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Lama Wangdu Rinpoche is a contemporary practitioner of the Buddhist Chöd tradition. This autobiography is a delightful portrait of a great meditation master during his personal trials in feudal Tibet and his life in exile. The essence of the book is the authors spirit of ever-giving generosity and wisdom as a Buddhist teacher and healer. A true inspiration in today's world. This autobiography is supplemented by teachings on the transference of consciousness and Kusuli Chöd practice.

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"A rare portrait of an elusive yet important religious figure in Tibetan Buddhism...offer[s] an entertaining glimpse." -- Buddhadharma

"Two venerable texts...skillfully translated into English for the first time...invaluable reference...highly recommended." -- Library Bookwatch

"...wonderful...It is a great read, and explodes with the sense and sensibility of the enlightenment dynamic." -- Glenn H. Mullin, author

"...a valuable resource, skillfully translated...It contains an engrossing biography of this unique teacher as well as his eccentric teachings...This is a richly rewarding read." --Mandala

"...will captivate readers...an indispensable reference work for students of Eastern spirituality." --Eastern Horizon
Review
"..a valuable resource, skillfully translated...This is a richly rewarding read."

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Do you practise meditation because you want to feel good? Or to help you relax and be “happy”? Then frankly, according to Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse, you are far better off having a full-body massage than trying to practise the Dharma.

Khyentse shows that genuine spiritual practice, not least the Ngöndro preliminaries, will not bring the kind of comfort and ease most worldly people crave. Quite the opposite, in fact. But if your ultimate goal is enlightenment, Ngöndro practice is a must, and Not for Happiness your perfect guide, containing everything an aspiring practitioner needs to start to practise, including advice about:

“renunciation mind”
discipline, meditation and wisdom
using your imagination in visualisation practice
why we need a guru

Students’ Reactions to Not for Happiness:

“Having a map of the path that shows where each practice is headed helps me to see what each stage is preparing me for. Even the chapters that at first didn’t seem relevant to my current practice contained such great gems of teaching that they turned out to be extremely relevant and very helpful.”—Catherine Fordham

“To me, this book is like the world’s best kind of GPS! I feel that by following its guidance, even though I am not a skilful driver, I will have the confidence to drive through my Ngöndro practice—and may even end up feeling quite good about it!”—Helena Wang

About the Author
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse (Khyentse Norbu) is a Tibetan Buddhist lama who travels and teaches internationally and is also an award-winning filmmaker. He is the abbot of several monasteries in Asia and the spiritual director of meditation centers in Vancouver, San Francisco, Sydney, Hong Kong, and Taipei. He is also head of a Buddhist organization called Siddhartha’s Intent.

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This is a clear and in-depth presentation of the traditional Theravadin concentration meditation known as jhāna practice, from two authors who have practiced the jhānas in retreat under the guidance of one of the great living meditation masters, PaAuk Sayadaw. The authors describe the techniques and their results, based on their own experience.

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“Stephen Snyder and Tina Rasmussen know what they write about in this book through their own direct experience as dedicated yogis. This book serves as a bridge for Westerners, as a conduit to the traditional teachings of the Buddha.”—Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw

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Jhana is a powerful meditative technique that opens the way to unfettered joy, radiant calm, and abiding happiness. Focused and Fearless presents this ancient meditative tradition as interpreted through the practice of a contemporary American teacher, and as such, it represents a landmark shift in Theravadan Buddhism by bringing jhana into the reach of busy practitioners. The book speaks to both non-meditators and meditators from any tradition, helping those who simply want to understand how to attain extraordinary states with ease while offering a creative, contemporary slant on this ancient path of happiness and wisdom. An engaging mix of contemporary examples, practical exercises, and how-to instructions that anyone can try, Focused and Fearless is an accessible, friendly, and wise guide that is ideal for both novices and the more seasoned practitioner who wishes to explore advanced meditative states.

About the Author
Shaila Catherine has been practicing meditation since 1980, with seven years of accumulated silent retreat experience, and has been teaching since 1996 in the USA, India, Israel, England, and New Zealand. Shaila studied at the Sharpham College for Buddhist Studies in England and dedicated six years to studying with masters in India, Nepal, and Thailand including H. W. L. Poonja, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. She is the founder of Insight Meditation South Bay. She lives in Menlo Park, California.

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