In this famous twenty-four-day teaching on the Lamrim, or Stages of the path, Pabongka Rinpoche, one of the twentieth century's most charismatic and revered Tibetan lamas, weaves together lively stories and quotations with frank observations and practical advice to move readers step by step along the journey to Buddhahood.
First edited and published by his student Trijang Rinpoche, the flavor and immediacy of the original Tibetan are preserved in Michael Richards' fluid and lively translation, which is now substantially revised in this new edition.
About the Lam Rim
Touted as the “Buddhist Bible” and fondly known as the Lamrim, this book is a systematic, deeply penetrative piece of writing that contains the full scope of Buddhist teachings and much practical, relevant advice for the modern individual seeking peace and wisdom.
First composed by the great Indian scholar Atisha, the Lamrim is a condensation of Buddha Shakyamuni’s 84,000 teachings that was given over a span of 40 years, and has since been passed through a myriad of highly attained lamas and scholars down to us today.
Atisha first wrote the book entitled A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment whilst he was teaching in Tibet. It was an apology to his teacher for not being able to fulfil his promise in returning to India, as a war broke out at the border of India and Tibet. This text was subjected to many debates by erudite scholars and monks, and no one could find fault in it. Thus it became one of the greatest and most sacred of text in the Buddhist history.
The teachings of the Lamrim were passed down the lineage through many pronounced teachers and monks until it reached the illustrious saint Lama Tsongkhapa who practiced and mastered the teachings in the Lamrim and further added his commentary to write the “Lamrim Chenmo”.
In 1921, His Holiness Pabongka Rinpoche gave these teachings to over 700 people over a period spanning 24 days. Amongst his students was His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, who remembered the teachings perfectly and wrote it down, in fear that the teachings would be lost forever. Written in 24 chapters to represent each day of the oral discourse, this version of the Lamrim is title “Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand”.
Evidently originating from an authentic and powerful source, the set of advices laid out in the Lamrim outlines all the important teachings to lead a life aimed at achieving the supreme goal of enlightenment. Not only does it contain instructions, it also contains quotes to prompt us and stories from great teachers and disciples on how they achieved realizations through living a basic life. Truly one of the most precious and enriching book you’ll find in this modern age.
4.4 MB
887 pages
