The Three Levels of Spiritual Perception: A Commentary on the Three Visions

by Deshung Rinpoche, Jared Rhoton (Translator), Victoria R.M. Scott (Editor)

The Three Levels of Spiritual Perception is a guide to the main system of meditation in the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Written by one of the first Tibetan masters to live and teach in the United States, this modern classic entertains, inspires, and motivates readers as it leads them along the entire path to enlightenment. This book clearly and movingly explains the Lamdre (Path with Its Result) system of meditation, which has been unique to the Sakya tradition for almost nine centuries. According to the Lamdre teachings, there are three main stages, or "levels of perception," on the spiritual path: the perception of ordinary beings, the vision experienced by those who have begun meditation practice, and the pure vision of those who have attained enlightenment. These three levels are ultimately shown to be inseparable. This new edition of The Three Levels of Spiritual Pereception has been revised to make the language and meaning even more clear. Wherever you may be on the path, you will find in this book welcome instructions and motivation for taking the next step.

Genres: Buddhism

576 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2003

Reviews

[bad · Rating 5 out of 5]

preliminary instructions in the lamdre system of the sakya school.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t agree with everything taught in this book. But my only real complaint is the repetitiveness of concepts in different chapters. I do get that the book is a transcript of lectures made at different dates. However, the editor could have easily omitted so many repetitions. This is not exactly my flavor of Buddhism. But! I will say that there are some transformative ideas that I can incorporate into my practice. I follow more of a Japanese tradition not Buddhism, but I always respect and honor all Buddhist paths. The fact that there are so many is a testament to Lord Buddha’s amazing ability to meet people where they were and are, using skillful means to teach them about the true nature of reality.

[Gerardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

(IN SPANISH BELOW)

A truly precoius jewel of a book.

This is a commentary by Deshung Rinpoche, the first Tibetan lama to teach in the West, on the "Three Visions", one of the most fundamental texts in the Sakya school, comprising all the instructions of the preliminary practices of the Lamdré ("Path with its Result") system of meditation. And when I mean all preliminary practices, I really mean all: from the instructions to appreciate this precious human rebirth, karma, the 3 realms of existence, the inevitability of death, refuge (the Impure Vision) to developing great love, great compassion, bodhichitta, shamatha and vipassana (the Vision of Experience), until finally describing what a Buddha's, the resultant state (the Pure Vision),characteristics and capabilities are . All in one single book.
Formalmente, it is organized around 56 short, straight-to-the-point chapters, at the beginning of each and every single one Deshung Rinpoche invariably summarizes the contents of previous lessons and uses them as a framework for the topic at hand. Moreover, it is introduced by a preface, biography of Deshung Rinpoche, Virupa and the Sakya Tradition, so that the reader can know what the lineage of this teachings are.

I highly recommend this book, and I quote from it "Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrub says, in essence, that this teaching is meant for the student who has just undertaken the Mahayana path, and that it is also a manual for masters who are trying to help their students progress along the path". And I couldn't agree more.

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Una auténtica joya preciosa de libro.

Éste es un comentario de Deshung Rinpoche, el primer lama que enseñó en Occidente, de "Las Tres Visiones", uno de los textos fundamentales de la escuela Sakya, que incluye todas las instrucciones de las prácticas preliminares del sistema de meditación Lamdré ("Camino que incluye el Resultado"). Y cuando digo todas las prácticas preliminares, realmente quiero decir todas ellas: de las instrucciones para apreciar este precioso renacimiento humano, el karma, los 3 reinos de existencia, la inevitabilidad de la muerte y el refugio (la Visión Impura), a desarrollar gran amor, gran compasión, bodhicitta, shamatha y vipassana (la Visión de la Experiencia), hasta finalmente describir en qué consisten lascaracterísticas y cualidades de un Buddha, el estado resultante (la Visión Pura). Todo en un solo libro.

Formalmente, está organizado en torno a 56 capítulos, cortos y directos al grano, al principio de los cuales, siempre se encuentra un resumen que Deshung Rinpoche hace de manera invariable de los contenidos de las lecciones previas, utilizándolas como marco en el que ubicar la enseñanza del día. Además, el libro está introducido por un prefacio, biografía de Deshung Rinpoche, Virupa y de la escuela Sakya, de manera que el lector puede saber a qué linaje pertenecen estas enseñanzas.

Recomiendo encarecidamente este libro, y cito del mismo: "Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrub dice que, en esencia, estas enseñanzas están concebidas para el estudiante que acaba de empezar su camino en el Mahayana, y que también es un manual para los maestros que están intentando ayudar a sus estudiantes a progresar en éste". Y yo no puedo estar más de acuerdo.

[Jessica Zu · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Tibetan Classic, well, Sakya classic to be exact, a modern commentary on Lamdre system of thought, in Chinese it's 道果。