wisdom eccentrics rumours of realisation as told by Künzang Dorje Rinpoche with additional tales of the unexpected

by Ngakpa Chögyam

A rare account of remarkable Lamas in the final years of a lost era. The author finds himself the first Western disciple of Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche, a highly reclusive master known for mercurial wrath and facility of Dzogchen. The author receives direct introduction to the nature of Mind through ruthless interrogation on the meaning of stories from the lives of Lineage Lamas.

557 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

Reviews

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll just get this out of the way. I am not a Buddhist or any other one thing. A guide recommended this to me as he thought I would like it. He was right. I liked it. A lot. So I don’t even slightly pretend to understand the technicalities of the dharma. I don’t want to appropriate Tibetan culture even one little bit. I don’t even know how to pronounce most of the words I read...but I felt some things on a very deep level. Parts were familiar to me in ways I don’t have words for. I have a deep affection for Rinpoche that I can’t explain. I know that underneath all of my lack of knowledge I actually “get it” on a level that is an embodiment of it beyond the mind. Sounds crazy. Probably is. Such a pleasure to feel this book :D

[Nor'dzin Pamo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd like to give this book 4½ stars - but that doesn't seem to be an option. The first two parts are incredibly inspiring. I was completely transfixed by the author's developing relationship with Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche. The reader was able to discover teaching for themselves within the story of this process. Part III contains interesting stories of Chhi'mèd Rig'dzin Rinpoche - but there is not the same sense of the unfolding of the relationship and how that relationship developed. The style of writing is also quite different. The book returns to the story of his later relationship with Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche in the last two parts of the book, which again is most inspiring. So for a book in five parts - four parts were 5 star and totally amazing. The third section was interesting and enjoyable, but did not fit so well with the rest of the book.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and Funny – the education of a some-times idiot

Hand’s down the most entertaining spiritual memoir I’ve ever read – like a bigger and better version of Carlos’s meetings with don Juan (and don Genaro)– fast paced and lively, insightful and profound, and best of all, often hilarious, and always genuine.

Ngakpa Chogyam has a gift for bringing just the right touch to his tale of a nascent yogi’s journey and the wrathful lamas-in-exile who guided him – via the telling of their own open-ended tales, esp. of Paltrul Rinpoche and Drukpa Kunlegs’ unconventional antics. It certainly captures a moment in time (an innocence in/of Asia that no longer exists), but even more so, a glimpse of the timeless.

“I feel that it is possible to enter the world of Vajrayana – whilst remaining English or whatever nationality you happen to be. I believe that you can cross boundaries and live in the tidal margins between cultures.. You can be a gay rodeo rider; a vegetarian firearms enthusiast; a priest who enjoys the sport of pugilism; a pacifist who enjoys war novels, or, a heavy metal guitarist who loves Baroque chamber music. You can even be a a hippie who speaks the Queen’s English, enjoys Shakespeare plays, and reads Jane Austen novels… Oh, that’s me by the way – welcome to my book. “ (p. 23)

“Kyabje Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche said “The world is full of idiots. There are many kinds of idiots: foolish harmless idiots; shy emotionally vulnerable idiots; oversensitive idiots; ridiculous pious idiots; comfort-seeking idiots; mundane conformist idiots; tight-minded conservative idiots; unconventional exhibitionist idiots; puritanical idiots; pompous spiritual idiots; self-righteous hypocritical idiots; self-satisfied sanctimonious idiots; academic scholarly idiots; tedious self-centered idiots; clever scheming idiots; power-seeking idiots; arrogant bigoted idiots; cruel avaricious idiots; and, dangerous vicious idiots. I have no time for idiots.” (p. 81)

“…Marvelous to chant sadhanas of the awareness-beings and protectors – but with a bigoted mind,
You may as well recite the telephone directory – forwards or backwards – it makes no difference,
Even if you occasionally call someone up – no one’s going to want to converse with you anyway
Because you’re just another sales-call from samsara – better to give voice to awareness and kindness
Singing Blues – or simply listening to the glorious music of life as if it were for the first time…” (stanza of a poem by author, p. 475)

[Robert Kipa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating account of one student’s journey into the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism - as taught by Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche. Teachings and stories include such gems as:

“Drukpa Künlegs went to the lady’s front door, summoned up an erection, and thrust his schlong through a hole in the door. The demon had been looking into the hole at the time – and such was the force with which Drukpa Künlegs thrust his schlong through the door, that it knocked out a fair assortment of the demon’s teeth. The demon wailed in pain —screamed— and disappeared down the valley. He didn’t stop ’til he came to Pema Ting’dzin’s cave where she was sitting in meditation.”

[Marion Baud · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books.

[SE Järekari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It is very inspiring, captivating and overall an enjoyment to read - even to a non native English speaker.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I agree with Nordzin Pamo's review-- the parts of the book where the author is with Künzang Dorje Rinpoche are amazing; the shorter parts where it is another great teacher do not some how touch my inner core.

But the parts I liked I liked so much that I will go 5 stars on this one :-)

Really amazing story of the education of one Lama by another.

[Suzanne Khandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rare, intimate portrait of meeting one's guru, and mostly, of the guru himself. A Tibetan lama and his wife from Mustang handed me this book in Boudha, Kathmandu, and urged me to read it - I devoured this 536-page book during the rest of my week there. Marvelous book - author - subjects.