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Buddhist Phenomenology: A Philosophical Investigation of Yogacara Buddhism and the Ch'eng Wei-shih Lun by Dan Lusthaus Curzon Critical Studies in Buddhism Series: RoutledgeCurzon) Yogacara as a Critique of Consciousness: "The 'given' loses its innocence and is exposed as the 'taken'." (p. 531)

There is still no consensus in the West as to how best to interpret, or even approach, the vast collection of Buddhist teachings and practices falling under the rubric "Yogacara." A recently completed annual seminar at the American Academy of Religion, for example, hosted an impressive array of papers on an extensive range of topics for five years running without finally addressing exactly "What is, or isn't, Yogacara?" More

Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa 

The exceptionally well produced and edited Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa gives this reviewer an opportunity to revisit his youth and some of the formative moments in his life. Quite simply as a young adult, I experienced an intellectual conversion that the purpose of life, at least my life, was to love selflessly all life. The way to reach this goal was to know myself, not in the argumentative way of a Socrates, but in the transcendental way of the Buddha. I had some smattering exposure to mahamudra and the Yoga of the Great Liberation. So in the late 1960s I set out to become a yogi and eventually a Buddhist practitioner. After some time in a Hindu Ashram practicing the classic meditations of Patanjali’s yoga. I found Buddhist meditation to be more agreeable, especially some tantric forms.

When Born in Tibet became a bestseller among new Buddhists I avidly read it and then stumbled upon the wonderful little volume Mudra, now collected in volume one of this wonderful collection. Chögyam Trungpa' Mudra for me expressed pithy insights that became pillars of my everyday meditation practice. Guidepost through the every intricate net-maze of the mind ensnaring me in suffering as I struggled to cultivate a deep universal and particularly immediate compassion. 

I had the fortune to interview Chögyam Trungpa in the late 1970s after his University Naropa was off and running. Though never considering myself his "student" I did learn from him.  And even considered his anti-exemplar "crazy wisdom" an important challenge to seekers who tend to abandon some behavioral  and ethical norms in order to "learn the higher wisdom"

Later Chögyam Trungpa's Cutting through Spiritual Materialism (in volume 3 of this collection) spoke to the strong and unquestioning commoditization and  "spiritual-experience consumerism" that Americans brought to their quest for spiritual authenticity without the ability to engage in self-reflexive critique or deep integrated practice.

The editors of the Collected Works stress how innovative is Chögyam Trungpa's development of an American idiom for complex Buddhist thought and. though I believe this is a work still in progress, the strides made by Chögyam Trungpa and so well in evidence in these volumes definitely calls for close attention both for subtle misunderstandings and for dynamic shifts in connotational meaning.
The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa brings together in eight volumes the writings of one of the first and most influential and inspirational Tibetan teachers to present Buddhism in the West. Orga­nized by theme, the collection includes full-length books as well as articles, semi­nar transcripts, poems, plays, and inter-views, many of which have never before been available in book form. From memoirs of his escape from Chinese-occupied Tibet to insightful discussions of psychology, mind, and meditation; from original verse and calligraphy to the esoteric lore of tantric Buddhism—the impressive range of Trungpa's vision, talents, and teachings is showcased in this landmark series.

The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa, Volume 1 : Born in Tibet - Meditation in Action - Mudra - Selected Writings by Chögyam Trungpa, edited by Carolyn Gimian (Shambhala Publications) Review

The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa: Volume One contains Trungpa's early writings in Great Britain, including Born in Tibet (1966), the memoir of his youth and training; Meditation in Action (1969), a classic on the practice of meditation; and Mudra, (1972), a collection of verse. Among the selected articles from the 1960s and '70S are early teachings on compassion and the bodhisattva path. Other articles contain unique information on the history of Bud­dhism in Tibet; an exposition of teachings of dzogchen with the earliest meditation instruction by Trungpa Rinpoche ever to appear in print; and an intriguing discus­sion of society and politics, which may be the first recorded germ of the Shambhala teachings. More

The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa, Volume 2 : The Path Is the Goal - Training the Mind - Glimpses of Abhidharma -Glimpses of Shunyata - Glimpses of Mahayana - Selected Writings by Chögyam Trungpa, edited by Carolyn Gimian (Shambhala Publications) Volume Two examines meditation, mind, and mahayana, the "great vehicle" for the development of compassion and the means to help others. Chögyam Trungpa introduced a new psychological language and way of looking at the Buddhist teachings in the West. His teachings on human psychology and the human mind are included in this volume.  Review

The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa, Volume 3 : Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism - The Myth of Freedom -The Heart of the Buddha - Selected Writings by Chögyam Trungpa, edited by Carolyn Gimian (Shambhala Publications) Volume Three captures the distinctive voice that Chögyam Trungpa developed in North America in the 1970s and reflects the preoccupations among Western stu­dents of that era. It includes Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism and The Myth of Freedom, the two books that put Chögyam Trungpa on the map of the American spiritual scene. The Heart of the Buddha and sixteen articles and forewords complete the volume. Review

The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa, Volume 4 : Journey Without Goal - The Lion's Roar - The Dawn of Tantra -An Interview with Chögyam Trungpa by Chögyam Trungpa, edited by Carolyn Gimian (Shambhala Publications) Volume Four presents introductory writings on the vajrayana tantric teachings, clearing up Western misconceptions about Buddhist tantra. It includes three full-length books and a 1976 interview in which Chögyam Trungpa offers penetrating comments on the challenge of bringing the vajrayana teachings to America. Review

