dhana (Seattle, WA) -

Kamalashila was asked to travel to Tibet in the 8th century in order to clarify for the Tibetan king and his people the proper way to practice the Dharma. Kamalashila left behind three Bhavanakramas, or treatises on the stages of practice, originally composed in Sanskrit. Paramananda Sharma has published initial translations into English of all three, while Jordhen, Ganchenpa and Russell have done a more accessible translation of the second Bhavanakrama as part of "Stages of Meditation", the Dalai Lama's commentary on the text.

In this book, Thrangu Rinpoche provides us with insightful commentaries on the first two of the three Bhavanakramas, derived from lectures he delivered in 1988. In Thrangu Rinpoche's book, his commentary on the first Bhavanakrama looks at this slow but sure practice of "analytical meditation of the scholar" as he refers to it, as opposed to the style of Secret Mantra which looks directly at the mind's very nature. His commentary on the text is pithy and easy to follow, and should provide any reader with plenty on which to reflect and practice.

In his commentary on the second Bhavanakrama, Thrangu Rinpoche again provides us with insightful explanations that provide a comprehensive summary of the Mahayana Buddhist path. I was surprised that he characterizes the practices laid out in this second Bhavanakrama as strictly analytical meditation, in that the treatise places primarily emphasis on the practice of looking at the nature of the mind, as in Mahamudra practice, when describing insight practice. It is not clear why Thrangu Rinpoche's commentary does not cover this aspect of the Bhavanakrama, which to me is the most important part. "Stages of Meditation", mentioned above, provides a more complete account of this portion of the treatise.

In all, I found the book to be very helpful in clarifying many of the points raised in the Bhavanakramas which are not immediately clear upon reading them.

This is a great book read to anyone who cares to read essential practice as taught from Sutra perspective in Tibetan Buddhist transmission. All books by this author are great reading.

Essential Practice is a compilation of lectures and teachings about Kamalashila's "Stages of Meditation in the Middle Way School," and a stepping stone to better understanding the mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism. Written by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche (tutor to H.H. the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa) who is an honored teacher of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, and skillfully translated into English by Jules B. Levinson (an expert in Buddhist studies, an educator at Naropa University, and employed by the Light of Berotsana Translation Group), Essential Practice presents an incomparable wisdom on the methodology and means of meditation, as well as the ways in which to bring oneself to the transcendence of selfless behavior. Essential Practice is confidently recommended as a welcome and invaluable addition Tibetan Buddhist Studies reading lists and reference shelves.