REVIEWS
Gates to Buddhist Practice
by Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche
This is a rare book: a brilliant guide to the spiritual path by a master of outstanding qualities.
Sogyal Rinpoche, Author, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Gates to Buddhist Practice is a sobering, thoughtful, and inspiring presentation that covers numerous aspects of Buddhism in depth, from karma and bodhicitta, to preparing for death. Strongly recommended for Buddhist Studies reading lists and reference collections.
James Cox, Midwest Book Review
Chagdud Tulku writes in a stye that is both rich and simple. He is a gifted teacher rom whom one learns enlightening, fulfilling, and enduring spiritual truths.
Henry Berry, Small Press Book Review
from Amazon.com customers:
Clear, Helpful, User-Friendly Guide to Tibetan Buddhism, November 7, 2001
Reviewer: Conny Lindley from Williams, OR USA
I love this book. In it Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche offers the most clear, complete and concise overview of Tibetan Buddhism that I have read. The teachings can be appreciated, and clearly understood on many levels, from a person who is completely new to Buddhism to an experienced practitioner. I have often recommended the first edition of this book to friends who are curious and looking for an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, and they have found it very helpful. This new edition has been expanded to include more questions from students, many of which are very in-depth and result in detailed answers that make the reader feel as if they were sitting in front of Rinpoche while he teaches.
The book also includes many of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche's wonderful stories and Tibetan folk tales that serve to illuminate the teachings in a very down to earth manner. This book is like a polestar, such a comfort to come back to again and again for inspiration and guidance, showing us the way to tame and train our minds. I would recommend this book very highly.
Book offers clarity, insight into coping with difficult time, November 6, 2001
Reviewer: Cary Groner from Oakland, CA USA
As this book makes clear, at its heart Buddhist teaching offers an approach to living that emphasizes compassion, simplicity, and peace. Understanding this core is essential to spiritual progress, but it's rare to find a text that so elegantly addresses the cultural issues that may impede this process. "Gates to Buddhist Practice" is such a book. I found the frank discussions of all kinds of issues refreshingly straightforward and clear. Chagdud Rinpoche is obviously a teacher of profound insight and consummate skill, and I'd recommend "Gates" to anyone interested in gaining fuller understanding of a Buddhist approach to critical issues of life, death, and spirituality. At a time when a lot of us are feeling unmoored and stressed out, it's a blessing to have difficult questions answered in a way that is insightful and provocative without being pat or simplistic. I highly recommend this book.
Best Buddhist Book, November 3, 2001
Reviewer: Roman Paul from Seattle, WA USA
This is the best introduction to Buddhism that I have ever read. The book not only gave me a comprehensive overview of Buddhism in a uniquely clear and concise way, but made me feel that I was actually capable of putting the teachings into practice. Although I've always been drawn to books by Tibetans, I usually feel overwhelmed by their sheer mass and end up lost in a sort of hopeless fog. This book lifted the fog and clearly revealed a compassionate and authentic spiritual approach that can be useful to everyone.
