Rainbow Body: The Life and Realization of a Tibetan Yogin, Togden Ugyen Tendzin

by Namkhai Norbu, Andriano Clemente (Translator)

Rainbow The Life and Realization of a Tibetan Yogin, Togden Ugyen Tendzin, presents the remarkable life story of Togden Ugyen Tendzin (1888–1962), a Tibetan yogin who in death achieved the “rainbow body,” the release of the physical body in the essence of the five elements and one of the highest spiritual attainments of Dzogchen, recognized as the supreme level of Tibetan Buddhism. His nephew, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, one of the greatest living masters of Dzogchen, composed the book from his own recollections of his uncle as well as direct quotes from talks with the great yogin himself and his disciple Sala Karma Samten. The book traces the yogin’s childhood struggles, the circumstances that led him to his teacher, the eminent Adzom Drugpa, and his difficult path to self-realization. Finally, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu relates the story of Ugyen Tendzin’s death during imprisonment by the Chinese, when witnesses discovered that though his sheepskin robe still sat upright, his body was gone—a testament to its having dissolved into the rainbow body.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality

163 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 7, 2010

About the author

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche (Tib. ཆོས་རྒྱལ་ནམ་མཁའི་ནོར་བུ Chos-rGyal Nam-mkha'i Nor-bu) was one of the foremost 20th century masters of Dzogchen and lead Buddhist retreats through out the world. As a child he was recognized as the reincarnation of the great Dzogchen Master Adzom Drugpa (1842-1924) and later by the sixteenth Karmapa as a reincarnation of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651), the first Dharmaraja of Bhutan. (Dharmaraja in Sanskrit and Chögyal in Tibetan are both honorific titles meaning "King of the Teachings." Rinpoche is likewise an honorific meaning "Precious One.")

In 1960, following the deterioration of the social and political situation in Tibet, he moved to Italy on the invitation of the well-known orientalist Prof. Giuseppe Tucci. There, he contributed to giving a concrete stimulus to the spread of Tibetan culture in the West. After teaching Yantra Yoga in Naples for several years, in the mid-seventies he started giving Dzogchen teachings, encountering a growing interest throughout the West.

Reviews

[Zyph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always feel slightly uncomfortable giving Dharma books a low rating but I really can't recommend this spiritual biography. It's mostly "I went to this cave and stayed for 3 years in retreat, and then I want to another cave and stayed there for another 3 years".

You don't get to read anything about his inner life, his experiences, his struggles, his personality.. Only glimpse of his personality I remember is that he doesn't want many students or stay in the royal palace as the kings guru because he's afraid of being seduced by comfort and fame. Also there are no teachings, no advice, no songs of realization.
I read this book 2 years ago and forgot everything because nothing stuck with me, I only realized I already read and when I saw I had already rated it!

I would recommend Enlightened Vagabond about Patrul Rinpoche a million times over this! The many little anecdotes makes Patrul Rinpoche come so alive, I felt like I really got to know him!
If you want to read about a 20th century master, read:
- Brilliant Moon about Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, it has 2 parts, very beautiful intimate chapters by some of his students that really bring him alive and a very traditional tibetan hagiography which is not as moving but still interesting.
- Freedom in Bondage about Adeu Rinpoche, it shows much more of his inner life, how he took imprisonment has a means to deepen his spiritual journey, and has amazing Dharma teachings.
- Blazing Splendor has a wealth of vivid, inspiring, life stories reaching form the dawn of the Kagyu tradition to the 20th century.
- Born in Tibet by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

I would only recommend this book if you're a student of Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, because it's about his uncle after all and also has a short mention of Rinpoches parents and his birth.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book definitely for one not demanding scientific proof of the text as well as one who has a good knowledge of Tibetan Buddhist practices. Miracles and mystical occurrences are the norm and perhaps this isn't a book for the modern Buddhist who just seeks psycho./emotional protection from life's slings and arrows. Despite that, I enjoyed the mystical aspects and even if you have to have inside knowledge of such practices to really understand what was being said, suggested or explained, in its own way it is inspiring for a would be spiritualist.

[Logan Streondj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of someone that reached rainbow body, including short stories of several others including a woman who reached rainbow body

[Kazza Panchentsang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring and motivating.

[Ran · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful story of love and meaning of Togden Ugyen Tendzin. Not much to say other than if you are interested in the lore of Tibetan Buddhism then this is a mystical read that you will enjoy very much.

[Joe Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, charming and intimate example of the traditional Tibetan literary genre of the namthar.

[Emi Kanter · Rating 5 out of 5]

You may or may not believe these tibetan stories in a literal sense, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying ChNNR's mythic prose.