Compassionate Action

by Chatral Rinpoche, Zach Larson (Editor)

Chatral Rinpoche, the quintessential "hidden yogi," has been a legend in the Himalayan region for the past seventy years. Although he has never traveled to the West, his amazing story and teachings have gradually been infiltrating the Western Buddhist consciousness since Father Thomas Merton first met him in 1968 and famously remarked that he was "the greatest man I ever met." This is the first English-language book of this living legend; it includes his biography and autobiography, six of his essays, five prayers he composed, an exclusive interview, and sixteen pages of photos from throughout his life.

Genres: Buddhism, Religion, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2007

Reviews

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd heard a lot about Chatral Rinpoche, a great Buddhist master, but this is the first book of his teachings that I've seen. There's some biographical information which is very interesting: he started his studies at a young age and spent 30 years in study and retreat. When he started teaching, he was very strict about not giving higher teachings to students until they'd studied with him awhile so he could judge their abilities.

The book is aptly named, as it speaks mostly of compassion and discipline. Chatral Rinpoche made the unusual (for Tibetans) decision to not eat meat and to urge others to do the same. Quite a bit of the teachings center around this topic. He also encouraged and organized animal releases. I feel fortunate to have even lived and known about Chatral Rinpoche while he was alive.