The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones: The Practice of View, Meditation, and Action: A Discourse Virtuous in the Beginning, Middle, and End

I keep a copy of this little book in my top desk drawer at the office. Right next to my New American Bible. I consult both for common sense wisdom. I think all us humans could use some centering when our ego gets the best of us. When worldly objects seem real and solid we cling to them as if they are permanent, this book will allow you to see the essance of of your clinging mind. Letting go is liberating - Get this little book and allow yourself to let go.

It has been said by those who know,that His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibetknows a thing or two,about a thing or two.In the forward, the Dalai Lama not only lauds this textas containing ALL the Essential instructionsto accomplish full enlightenment in one life time,but he goes on to compare it to an elixir for reviving the dead!Having had the very good fortune to receive teachingsfrom every major and many minor Buddhist schoolsthis simple devotee to the Buddha of Compassioncan concur whole heartedly with His Holiness.This book is so important,that I have taken it as my Primary Textand as such, read it from cover to cover,Every Single Month.Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, wrote this bookfrom the "Rime" or NON-sectarian approach.It has something to offer everyonefrom wide-eyed beginner to 9th level Bodhisattva!Too many Americans have gotten distractedfrom Buddha's path to enlightenmentby such things as:Culture, Language, Tradition and Politics.THIS text was designed to protect the readerfrom such foolishnessand keep them alertly aware of what is most importantin their quest to accomplish the path in THIS life!Many Theravadans and Gelugpas discribe the path of the Sutrasin terms of Renunciation, Compassion and Insight:Dilgo Khyentse covers these from the perspectiveof both a Scholar and a Yogi!Many Nyingmapas and Kagyupas discribe the path to enlightenmentin terms of View, Meditation and Actionor Ground, Path and Fruition:both these systems are taught in this text.Tantra's path is often described in termsof Generation, Completion and Mahamudraor Maha-yoga, Anu-yoga and Dzogchen:again, both these systems are taught in this text.While NO substitute for the Blessings, Transmissionsand Explanations of a fully qualified lama,this book is an indispensable toolfor those who long to accomplish Chenrezig in THIS life time.I enthusiastically recommend this book to all my students,and I gently urge you to acquire it, dear reader.And so it is in the spirit of this book'stwo Bodhichittas of Compassion and Insightand it's two Mahamudra's of Sutra and Tantrathat I now wish from the bottom of my heart:May you dear reader; be happy and healthy,may you practice skillfully and joyfully,may you accomplish Chenrezig in THIS life time,and help many others to do likewise!Om Mani Padme Hum,Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika

This book's lucidity makes an easy read, and introduction to a host of fundamental Tibetan Buddhist concepts - use Amazon's "Look Inside" feature to check out this book's table of "Contents" and its excellent "Index."THE HEART TREASURE OF THE ENLIGHTENED ONES is the title of a Buddhist poem by a Tibetan Buddhist master, Patrul Rinpoche (1808-1887). This poem takes up 42 pages at the end of this book. The poem is printed in both Tibetan and English, with the Tibetan text printed on one page, faced by the English translation on the opposite page. Therefore, the English text of this poem takes up only 21 pages of this book.The celebrated, 20th Century Tibetan Buddhist master, Dilgo Khyentse (1910-1991) contributes a 161 page "commentary" on Petrul Rinpoche's 21 page poem. Dilgo Khyentse's commentary is the "heart" of this book. This book offers a unique opportunity for readers to obtain an impression of the Buddhist scholarship of Dilgo Khyenste, who is the subject of a biographical film entitled BRILLIANT MOON.In its original Tibetan, Petrul Rinpoche's poem is purportedly a LITERARY masterpiece. However, this literary masterpiece quality is probably lost in English translation.A unique and fascinating feature of this "book" is that the text of Dilgo Khyenste's "commentary" was not written by Dilgo Khyentse, but spoken, in an "oral transmission." As the "Translators' Preface" notes (p. xiii - upper case for emphasis): "Although the commentary is presented here in the form of a book, it should not be forgotten that it is not a text that Khyenste Rinpoche wrote down over a period of time and then pondered, corrected, revised, adjusted, added to, and deleted from. HE SIMPLY SPOKE IT, JUST AS IT IS."An odd feature of Dilgo Khyentse's oral transmissions is that, when listened to, his oral delivery is robotic, in a monotonous monotone, without any pauses for, e.g., emphasis, like he is reciting a Buddhist chant. But what he actually says is "alive" in rich content. His Buddhist mind is like a computer, processing it's Buddhist data base - quite a tour de force.The nature of Dilgo Khyentse's oral delivery is wonderfully illustrated by a "film clip" in a DVD about Dilgo Khyentse entitled BRILLIANT MOON. In this film clip of a Dilgo Khyentse oral "teaching," the English translation of his words is printed at the bottom of the screen, as he speaks. The text of the English translation indicates that he delivers a composed statement of compelling wisdom, precise and well stated. However, this oral "teaching" is sound recorded and, in English translation, may have been edited (for clarity). There is a total disconnect between the rich content of his oral teaching and his method of oral delivery.Parenthetically, Patrul Rinpoche - who authored the poem which is the subject of Dilgo Khyenste's commentary - also authored a magisterial tome entitled WORDS OF MY PERFECT TEACHER, a comprehensive overview of Tibetan Buddhism - which appears to be his magnum opus. Most of Patrul Rinposhe's written work has not survived. The first Yale University Press edition of WORDS OF MY PERFECT TEACHER was published in 2011, comprising an intimidating 500 pages, with the twice the number of words per page as in Dilgo Khyenste's THE HEART TREASURE OF THE ENLIGHTENED ONES.

I’m really glad I bought this book. Firstly, it is broad based and is a good introductory book. Secondly, it is full of practical instructions. Thirdly, it covers the philosophy, giving a sound view. Fourthly, it is a companion book, that can be dipped into at random over the years. As soon as I started reading it, it felt like the author was a helpful friend. Just what I needed!

I have just started reading this book and while I can value the teachings the writing style is of a different era. It reminds me of reading in our current time and then picking up Shakespeare. Just needs a little re-adjustment but it does challenge.

Indispensable to all those who would truly follow the way of the Dharma by this gentle giant, one of the foremost Masters of the Buddha's path - this book is truly indispensable.

excellent, the essence of the Mahayana/Vajrayana path in plain and inspiring language, highly recommended.

this is my 4th copy. Book for life.