The Essence of Buddhism: An Introduction to Its Philosophy and Practice

by Traleg Kyabgon, Sogyal Rinpoche (Foreword)

A clear and concise introduction to the teachings and philosophies of the three main vehicles of Buddhism — Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana —through a Tibetan lens

This comprehensive guide to the Buddhist path from the Tibetan point of view is as accessible as it is complete. Traleg Kyabgon breaks the teachings down conveniently into the three traditional “vehicles,” while never letting us forget that the point of all the Dharma is nothing other than insight into the mind and heart. Along the way he provides vivid definitions of fundamental Buddhist concepts such as compassion, emptiness, and Buddha-nature and answers common questions such

• Why does Buddhism teach that there is “no self”?
• Are Buddhist teachings pessimistic?
• Does Buddhism encourage social passivity?
• What is the role of sex in Buddhist tantra?
• Why is it said that samsara is nirvana?
• Does it take countless lifetimes to attain enlightenment, or can it be achieved in a moment?

Genres: Buddhism, Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche (1955–2012) was the ninth incarnation of the Traleg tulku line, a line of high lamas in the Kagyu lineage of Vajrayana. He was a pioneer in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to Australia.

Traleg Rinpoche was born in 1955 in Kham (Eastern Tibet), and two years later was recognized by HH 16th Gyalwa Karmapa as the ninth incarnation of the Traleg Tulkus and enthroned as the Abbot of the Thrangu monastery. He was taken to safety in India during the 1959 Chinese Communists invasion of Tibet. There he was given a traditional tulku education, supplemented by five years of schooling at Sanskrit University in Varanasi, India. He lived and studied for several years at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, the main seat in exile of the Kagyu Lineage. He died on July 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia.

In 1980 Rinpoche transmitted the Dharma in Australia where he established Kagyu E-vam Buddhist Institute in Melbourne. He relinquished his monastic vows, became a lay teacher and married. He earned a Masters degree in Comparative Philosophy from La Trobe University. In 1989, he taught extensively at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, visiting the North American affiliates of HH Gyalwa Karmapa. In 2004 he established the Evam Institute in New York in Chatham, NY. He also taught extensively in the Karma Thegsum Choling network of the Karmapa's centers and at Shambhala Buddhist centers. His wife, Felicity Lodro, is also an active dharma teacher.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book delivered what I was hoping for--a clear, but detailed, introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. In particular, it puts the whole practice of meditation (or, in the cognitive science/ new age spiritualism parlance, "mindfulness") in connection with the larger picture of Buddhist thought. I did come away with more questions than answers, but that seems to be an indication that I'm on the right "path." Another key concept that I've come closer to understanding (not completely there yet) is "emptiness", or the idea that the ultimate reality, the ultimate essence of things is emptiness. This can, on the surface, seem nihilistic, or at least pessimistic. In Buddhism, apparently, "empty" is not a negative concept, but instead signifies that "things lack inherent existence or a permanent enduring essence." This does not mean that nothing exists, however. We all exist, the chair I'm sitting on exists, the keys beneath my fingertips exist as I type this, but none of these things have an essence that endures, i.e.,they have no "inherent existence." This leads into an even more complex set of ideas around the notion of causality (warning: those of you who are trained in Western science notions of causality will be confused, or even angered)--that everything arises from causes and conditions (but there are no permanent, objective, independent, "self-existing" causes or effects). Which, in turn, means that this version of causality posits that no being can exist independent of everything else. "Everything is interdependent", or as we used to jokingly say in the 70s (usually while under the influence of some mind altering substance), "everything is everything." So, take your time with this book. You'll be introduced to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, the Nine Stages of Shamatha, the three Kayas, Sutra, Tantra, and a whole bunch more. Namaste, y'all.

[Salvatore · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most authoritative books on Buddhism I have ever read. Clear, detailed and profound, I could not stop reading. Essential reading.

[Bruce Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book 8 years ago. The time was right and the second time around produced many nuggets of wisdom. At the right time, this is the right book.

[Gijs Limonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars; solid overview, for more explanatory literature on Buddhism be sure to check out Thich Nhat Hanh; The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation and Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life and Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment.

