinpoche’s Essential Jewel is a treasure trove packed with wisdom and skillful means for all levels of Buddhist practice. Garfield and McRae here offer a fresh translation of Patrul’s song of instruction, presented in a bilingual format and accompanied by their novel, Madhyamaka-inspired interpretation of the nature and origins of Vajrayana and Dzogchen. The blessings of the six-beat mantra are sure to bring awakening in our hearts!” Author: Thomas Doctor, research scholar, Rangjung Yeshe Institute

“Pith upon pith in such readable English! With a modern feel and traditional ring. Jay Garfield and Emily McRae delight us with their easy language, offering an open door to the great heart and core wisdom of Tibet’s incomparable Patrul Rinpoche.” Author: ―Anne C. Klein / Rigzin Drolma. Prof. Rice University, Founder, Dawn Mountain Center for Tibetan Buddhism. Translator, Strand of Jewels and Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse

About this edition

• Publisher: Wisdom Publications
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 161429447X
• ISBN 13: 9781614294474
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 136