The Bodhisattva Path of Wisdom and Compassion

The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume Two

Edited by Judith L. Lief
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Chögyam Trungpa continues his study of the three “yanas” of Tibetan Buddhism with this overview of the teachings of the mahayana

This three-volume collection presents in lively, relevant language the comprehensive teachings of the Tibetan Buddhist path of the hinayana, mahayana, and vajrayana. Considered Chögyam Trungpa’s magnum opus, The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma will resonate with new and senior students of Buddhism.

In this second volume, Chögyam Trungpa presents the bodhisattva teachings of the mahayana. At this point—having trained and seen the benefits of looking within—the student begins to shift their focus outward to the broader world. Formal entry into the mahayana occurs with taking the bodhisattva vow. Mahayana practitioners dedicate themselves to the service of all sentient beings, aspiring to save them from sorrow and confusion, and vowing to bring them to perfect liberation. This stage of the path emphasizes the cultivation of wisdom through the view and experience of emptiness, or shunyata, in which all phenomena are seen to be unbounded, completely open, ungraspable, and profound. From the ground of shunyata, compassionate activity is said to arise naturally and spontaneously.

In addition to mindfulness and awareness, the mahayanist practices lojong, or "mind training," based on the cultivation of the paramitas, or "transcendent virtues": generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and prajna, or "knowledge." As a component of lojong, tonglen, or "sending and taking," is practiced in order to increase maitri, or loving-kindness. Other topics covered in detail in this volume include bodhichitta, skillful means, Buddha nature and basic goodness, Madhyamaka, the ten bhumis, the three kayas, and more.
"The compassionate heart of my teacher, the Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, shines through in this, his articulation of the entire Buddhist path. He never lost sight of the fact that every aspect of the teaching is about nothing else than the freedom of awakening—and his great gift is that he never lets any of us lose sight of that either."—Pema Chödrön

"One of the most remarkable and brilliant teachers of modern times.”—Jack Kornfield

"Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche had a particular genius in presenting the Dharma to Western audiences. . . . These volumes display the far-reaching goodness that can be created in the world when compassion and devotion come together.”—H.H. the Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje

"With the publication of The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, these seminary transcripts have taken birth as three user-friendly volumes, beautifully arranged and elegantly edited without losing the author's intention or voice.  The volumes offer a glimpse of the heart teachings of the Vidyadhara, given to his students over several years with his uniquely provocative and meticulous style, enhanced by his knowledge of Western epistomology and psychology."—Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Buddhadharma
Chögyam Trungpa (1940–1987)—meditation master, teacher, and artist—founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, the first Buddhist-inspired university in North America; the Shambhala Training program; and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books, including Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, and The Myth of Freedom. View titles by Chogyam Trungpa

About

Chögyam Trungpa continues his study of the three “yanas” of Tibetan Buddhism with this overview of the teachings of the mahayana

This three-volume collection presents in lively, relevant language the comprehensive teachings of the Tibetan Buddhist path of the hinayana, mahayana, and vajrayana. Considered Chögyam Trungpa’s magnum opus, The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma will resonate with new and senior students of Buddhism.

In this second volume, Chögyam Trungpa presents the bodhisattva teachings of the mahayana. At this point—having trained and seen the benefits of looking within—the student begins to shift their focus outward to the broader world. Formal entry into the mahayana occurs with taking the bodhisattva vow. Mahayana practitioners dedicate themselves to the service of all sentient beings, aspiring to save them from sorrow and confusion, and vowing to bring them to perfect liberation. This stage of the path emphasizes the cultivation of wisdom through the view and experience of emptiness, or shunyata, in which all phenomena are seen to be unbounded, completely open, ungraspable, and profound. From the ground of shunyata, compassionate activity is said to arise naturally and spontaneously.

In addition to mindfulness and awareness, the mahayanist practices lojong, or "mind training," based on the cultivation of the paramitas, or "transcendent virtues": generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and prajna, or "knowledge." As a component of lojong, tonglen, or "sending and taking," is practiced in order to increase maitri, or loving-kindness. Other topics covered in detail in this volume include bodhichitta, skillful means, Buddha nature and basic goodness, Madhyamaka, the ten bhumis, the three kayas, and more.

Reviews

"The compassionate heart of my teacher, the Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, shines through in this, his articulation of the entire Buddhist path. He never lost sight of the fact that every aspect of the teaching is about nothing else than the freedom of awakening—and his great gift is that he never lets any of us lose sight of that either."—Pema Chödrön

"One of the most remarkable and brilliant teachers of modern times.”—Jack Kornfield

"Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche had a particular genius in presenting the Dharma to Western audiences. . . . These volumes display the far-reaching goodness that can be created in the world when compassion and devotion come together.”—H.H. the Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje

"With the publication of The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, these seminary transcripts have taken birth as three user-friendly volumes, beautifully arranged and elegantly edited without losing the author's intention or voice.  The volumes offer a glimpse of the heart teachings of the Vidyadhara, given to his students over several years with his uniquely provocative and meticulous style, enhanced by his knowledge of Western epistomology and psychology."—Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Buddhadharma

Author

Chögyam Trungpa (1940–1987)—meditation master, teacher, and artist—founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, the first Buddhist-inspired university in North America; the Shambhala Training program; and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books, including Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, and The Myth of Freedom. View titles by Chogyam Trungpa