[Sebastiano Alessandro Celebrimbor · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! Expanded my knowledge on Buddhism so much. Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche was clear and to the point as well as very engaging.
This is a must for those wanting to have a foundation in understanding Buddhist concepts.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find it very difficult to separate out a review of the subject as opposed to a review of the way the subject has been presented. The first half of the book covers, as you'd expect, an introduction to Buddhism, which is clear and engaging. It's not a long book, but it is quite dense and covers a lot of ground (if you are new to the subject certainly). As the author described the multiple layers and facets, I found I lost a real sense of context and the significance of different points became unclear. Maybe some graphical representations would have helped.

Overall I enjoyed the book and learned a lot from it, but should have learned more.

[Susie Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the book is a good introduction into the essence of Buddhist philosophy and practice. The language is highly accessible and contain an overall scope of important concepts. People might thought a religion book to be dull and theoretical, but I found Buddhism to be highly practical. Many things that are said in the book I had experience in real life and found that buddhism is truly a book of answers that could solve any problems one would encounter. There is no need for any psychiatrist to exist nor any excuse for depression if one could fully comprehend and practice what is in the book.
The only reason I give a four instead of a five is the repetition between the chapters of ideas that were already stated. But I understand that some ideas need to reinforce itself in order to leave the reader with strong impression.
Personally, I think my most important takeaways are the impermanent state of self, the relative and absolute truth of material and emptiness, and how both emotion and thoughts reflect the nature of mind. I also found there were more ways to mediation and how I could improve mine. I was very excited to read things that my family had told me or things I had summarized from my own living experience. Buddhism is truly enlightening and it is beyond religion itself. No matter one is converted in the religion or not, reading texts could help us to absorb the essence and incorporate those thinkings to help solve issues we face in life.

[Xolok Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first introduction to Buddhism. I had very little in terms of background or familiarity with it going in. I was a little frustrated with this book at first. I thought it would be possible to sketch out Buddhism in a way someone completely new to it would understand immediately. The author touches on this at the start by mentioning that the book would go a little deeper than most introductions did. The sketch I was expecting was basically done in the first quarter of the book. For the rest of the book, I struggled somewhat with terminology and concepts, but I was able to absorb more than I expected. This book probably would make a lot more sense for someone who has been studying Buddhism for at a least a short while. For someone completely new to it, however, it was still pretty understandable - especially considering that understanding is the key.

[Ramiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most complete introduction to Buddism I've read. While written by a Vajrayana scholar it attempts to encompass the whole spectrum of Buddhist practice, including early and Theravada Buddhism.

Despite being an introduction to Buddhsim, I would not recommend this to someone who has never read about it. It is very broad and littered with sanskrit and tibetan terms which might confuse readers new to Buddhism.

The latter chapters delve into the Tantric path and culminate on the Mahamudra teachings on the nature of mind. Due to the practical nature of these teachings, they turn quite abstract and harder to grasp.

If anything, the book served me to refresh my understanding of the core Buddhist teachings, and understand that the Buddhist path—as it allows us to better understand ourselves—is about engaging with life and the world fully, not retracting away from it.

[Sarah Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a tough slog and hard to rate. Went in thinking it would give me the very basics of Buddhism in plain language, but it was quite academic and read more like a textbook. I might have been able to grasp more if I read it rather than listened to the audiobook. I did get a good start on understanding Buddhism to an extent, particularly near the beginning, before it became too complex. This book would be better suited for people who already have a solid foundational understanding of Buddhism and wish to get an in-depth overview of it. Had I gone in with more knowledge of Buddhism, I would have given this a much higher rating as there is no doubt it is very informative.

[Joshua Sawyer]

The first half is great. The second half ... is too much for a beginner. I’m hoping to find an easier book and may come back to this after I have a better idea of what the hell he was talking about. This was like a world class expert physician teaching about cells to bio 101 students. Unimpressed so far.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, intense but readable book unpacking the dense variety of Buddhist practices and meanings behind them. Honestly a handbook, helping language barriers and offering a middling dive into basic fundamentals, sutra and tantric, and even later vehicles. Great book. Good writing. This is one I’ll be reading again and a study source and Tibetan language guide to terms.

