Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand: A Concise Discourse on the Path to Enlightenment

by Pabongkha Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche (Editor), Michael Richards (Translator)

Pabongka Rinpoche was one the twentieth century's most charismatic and revered Tibetan lamas, and in Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand we can see why. In this famous twenty-four-day teaching on the lamrim , or stages of the path, Pabongka Rinpoche weaves together lively stories and quotations with frank observations and practical advice to move readers step by step along the journey to buddhahood. When his student Trijang Rinpoche first edited and published these teachings in Tibetan, an instant classic was born. The flavor and immediacy of the original Tibetan are preserved in Michael Richards' fluid and lively translation, which is now substantially revised in this new edition.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion

896 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1988

About the author

Déchen Nyingpo (Tibetan: བདེ་ཆེན་སྙིང་པོ, Wylie: bde chen snying po), the second Pabongkha Rinpoche (Tib.: ཕ་བོང་ཁ་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་, Wyl.: pha bong kha rin po che), most frequently referred to posthumously as Pabongkhapa, was an influential lama and Geshe (equivalent to Doctor of Theology) of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was the principle teacher of the 3rd Trijang Rinpoche, Geshe Lharampa Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (1901–1981), who was in turn the junior tutor and "root guru" of the 14th Dalai Lama.

He became a controversial figure both because of his staunch pro-Gelug sectarianism, and within the Gelug for his innovations to the tradition established by the reformer Tsongkhapa at the founding of the order, making Vajrayogini rather than Cakrasamvara the central focus of practice and introducing and emphasizing the replacement of the "the traditional supra-mundane protectors of the Ge-luk tradition" with the propitiation of an arguably worldly (and also fiercely sectarian) spirit, which he received from his teacher Takpu Pema Vajra.

Reviews

[Mojo Tchudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The complete Buddhist path in a single text

In this masterwork of Buddhist teachings, Pabongka Rimpoche details every stage of practice. Regardless of one’s level of interest or particular lineage, this text contains something one can use. A must-read!

[Fatdaddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Due anni per finirlo, io accanito divoratore di ben altri tomi? Nulla di tutto ciò, semplicemente è un tesoro la cui lettura in realtà non ha mai termine, perché il giungere all’ultima riga segna solo l’istante da cui ricominciare.

Ogni tanto induco nell’oziosa domanda “ma se fossi su un’isola deserta quale unico libro mi porterei con me?”.
Ora ho la risposta.

[Łukasz Kalinowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent discourse describing the teachings and path of the Gelug School, but sometimes the author is not precise enough, e.g. while using the quite relevant term of "non-abiding nirvana", he didn't explain a meaning staying behind this word.

[Gianmichael Salvato · Rating 5 out of 5]

This seminal text and commentary is a must- have resource for any Vajrayana practitioner.

I've read and studied it at least eight times, and discover new insights each time.

[Mr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

One the best books on the Lam Rim Chenmo, it is absolutely essential for anyone starting on the Path. Simply amazing.

[Marc Preston Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone embarking on the Tibetan Buddhist path should make this their first thorough read and study.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fundamentalist Buddhist masterpiece. Not the sort of spirituality I find anything but dreadful, but the profundity of the mind behind this commentary is admirable.

[Rat Xue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thinking about this book I realize how half-ass my "contributions" to this site are; I gave it 5 stars and should probably recalibrate all my other ratings based on this as some sort of gold standard.
I'm a "christian" which is to say I was fed all that tripe from an early age, result; I'm with Father Dougal McGuire.
This book is different.
This book is The Real Deal, Pabongka was The Real Deal, I Know This.
Does Exactly What It Says On The Tin.
I'm not sure I could ever "own" a copy, I automatically gave mine as a gift as did the person I gave it to.
I could literally cry for joy.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stages of the Path to Enlightenment

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading. The Lam Rim is the most beautiful, concise compilation of Mahayana (Tibetan) Buddhist teachings.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent detailed Dharma book. Felt it opened my eyes to many aspects of Buddhism. have now read it several times.

[Jan Hauck · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you follow the teachings in this book, this is probably the only dharma book you're ever going to need. This should be a standard and in my library it is.

[Shinay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first text I read wanting to learn more about Buddhism. Outstanding book and has started me on my journey.....