Path to Buddhahood: Teachings on Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation

by Ringu Tulku, Matthieu Ricard (Foreword)

The Jewel Ornament of Liberation is regarded by all Tibetan Buddhist schools as one of the most inspiring and comprehensive works of the tradition. Written by Gampopa (born 1079 CE), the main spiritual son of the great hermit Milarepa, this important text lays out the stages of the Buddhist path and explains how an enlightened attitude is strengthened by practicing the six perfections of generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and knowledge.

For the first time, this sometimes difficult text is made accessible to Western readers in a clear and engaging commentary. Tibetan teacher Ringu Tulku explores this classic work of Buddhist practice and philosophy with the playful and fresh style that has made him so popular among students of Buddhism. Using folksy examples and anecdotes, he brings this text to life, discussing topics such


   •  seeing through the illusions that cause us to suffer
   •  advice on acting with kindness, generosity, and patience
   •  instructions on how to put others first
   •  guidance for attaining peace and lasting compassion

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality

208 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2003

About the author

Karma Tsultrim Gyurmé Trinlé (Tibetan: ཀརྨ་ཚུལ་ཁྲིམས་འགྱུར་མེད་ཕྲིན་ལས་, Wylie: kar+ma tshul khrims 'gyur med phrin las)—more commonly known as Ringu Tulku (Tib. རི་མགུལ་སྤྲུལ་སྐུ་, Wyl. ri mgul sprul sku) for the Ringu Monastery with which his incarnation line is associated—is a lama of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and proponent of the Rimé (non-sectarian) movement. In 1975 he was awarded the academic title of Khenpo, and in 1983 the that of Dorje Lopön Chenpo (Sanskrit: mahavajracarya; equivalent to a PhD). He served as Professor of Tibetology in Sikkim for 17 years, and since 1990 has been traveling and teaching Buddhism and meditation at more than 50 universities, institutes and Buddhist centers in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and Asia.

Reviews

[Lorilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The teachings in this book are clear and vivid, use quotes from the great teachers, and illustrations from Tibetan folk tales, personal experiences of the author, and those of western students. I found it inspiring and helpful in understanding the larger picture of Buddhism. Very grateful this book was written.

[Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great and humorous commentary on Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation.