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Vivid Awareness: The Mind Instructions of Khenpo Gangshar
Powerful guidance on how to work with strong emotions in overwhelming circumstances through Buddhist meditation—from a renowned Tibetan Buddhist master
In the summer of 1957, the revered Buddhist teacher and scholar Khenpo Gangshar foresaw the difficulties that would soon fall upon Tibet and began teaching in a startling new way that enabled all those who heard him to use the coming difficulties as the path of Dharma practice. The teaching consisted of the essential points of mahamudra and dzogchen, both view and practice, presented in a way that made them easy for anyone to use, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche was one of the grateful recipients of these teachings, which he regards as among the most important he has ever been given. He transmits them here, for the benefit of all of us who strive to practice in challenging times. They include contemplations on the ephemeral nature of both joy and suffering, meditations for resting the mind, and guidance for cultivating equanimity in any situation.
“These instructions are exceptionally concise and easy to follow . . . They could save your life too—giving you the tools to stabilize the mind even in the most terrifying and challenging of circumstances.” — Pema Chödrön, author of Taking the Leap
In the summer of 1957, the revered Buddhist teacher and scholar Khenpo Gangshar foresaw the difficulties that would soon fall upon Tibet and began teaching in a startling new way that enabled all those who heard him to use the coming difficulties as the path of Dharma practice. The teaching consisted of the essential points of mahamudra and dzogchen, both view and practice, presented in a way that made them easy for anyone to use, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche was one of the grateful recipients of these teachings, which he regards as among the most important he has ever been given. He transmits them here, for the benefit of all of us who strive to practice in challenging times. They include contemplations on the ephemeral nature of both joy and suffering, meditations for resting the mind, and guidance for cultivating equanimity in any situation.
“These instructions are exceptionally concise and easy to follow . . . They could save your life too—giving you the tools to stabilize the mind even in the most terrifying and challenging of circumstances.” — Pema Chödrön, author of Taking the Leap
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2011
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158 people want to read
About the author
Khenchen Thrangu
80 books43 followersVery Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Tulku, Karma Lodrö Lungrik Maway Senge (Tibetan: ཁྲ་འགུ་, Wylie: khra 'gu) is a prominent tulku (reincarnate lama) in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.
At the age of four he was formally recognized by His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa and Eleventh Tai Situpa as the ninth incarnation of the great Thrangu tulku, the abbot of Thrangu Monastery, whose root incarnation was Shüpu Palgyi Sengé, one of the twenty-five disciples of Guru Rinpoche. Forced to flee to India in 1959, he went to Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, where the Karmapa had his seat in exile. Thrangu Rinpoche then served as the main teacher of the four principal Karma Kagyü tulkus of that time—the four regents of the Karmapa (Shamar Rinpoche, Tai Situ Rinpoche, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, and Gyaltsab Rinpoche). In 1976 he began to teach in the West and became the abbot of Gampo Abbey—a Buddhist monastery in Nova Scotia, Canada—as well as to take charge of the three-year retreat centre at Samyé Ling in Scotland.
He is also the author of the widely studied The Practice of Tranquility and Insight, a commentary on the eighth chapter of Jamgön Kongtrul's Treasury of Knowledge, on shamatha and vipashyana.
At the age of four he was formally recognized by His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa and Eleventh Tai Situpa as the ninth incarnation of the great Thrangu tulku, the abbot of Thrangu Monastery, whose root incarnation was Shüpu Palgyi Sengé, one of the twenty-five disciples of Guru Rinpoche. Forced to flee to India in 1959, he went to Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, where the Karmapa had his seat in exile. Thrangu Rinpoche then served as the main teacher of the four principal Karma Kagyü tulkus of that time—the four regents of the Karmapa (Shamar Rinpoche, Tai Situ Rinpoche, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, and Gyaltsab Rinpoche). In 1976 he began to teach in the West and became the abbot of Gampo Abbey—a Buddhist monastery in Nova Scotia, Canada—as well as to take charge of the three-year retreat centre at Samyé Ling in Scotland.
