A Path of Practice: The Bodhi Path Program

by Shamar Rinpoché

In Toward The Bodhi Path Program, Künzig Shamar Rinpoche offers his vision of focused Dharma practice with the power to lead practitioners in today’s world toward achieving the state of awakening. His emphasis lies in general on Mahāyāna Buddhism as the essential support of such practice, and in particular on the path of Mahāmudrā as transmitted in the Kagyü tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. From these perspectives, he describes the various elements of meditation practice, that is, the path of Dharma to be walked consistently. In addition, he recommends the study of certain Buddhist topics which can help a meditator to navigate through the different layers of his or her spiritual practice and encourages practitioners to develop the right view which can then lead the meditation.

154 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 10, 2020

About the author

SHAMAR RINPOCHE was born in 1952 in Eastern Tibet to the elder brother of the late 16th Karmapa. He was recognized as a reincarnation of the Shamarpa by the 16th Karmapa, and confirmed by the 14th Dalai Lama. The Shamarpa lineage is the second-oldest reincarnate lineage in Tibetan Buddhism and dates back to the 13th century. Historically, during the life of the 10th Shamarpa, the 18th century Emperor Qianlong of China imposed a law to ban the continuation of the Shamarpa institution, due to the 10th Shamarpa’s allying with the Nepalese government when the emperor was attacking Nepal.

According to this history, the present 14th Shamarpa is the 11th throne holder. The present day Shamar Rinpoche was enthroned in 1965 by the 16th Karmapa in Sikkim. He had a Buddhist education in Sikkim and, since age 29, has been teaching worldwide. In addition, he has founded several non-profit organizations worldwide engaged in charitable activities such as schooling underprivileged children and promoting animal rights.