[Ciarán Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good insight into buddishm and the different subsets of buddhism but the book was hard to read and follow at times. I think it's more of a reflection on me as the reader - a Buddhism for Dummies may be more appropriate.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Audiobook: I almost cannot even listen to this book to the end. I have read many beginner Buddhism books and by far this book is not for beginners. It was so complicated and so complex and the studies were all over the place I have no idea what it was talking about.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very clear, scholarly account of Buddhism, one of the best I’ve read. I will return to it again and again.

[Linus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good introduction to both Sutrayana and Tantrayana, as viewed from the Kagyud perspective. Recommended to any serious student of Tibetan Buddhism and Vajrayana.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt more like a reference textbook that was written out in a sequence of sentences than a compelling book to actually read and learn from.

[Janani · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction. Hard to get through at some points.

[Art Wangchu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quit. Formal but not attractive.

If you write a book in such a lukewarm way, I do not think you can attract too many readers. Know what your readers need please.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good primer on the philosophy and practices of Tibetan Buddhism. It was especially helpful for me in understanding more and more about Mahayana.As always, reading this while practicing with a group or studying with a teacher, will garner you more from the book.

[Bryan Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche is a great teacher of Tibetan Buddhism for the west. He spent a great deal of time and energy studying western philosophy and psychology in order to be able to effectively explain Buddhists concepts to westerners. This effort really shows in his books. I find his books make difficult concepts easy to understand. I will eternally be grateful for the wisdom I’ve learned from all of his books.

[Sandeep Sudhakaran · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first introduction to Budhism, seems to have explained major themes and ideas, but too far into the weeds at times

[Ben Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was just okay for me. It is a good summary of various buddhist ideas but for the most part it does not go into much depth about applying them in everyday life. Good if you want a fairly comprehensive overview, but not my go-to for anything deeper.

[Maytherebepeace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm on Chapter 7 and love this book. This author is a very good teacher, in my experience. He takes certain teachings, concepts and words and clarifies them making sure that we understand them accurately.

As a student of Dharma, his style works for me. There were many terms and concepts floating in my consciousness with not much clarity: for example, what is Karma according to Buddhism; also what is the in-depth difference between Hinayana and Mahayana. He also sheds light on teachings that may have been misunderstood or distorted.

I like this teacher's style so much and I already have his other book, the practice of Lojong which I keep as a reference and plan to buy his book: Mind at Ease.

I recommend him highly to those who like to grapple with the subject to really get a handle on what it means.

Sad that this teacher is no longer with us, but he left a treasure behind for us to learn from.

[Jeremy Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm new to Buddhism and was raised in a Pentacostal Christian household and I felt a strong urge to seek out Buddhism , I found and have been attending a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist church here in Fresno California and was quite confused with the ceremonies and practices, I picked up The Essence of Buddhism @ Barnes & Nobel and found it to be a very fascinating book, as well as informative! I find that I'm more relaxed and think more mindfully of others after reading it, this book is a very awakening experience for me and I'm very glad I bought and am reading it! I love this book, it is very clear and easy to understand explanation of Buddhist philosophy and practices.

[C. Varn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traleg Kaybgon's introduction to Buddhism is from a particular perspective: both Vajrayana in general and the Kagyu's Mahamudra tradition in specific. The various topics are answered frankly, clearly, and honestly--even on particularly controversial or somewhat esoteric practices such as karmamudra. I found Kaybgon's discussion of the various yoga practices to be particularly insightful and direct. A very useful introduction to the Kagyu Vajrayana perspective and to Vajrayana in general.

[Suzanne Rioux · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book deals with the three schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the Hinayana, Mayahana and Vajrayana from both ontological and historical perspectives. I found this work to be unnecessarily complicated and a very tedious read. I gave up about 30 pages from the end to finish a Jack Kornfield book on the same material that is a great read.

[Noah Rasheta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had a lot of useful information as well as tons of historical information that was not easy to get through at times. If you're interested in all the details of every Tibetan school of Buddhism, this has everything your looking for. If you're just looking for a guide on the basics of Buddhism overall, this is probably not the right book for you.

[Eugene Pustoshkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two thirds of the book are pretty conventional and not illuminating to me. There is a sense of dullness rather than freshness about the exposition of the fundamentals of Buddhism. The best part of the book is the concluding chapters where Traleg Kyabgon discusses Tantra and Mahamudra. These are the parts worth reading.