Buddhist, Handbooks & manuals, Tibetan
It is my wish that through this book, the seed of Buddhahood is planted in the reader's mind. By putting the teachings presented here into practice, may they accomplish the ultimate goal of Enlightenment for the benefit of all. Trinlay Thaye Dorje, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Years of travel and search for adventure matured in 1968 when Hannah and Ole Nydahl met the great Tibetan lamas in Nepal. Having fled south into India during the Communist Chinese occupation of their country and facing the loss of their timeless wisdom, these masters of meditation readily imparted to the eager Danes the view of the Great Seal Mahamudra and the methods of Diamond Way Buddhism. Trained in the Himalayas until the autumn of 1972, the Nydahls were first directed by the great Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche and then adopted by Tibet's first incarnate lama, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, who asked them to work in the West. Since then they have traveled around the world twice a year, with Lama Ole teaching nearly every night. They have written half a dozen books, translated into over twenty languages. To date they have founded, with the help of their countless students and friends, over 560 meditation centers for the lay Diamond Way Buddhist Karma Kagyu lineage. Until her death in 2007, Hannah also organized study courses of traditional learning and Tibetan translations under the spiritual guidance of the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje and Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche. Lama Ole, one of the few qualified western lamas of the Karma Kagyu tradition, provides a fresh, exciting summary of Buddha’s timeless wisdom. This seminal work offers the liberating and powerful methods of Diamond Way (Vajrayana) Buddhism for readers seeking to incorporate Buddhist practice into their daily lives. Lama Ole Nydahl began teaching Buddhism in Europe at the request of H. H. the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. He has established over 450 Diamond Way Buddhist centres in the Western world.
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The Way Things Are: A Living Approach to Buddhism for Today's World by Lama Ole Nydahl introduces us to the Buddha's teachings and how to apply them in our daily lives. This book is broken up into three parts. In the first part, "Buddha's Life and Teachings" we are given a brief introduction to the Buddha's life. We are also taught The Four Noble Truths, The Great Way, and The Diamond Way, among other things. In part two, "TakIng the Buddhist Path" we are taught how to apply these teachings to our lives. My favorite part is the third part, "Meditations" in which we are given meditations to do which can enrich our lives and help us gain insight. Each of the meditations also corresponds to a level of the Buddha's teachings. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who wish to gain insight into Buddhism in today's world and also the Buddha's teachings ~ Tiffany, LoveToread
The Way Things Are is informative, well written and will be of interest to students of Buddhism and to all seekers of enlightenment irrespective of their particular faiths. ~ David Anstey, New Vision
This book, which clarifies the Buddha's teachings in an accessible and contemporary format, has proved a popular and useful resource for students of Buddhism since its first publication. This revised and expanded edition will doubtlesslyl be even more influential in acquainting people with the path to liberation and Enlightenment. Lama Ole Nydahl is one of the closest disciples of my predecessor and a qualified teacher who transmits the flawless teachings of the Karma Kagyu lineage. Through his activity over the last three decades, he has benefited many by presenting the profound methods of the Buddha, and the Diamond Way is one of the many methods relevant to people in the West. It is my wish that through this book, the seed of Buddhahood is planted in the reader's mind. By putting the teachings presented here into practice, may they accomplish the ultimate goal of Enlightenment for the benefit of all. ~ Trinlay Thaye Dorje, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Head of the Karma Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism
The concepts of Buddhist belief are often quite difficult for the average western mind. The right teacher truly makes all the difference. The Way Things Are is written by Lama Ole Nydahl. This man truly has a gift. He takes the basic concepts of Buddhism and relates them to his readers in such a natural way. Moreover, he connects these notions to living in 21st century America. If you are looking for a basic understanding of Buddhism, The Way Things Are is a very good choice. You get a very good overview that you can actually understand. The author also provides some invaluable hints on how to find a good master. ~ Tami Brady, TCM Reviews