Synopses & Reviews
Few teachers in the West possess both the spiritual training and the scholarship to lead us along the path to enlightenment. Robert Thurman is one such teacher. Now, in his first experiential course on the essentials of Tibetan Buddhism, adapted and expanded from a popular retreat he led, Thurman -- the first Westerner ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself -- shares the centuries-old wisdom of a highly valued method of insight used by the great Tibetan masters. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Tibetans think of their cherished tradition of Buddhism as a "wish-fulfilling jewel tree" for its power to generate bliss and enlightenment within all who absorb its teachings. Happiness, in fact, is the true goal of Tibetan spirituality, and the wish-fulfilling jewel tree will enable you to reach that goal. Using a revered, once-secret text of a seventeenth-century Tibetan master, with thorough explanations for contemporary Westerners, andlt;iandgt;The Jewel Tree of Tibetandlt;/iandgt; immerses you fully in the mysteries of Tibetan spiritual wisdom. A retreat in book form as well as a spiritual and philosophical teaching, andlt;iandgt;The Jewel Tree of Tibetandlt;/iandgt; offers a practical system of understanding yourself and the world, of developing your learning and thought processes, and of gaining deep, transforming insight. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;One of the most explicit teachings of the steps on the path of enlightenment available, explained by a skilled Western teacher, andlt;iandgt;The Jewel Tree of Tibetandlt;/iandgt; will enable you to honor the full subtlety and hidden depths of the Tibetan Buddhist path and realize at last its deeper rewards -- for yourself and others.
Review
"I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in the path of peace, loving spirit, and enlightenment." -- Lama Surya Das, author of andlt;iandgt;Awakening the Buddha Withinandlt;/iandgt;
Review
andlt;iandgt; "The Jewel Tree of Tibetandlt;/iandgt; is an extraordinary spiritual text that takes the finest wisdom of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and offers it to readers in a way that is not only very accessible, but deeply enthralling and inspiring." -- Caroline Myss, author of andlt;iandgt;Invisible Acts of Power, Sacred Contractsandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;Anatomy of the Spiritandlt;/iandgt;
Review
"Who better than America's Mr. Tibet to provide us with this wish-fulfilling tree of blessings, a wonderful companion for both spiritual retreat and for daily life? Bob Thurman again shows us how to develop wisdom and compassion and genuinely change our lives, based on the Buddhist classics taught to him by his own enlightened masters. I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in the path of peace, loving spirit, and enlightenment."
-- Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddha Within
Review
"Robert Thurman has a wonderful way of making the great wisdom teachings of Tibet alive and accessible for us in today's world, dissolving cultural barriers and bridging religious divides.
The Jewel Tree of Tibet is a gift of rare value."
-- Sharon Salzberg, author of Loving Kindness and Faith
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;Robert Thurmanandlt;/Bandgt; is the author of the critically acclaimed, popular original books andlt;Iandgt;Inner Revolutionandlt;/Iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;Infinite Lifeandlt;/Iandgt; and a translator of sacred Tibetan texts, including andlt;Iandgt;The Essence of True Eloquenceandlt;/Iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;The Tibetan Book of the Dead.andlt;/Iandgt; He teaches at Columbia University and holds the first endowed chair in Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in America. Cofounder of Tibet House US and Menla Mountain Retreat Center, he lives in New York City and Woodstock, New York.
Table of Contents
Contents Preface
Introduction
One: Buddhism and the Way: Grounding Your Meditation
Two: The First Level of the Path: The Transcendent Attitude, Compassion for Yourself, and Taking a Break
Three: Being Here Now in Love and Compassion: The Spirit of Enlightenment
Four: Mind Transformation: Becoming the Engine of Happiness for All
Five: The Key Role of Wisdom on the Path: Liberation Through Understanding
Six: Revving the Engine to Enlightenment: Empowerment from the Subtle Realms
Mentor Devotion
Robert Thurman on Tibet's Greatest Treasure
Index