He is also the author of the widely studied The Practice of Tranquility and Insight, a commentary on the eighth chapter of Jamgön Kongtrul's Treasury of Knowledge, on shamatha and vipashyana.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 11, 2015
There are a lot of dharma books out there. I have a bunch on my shelf waiting to be read, and am half through a number of others. So when I was planning my acquisitions during a recent trip to the USA, I limited myself to one dharma book. The reviews on Amazon pointed to this one, and I think I made a good choice.
Like many dharma books, this is a translation and elaboration of a short Tibetan text. One thing I really appreciated was how painstaking the explanation and elaboration was. The description of the original text is very clear and accessible.
The original text was intended to cut through the differences between the five or so schools of Tibetan Buddhism and present a simple clear instruction that could be carried out in difficult times.
The assertion is that this core instruction is at the heart of not just all the Tibetan schools but also all Indian Buddhism as well. I don't know that much about some other Buddhisms like "10 day retreat" Vipassana, or Theravada apart from Mastering the Core Teachings by Ingram, but it seems like maybe these mind instructions wouldn't apply as a simplification of those traditions.
Anyway, it's this: Rest in the natural state of the mind. Do that during meditation. Do that when not meditating. When difficulties or the poisons arise take them as the path by, you guessed it, resting in the natural state of the mind. What is the natural state of the mind? When you aren't thinking and your awareness is clear, mindful, expansive.
There are lots of little tidbits in the book that may be of use to any given individual practitioner, but what you get is basically the above with a lot of elaboration and clarification.
For me, reading this now, after achieving stream entry/first bhumi I find I have enough experience to recognize what is being discussed in this book, and being very happy to receive assurance that I am on the right path with my practice.
Like many dharma books, this is a translation and elaboration of a short Tibetan text. One thing I really appreciated was how painstaking the explanation and elaboration was. The description of the original text is very clear and accessible.
The original text was intended to cut through the differences between the five or so schools of Tibetan Buddhism and present a simple clear instruction that could be carried out in difficult times.
The assertion is that this core instruction is at the heart of not just all the Tibetan schools but also all Indian Buddhism as well. I don't know that much about some other Buddhisms like "10 day retreat" Vipassana, or Theravada apart from Mastering the Core Teachings by Ingram, but it seems like maybe these mind instructions wouldn't apply as a simplification of those traditions.
Anyway, it's this: Rest in the natural state of the mind. Do that during meditation. Do that when not meditating. When difficulties or the poisons arise take them as the path by, you guessed it, resting in the natural state of the mind. What is the natural state of the mind? When you aren't thinking and your awareness is clear, mindful, expansive.
There are lots of little tidbits in the book that may be of use to any given individual practitioner, but what you get is basically the above with a lot of elaboration and clarification.
For me, reading this now, after achieving stream entry/first bhumi I find I have enough experience to recognize what is being discussed in this book, and being very happy to receive assurance that I am on the right path with my practice.
July 21, 2017
Valuable, concise instruction
This work succinctly condenses many teachings into a practicable way to be mindful in our lives regardless of positive or negative circumstances.
This work succinctly condenses many teachings into a practicable way to be mindful in our lives regardless of positive or negative circumstances.
September 11, 2017
Excellent theory, commentary, and instruction on observing the nature of mind and its pitfalls or detours.
July 11, 2024
The clearest text I have read on the study of the Dharma, meditation, and the path to realizing wisdom and pure awareness. Highly recommended. ‘Let inner awareness be free. E ma ho!’
March 9, 2020
A clearly written, wealth of information
September 17, 2012
One of my favorite books on Buddhism, especially among those that read like a novel and are hard to put down. If you are familiar with modern and recent Tibetan teachers, this is like the story of their lives in Tibet. It is very inspiring, makes them very real in your imagination, and may inspire tremendous gratitude for these very special people who laid the modern foundations for Buddhism and meditation to be so special and transformative.
Currently reading
March 30, 2011Excellent.
June 28, 2013
Simple, clear instructions on how to make your everyday life the path. Valuable for any practitioner.
February 24, 2015
Excellent!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews