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A Beginner's Guide to Tibetan Buddhism: Practice, Community, and Progress on the Path
Uncover the nature of the mind with this ground-level, practice-oriented presentation of Tibetan Buddhism. A personal and accessible guide to establishing progress on the path.
The book begins with the awakening of students' interest in spirituality and the initial encounter with Tibetan Buddhism, then leads us through all the steps necessary for successful practice in the West. Included is succinct counsel on finding an appropriate teacher, receiving empowerments, becoming active in a center, and launching and sustaining a Vajrayana practice. Special emphasis is placed on the potential pitfalls, and the marvelous benefits, of the guru-disciple relationship.
The book begins with the awakening of students' interest in spirituality and the initial encounter with Tibetan Buddhism, then leads us through all the steps necessary for successful practice in the West. Included is succinct counsel on finding an appropriate teacher, receiving empowerments, becoming active in a center, and launching and sustaining a Vajrayana practice. Special emphasis is placed on the potential pitfalls, and the marvelous benefits, of the guru-disciple relationship.
- GenresBuddhism
304 pages, Paperback
Published April 19, 2022
17 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 27, 2026
This book set me back months in my practice.
For several chapters, I was enjoying the book. It does have good information on what Tibetan Buddhism looks like “on the ground” so to speak, as in what actually happens at pujas, how to talk to lamas, etc.
I had put my trust in the author since the book was recommended to me and Buddhism can be very subtle for Westerners like myself.
My experience of the book went way downhill when I got to the chapter about “things that people do wrong” when they practice Buddhism. In this chapter, the author gave some really sucky advice to put it bluntly. He said that these were the two main things people do wrong.
1. They put in too much effort
2. They meditate too much like themselves
Stop putting in so much effort he says. Just be effortless and relaxed when you meditate. Also, don’t meditate in a way that reflects your personality, because that’s just reinforcing your ego which is the opposite of the path.
Both of these are nonsensical pieces of advice. Meditate in an effortless and egoless way? That’s like asking someone to achieve awakening BEFORE they start on the path to awakening.
For a while, I tried to follow his advice, but it sapped all motivation from my practice.
1. I would start applying the effort necessary to not think, but since that was effort, which he said was wrong, I felt that there was no way I could meditate right.
2. I would sit down on my meditation bench, but since I would invariably find that I was still myself, which he said was wrong, I felt that there was no way I could meditate right.
It really messed with my head and set me back.
The advice is not even consistent with core Buddhist teachings. “Heroic effort” is one of the six paramitas. In the Dhammapada, “Vigilance” is the second chapter, and it says “Through effort, vigilance, Restraint, and self-control, The wise person can become an island No flood will overwhelm” (Gil Fronsdal’s translation)
Because Buddhism is so different from the Western mind, the Western student cannot rely on their intuition as much as usual and so has to put a lot of trust in their teachers. That’s what I did when I read this book and I have suffered for it.
Still, I wish the author unlimited success on his path to awakening.
For several chapters, I was enjoying the book. It does have good information on what Tibetan Buddhism looks like “on the ground” so to speak, as in what actually happens at pujas, how to talk to lamas, etc.
I had put my trust in the author since the book was recommended to me and Buddhism can be very subtle for Westerners like myself.
My experience of the book went way downhill when I got to the chapter about “things that people do wrong” when they practice Buddhism. In this chapter, the author gave some really sucky advice to put it bluntly. He said that these were the two main things people do wrong.
1. They put in too much effort
2. They meditate too much like themselves
Stop putting in so much effort he says. Just be effortless and relaxed when you meditate. Also, don’t meditate in a way that reflects your personality, because that’s just reinforcing your ego which is the opposite of the path.
Both of these are nonsensical pieces of advice. Meditate in an effortless and egoless way? That’s like asking someone to achieve awakening BEFORE they start on the path to awakening.
For a while, I tried to follow his advice, but it sapped all motivation from my practice.
1. I would start applying the effort necessary to not think, but since that was effort, which he said was wrong, I felt that there was no way I could meditate right.
2. I would sit down on my meditation bench, but since I would invariably find that I was still myself, which he said was wrong, I felt that there was no way I could meditate right.
It really messed with my head and set me back.
The advice is not even consistent with core Buddhist teachings. “Heroic effort” is one of the six paramitas. In the Dhammapada, “Vigilance” is the second chapter, and it says “Through effort, vigilance, Restraint, and self-control, The wise person can become an island No flood will overwhelm” (Gil Fronsdal’s translation)
Because Buddhism is so different from the Western mind, the Western student cannot rely on their intuition as much as usual and so has to put a lot of trust in their teachers. That’s what I did when I read this book and I have suffered for it.
Still, I wish the author unlimited success on his path to awakening.
Displaying 1 of 1 review