Joyful Path of Good Fortune: The Complete Guide to the Buddhist Path to Enlightenment

by Kelsang Gyatso

We all have the potential for self-transformation, and a limitless capacity for the growth of good qualities, but to fulfil this potential we need to know what to do along every stage of our spiritual journey. With this book, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso offers us step-by-step guidance on the meditation practices that will lead us to lasting inner peace and happiness. With extraordinary clarity, he presents all Buddha's teachings in the order in which they are to be practised, enriching his explanation with stories and illuminating analogies. Following these practical instructions, we will come to experience for ourselves the joy that arises from making progress on a clear and structured path that leads to full enlightenment.

Genres: Buddhism, Religion, Nonfiction, Spirituality

640 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

*'Geshe' is a Tibetan Buddhist academic degree for monks and nuns.

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche is a fully accomplished meditation Master and internationally renowned Teacher of Buddhism who has pioneered the introduction of modern Buddhism into contemporary society. Presenting Buddha’s teachings in a way that is relevant and suitable for modern people with busy lives, he shows how these teachings can be used by anyone, Buddhist or non-Buddhist, to solve problems, improve relationships and eventually attain a deep and lasting inner peace and happiness.

He has also created all the conditions necessary to support the study and practice of Buddhism in modern society: writing 22 highly acclaimed books that perfectly transmit the ancient wisdom of Buddha; establishing over 1,200 Kadampa Buddhist centers and groups throughout the world; developing modern study programmes; training qualified Teachers; and establishing local, national and international courses, festivals and retreats. Through all these and other activities Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche is giving new life to Buddhism, enabling people everywhere to discover inner peace and happiness through Buddha’s teachings, thereby bringing greater peace to a troubled world.

The term "Rinpoche," added to Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's name, is a Tibetan word that means "Precious One," and has been added as a mark of deepest respect.

To discover more about Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche’s compassionate vision and activities visit http://tharpa.com/us/benefit-all-worl....

Reviews

[Garydtee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joyful Path is a clearly written manual on beginning, maintaining, and completing the Mahayana Buddhist path to enlightenment. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso has done a great service to westerners in writing this profound volume. For the right reader this book is pure gold.

[Rahim R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatest book ever written.

[Benjamín Barros · Rating 5 out of 5]

No es el libro que leí XDD pero da igual. Leí “El Sendero Budista” de Khenpo Phuntzok Tenzin Rinpoche.

Muy interesante, mi mente occidental flipa y reniega…

[Dominic Gadoury · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I've finished reading, this is a lifelong journey of understanding all the impacts of this life transforming way of living and serving. It's one of my faves!!

[Matthew Laskowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind-blowing. It truly is a complete buddhist path to what I assume to be enlightenment. The book is extremely organized with a beautiful balance between technique/practice and antedote/lesson. It's a lifetime of work, so best get started now. It is a religious book and so if you have a problem with going for refuge in the buddha, dharma, and sangha, it might not be for you.

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very educational book, with helpful diagrams and eloquent analyses of complex Buddhist principles which deepens an understanding of the dharma. It does provide clear instructions on how to apply the dharma in our own lives in a way that makes the book timeless. It will be beneficial for many generations to come.

[Ryan Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect guide to the Kadampa path of Buddhism. I really enjoyed reading this. At 600+ pages it's a weighty tome, but a must, in today's insane society. Self-control, self-transformation, and the growth of good qualities, are seemingly modern trends but ones that all originate in Buddhism. Highly recommended reading. Namaste. @theyorkshirebuddha23 on Instagram 🙏

[Turquoise Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one took me a while, needed to slow down more and stopped to make more connections than I normally do now that I'm adding on what I hear during a class and in learning from other practitioners and teachers.

[Charles Minguez]

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso has written a lovely commentary to the works of Je Tsongkhapa. Even though I've finished the book, I will be returning again and again while on the path.

[Jairo Jairosoft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure what the word "Path" means. There is nothing like path in the American mindset. Maybe the closest thing to "Path" here is "Catechism", being that I was raised Catholic, this book gives me that impression. So it makes more sense for me, and hopefully for others, to interpret the sub-title alternatively as the "Complete Catechism for Buddhists." But actually for a particular set of Buddhists involved in the New Kadampa Tradition, which I would consider it a new branch of the Geluk tradition of Tibetan Buddhism since this is the same teachings given by the Dalai Lama except he uses his own sources. But essentially the book originates from the master work of Lama Je Tsongkapa.

Anyway, I liked studying it under our Foundation Program, and I fault myself for not continuing to study it further. Actually I cheat by listening to the audio version.
Compassion,
Jairo

[Richard Murton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably a very good book for people wishing to re-affirm their beliefs or establish a context for their already budding spirituality. As a non-Buddhist I found it to be reasonably informative and definitely well written, but ultimately it has the same pitfalls as most "Religious" books written by a member of that Religion in that it does feel rather pushy and evangelical, but then maybe that's the point.

[Shawnakent · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sub-title is The Complete Buddhist Path to Enlightenment, so I think I will be reading it for quite a while...

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

blimey I am loving this one!

[Jack Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the text for the current class at the Vajrayana Meditation Center in Oak Park. Typically, it takes about 3 years to complete, so this is a long-term commitment.

[Jools Rennie]

Read this book once on my own and enjoyed it,
now I'm reading it has part of a class and it's even better an easier to understand when you can discuss it with other like minded Buddhists.
:)

[Thomas Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clear and practical explanation of the Lamrim, the stages of the path to enlightenment. Indispensable.