The Path of Individual Liberation

The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma #1

by Chögyam Trungpa

The first volume of this landmark series presents the teachings of the hinayana. The hinayana introduces core Buddhist teachings on the nature of mind, the practice of meditation, the reality of suffering, and the possibility of liberation. It examines the nature of suffering, impermanence, and egolessness, with an emphasis on personal development through meditative discipline and study. The formal entry into the hinayana and the Buddhist path altogether is the refuge vow, in which a student goes for refuge to the Buddha, or the teacher; the dharma, or the teachings; and the sangha, or the community. The hinayana path is based on training in mindfulness and awareness, cultivating virtue, and cutting grasping. Topics covered in detail in this volume include the four noble truths, karma, the four foundations of mindfulness, meditation practice, the refuge vows, the three jewels, the five skandhas, the five precepts, twofold egolessness, and more.

The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma represents meditation master Chögyam Trungpa’s greatest contribution to Western Buddhism. This three-volume collection presents in lively, relevant language the comprehensive teachings of the Tibetan Buddhist path of the hinayana, mahayana, and vajrayana. This work will resonate with new students of Buddhism as well as the most senior students.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion, Philosophy, Theology, Meditation

680 pages, Hardcover

First published March 12, 2013

About the author

Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (Tibetan: ཆོས་ རྒྱམ་ དྲུང་པ་ Wylie: Chos rgyam Drung pa; also known as Dorje Dradul of Mukpo, Surmang Trungpa, after his monastery, or Chökyi Gyatso, of which Chögyam is an abbreviation) was a Buddhist meditation master, scholar, teacher, poet, and artist. He was the 11th descendent in the line of Trungpa tulkus of the Kagyü school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was also trained in the Nyingma tradition, the oldest of the four schools, and was an adherent of the rimay or "non-sectarian" movement within Tibetan Buddhism, which aspired to bring together and make available all the valuable teachings of the different schools, free of sectarian rivalry.

Trungpa was a significant figure in the dissemination of Tibetan Buddhism to the West, founding Naropa University and establishing the Shambhala Training method, a presentation of the Buddhadharma largely devoid of ethnic trappings. In 1963, he moved to England to study comparative religion, philosophy, and fine arts at Oxford University. During this time, he also studied Japanese flower arranging and received an instructors degree from the Sogetsu school of ikebana. In 1967, he moved to Scotland, where he founded the Samye Ling meditation centre.

Shortly thereafter, a variety of experiences—including a car accident that left him partially paralyzed on the left side of his body—led him to give up his monastic vows and work as a lay teacher. In 1969, he published Meditation in Action , the first of fourteen books on the spiritual path published during his lifetime. The following year he married Diana Pybus and moved to the United States, where he established his first North American meditation centre, Tail of the Tiger (now known as Karmê-Chöling) in Barnet, Vermont.

In 1986, he moved to Nova Scotia, Canada, where hundreds of his students had settled. That Autumn, after years of heavy alcohol use, he had a cardiac arrest, and he died of heart failure the following Spring. His legacy is carried on by his son, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, under the banner of Shambhala International and the Nalanda Translation Committee.

Reviews

[Keith Huston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll always be "currently reading" this book. Simply incredible.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This is one of the best books I've read relating to Buddhism. The author does a very good job at taking you from the very beginning and walking you through the core concepts of Buddhism and explains them.

I'd say this book is perfect for someone who has taken the three vows, or someone who knows a bit already but wants a good starting point, then this book is great for that.

I don't think I'll ever be done reading this book. I keep going back through chapters and rereading things and always feel like I missed things from when I first read it. I can't wait to get the other two books.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treasure this. The book really should be read in two parts. The first deals with developing a solid meditation practice, Shamantha as the foundation to everything else. Trungpa explains why Shamantha is so vital and the beginning of anything else you want to do. The second part of the book deals more with the other practices of Hinayana and Mahayana and then a little more about vajra. The feel of the book is one of support. If you are struggling to get on the cushion and work with mind, this is a text you could read for inspiration and then again and again for ongoing support.

[Ben Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5) stars. I thought maybe I wasn't in the right time and place to read this book. It's probably meant more for readers who are familiar with Trungpa's work and want the "Complete Works of" kinda deal. For my purposes I found it a bit repetitive and long-winded. He is a well regarded teacher, so perhaps I needed to start with something more succinct.

[IAO131 · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overview of Trungpa's views on things related to the Hinayana tradition. Generally has some good ideas but is not particularly coherent, nor is it particularly practical or in-depth.

[Mark Hazell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and it's two companion volumes in The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma make up an invaluable introduction to buddhism in general and the Tibetan buddhist path in particular. Editor Judith Lief and her associates have done a masterful job of compiling the transcripts of the talks given at 13 Vajradhatu Seminaries, three-month long group retreats that Trungpa Rinpoche led every year but one from 1973 through 1986. Trungpa was among the first of the great Tibetan teachers to move to the west, and also among the first to become completely fluent in English. His command of both the depth of buddhist philosophy and practice, and his astonishing ability to bring very lofty teachings into understandable English remains unparalleled. One could study these teachings for years and continue to benefit.

[Ruben Revillas Yoga, Mindfulness & Compassion · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books of Buddhist Hinayana Path from an amazing heart and mind.

[Kara Demetropoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been meditating off-and-on for four years now, but I don't think I really knew what I was doing until I read this book. A comprehensive overview of meditation practice in the context of Buddhism, yet surprisingly simple and easy to follow. To say this book prompted a perspective shift would be an understatement. Reading this book has altered my view of reality, in a fundamental way. It's a roller coaster - yet it keeps you grounded. There's nothing lofty or embellished here - the teachings are refreshingly straight-forward, with no frills. Best of all, after each reading session, I found myself excited to get back on my meditation mat. Similar to the way watching a cooking show makes you excited to get back in the kitchen.

I cant recommend this book enough for anyone interested in meditation, and especially for people who are already meditating.

[Laney Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many sections of this book saved to my phone which I send to people constantly when discussing the topics of meditation and mindful living. Truly a book that changed my life and I am incredibly grateful to the massive effort I know that it was to compile Rinpoche's teachings in such a comprehensive and easy to read volume(s). I wouldn't be who I am today without this book. Truly enlightening if you would like to learn more about Buddhism.

[Niklas Braun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite the Tour de Force of a western Hinayana translation. Trungpa is an adept at explaining the dharma to a western audience, and this book is the core of all his work. He goes through all of the Hinayana and the Kagyu lineage's teachings in great detail, explaining everything one could possible want to know. It is certainly a book I will continue to reference.

[Chris Bobek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny how hard this book was for me to grasp at first read. I literally just finished, contemplated it all and then started back at the beginning. Every word is clearer now. This is a book I will keep re-reading over and again. Beautiful.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite Chögyam Trungpa book. On the plus side, it was organized very well, had some nice descriptions of meditation and wasn't in Q&A format. On the negative side, I found this to be less colloquially phrased than many of his other books and its dryness put me off.

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been slowly reading this, over the course of the last 18 months, with a study group. Not really the kind of book I can write a review of. Very very glad to have read it and talked about it with the lovely group of friends. we'll begin with Vol 2 in a few weeks.

[Gene Bobker · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the serious student.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute essential and thorough compilation of beginning Buddhist concepts.

[Jake Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible and thorough introduction to the Hinayana. Will be re reading

[Matt Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. I finally feel like I know what Buddhism is about.

[Laila Regalado · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I ever read on the tantric path and spirituality. Must read!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exhaustive volume on the first 1/3rd of the Tibetan Buddhist path. Clocking in at 600 pages+, it still manages a dizzying density. The language is clear and even entertaining in places. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism but it is NOT a quick or easy read.

[Cecelia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I struggled through the group-reading of this book of basic studies in the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, known as Shambhala in the West. I say struggle because we usually read 7 pages a week (not including the summer of 2024) and discussed the teachings of author, Chogyam Trungpa who fled over the Himalayas to the West with the Dalai Lama in the 1950's escaping the conquering Chinese. I have a visual mind, attuned to art and left brain activities like noticing the world in nature. This book is a compendium of lists of Tibetan spiritual categories and "the way things are". I am a Buddhist now, trained first in strict Catholicism but searching for love, compassionate practice, simplicity and artful ways of moving through the world with less talking, less control, grasping and more simplicity..
Now at last, on to the second volume: The Bodhisattva Path of Wisdom and Compassion. Stay tuned Goodreads people!

[Fayelichua · Rating 2 out of 5]

As much as I like to complete this book (given how excited I was when I first chanced upon it), I find it gets boring and repetitive (also albeit mindless) after reading through chapter 13 out of 69. Or I'm just not in the right frame of mind to sit down and understand what is being said. I might come back to this book much later.

[Guy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much depth here. This is not a book to be read cover to cover and then to be placed on the shelf or given away. This is a study volume: worth returning to again and again. Look forward to the next two books.

[Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superlative.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the Path - what more do you need to know. Great edit by Judy Lief. *Gratitude*

[Mer · Rating 5 out of 5]

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