The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa, Volume 5 : Crazy Wisdom-Illusion's Game-The Life of Marpa the Translator (excerpts)-TheRain of Wisdom (excerpts)-The Sadhana of Mahamudra (excerpts)-Selected Writings by Chögyam Trungpa, edited by Carolyn Gimian (Shambhala Publications) Volume Five focuses on the lineages of great teachers who have transmitted the Tibetan Buddhist teachings and on the practice of devotion to the spiritual teacher. It includes inspirational commentaries by Chögyam Trungpa on the lives of famous masters such as Padmasambhava, Naropa, Milarepa, Marpa, and Tilopa, as well as an excerpt from The Sadhana of Mahamudra, a tantric text that Chögyam Trungpa received as terma in 1968. Among the selected writ­ings are "Explanation of the Vajra Guru Mantra," an article never before published, which deals with the mantra that invokes Guru Rinpoche; seminar talks available in book form for the first time; and previously unpublished articles on Milarepa. More  

The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa, Volume 6 : Glimpses of Space-Orderly Chaos-Secret Beyond Thought-The Tibetan Book of theDead: Commentary-Transcending Madness-Selected Writings by Chögyam Trungpa, edited by Carolyn Gimian (Shambhala Publications) Volume Six contains advanced teachings on the nature of mind and tantric experi­ences. Chögyam Trungpa's commentary on the Tibetan Book of the Dead explains what this classic text teaches about human psychol­ogy. Transcending Madness presents a unique view of the Tibetan concept of bardo. Orderly Chaos explains the inner meaning of the mandala. Secret Beyond Thought presents teachings on the five chakras and the four karmas. Glimpses of Space consists of two seminars: "The Feminine Principle" and "Evam." In the article "Femininity," the author presents a playful look at the role of feminine energy in Buddhist teachings. "The Bardo," based on teachings given in England in the 1960s, has not been avail-able in published form for many years. More

The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa, Volume 7 : The Art of Calligraphy (excerpts)-Dharma Art-Visual Dharma (excerpts)-SelectedPoems-Selected Writings by Chögyam Trungpa, edited by Carolyn Gimian (Shambhala Publications) Volume Seven features the work of Chögyam Trungpa as a poet, playwright, and visual artist and his teachings on art and the creative process, which are among the most innovative and provocative aspects of his activities in the West. While it in­cludes material in which Trungpa Rinpoche shares his knowledge of the symbolism and iconography of traditional Buddhist arts (in Visual Dharma), this richly varied volume primarily focuses on his own, often radical creative expressions. The Art of Calligraphy is a wonderful showcase for his calligraphy, and Dharma Art brings together his ideas on art, the artistic process, and aesthetics. Tibetan poetics, filmmaking, theater, and art and education are among the topics of the selected writings.  More

The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa, Volume 8 : Great Eastern Sun - Shambhala - Selected Writings by Chögyam Trungpa, edited by Carolyn Gimian (Shambhala Publications) Volume Eight covers matters of culture, state, and society. The two complete books reprinted here—Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior and Great Eastern Sun: The Wisdom of Shambhala—explore the vision of an ancient legendary kingdom in Central Asia that is viewed as a model for enlightened society and as the ground of wakefulness and sanity that exists as a potential within every human being. The selected writings include discussions of political consciousness, the martial arts, and the true meaning of warriorship. Two previously unpublished articles are "The Martial Arts and the Art of War," on the place of warriorship in the Buddhist teachings, and "The Seven Treasures of the Universal Monarch," a little gem describing the world of the Shambhala monarch. More

Self, Reality and Reason in Tibetan Philosophy: Tsongkhapa’s Quest for the Middle Way by Thupten Jinpa (Routledge Curzon) It is said that when Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), Tibet's foremost religious reformer and one of its greatest philosophers, finally arrived at the perfect “middle view,” he experienced a powerful surge of admiration and devotion for the Buddha. This combination of deep reverence and insight, together with a profound sense of joy, that followed this breakthrough in Tsongkhapa's philosophical thinking inspired him to compose one of the most eloquent praises to the Buddha ever written in Tibetan? In perfectly metered poetry, Tsongkhapa celebrates the Buddha's teachings on the principle of dependent origination and expresses his deep appreciation to the Buddha for having taught this profound truth. At the heart of Tsongkhapa's inner exultation is also a sense of wonder and amazement at the convergence between what appear to be two contradictory natures of things ‑ their lack of intrinsic existence on the one hand, and their coming into being by means of dependent origination on the other. This study seeks to articulate, as far as is possible in contemporary language, Tsongkhapa's insight into this profound Middle Way . More, More

The Svatantrika-Prasangika Distinction: What Difference Does a Difference Make? edited by Sara McClintock, Georges Dreyfus (Wisdom Publications) One of the contributing factors to the recent growth of Madhya­maka studies has been the discovery by modern scholars of the rich Tibetan tradition. Contact with contemporary Tibetan schol­ars and their enormous learning, clarity, and sophistication has provided an invaluable resource in many areas of Buddhist studies, particularly in the study of Madhyamaka philosophy. Such a development is certainly most welcome. It is only fitting that this great scholarly tradition receive due recognition. The appreciation of Tibetan sources and their use in the elu­cidation of Madhyamaka is not, however, without complication, for it introduces in the study of classical Buddhist texts terms and distinctions not used by the original Indian thinkers. More

The Sound of Two Hands Clapping: The Education of a Buddhist Monk by Georges B.J. Dreyfus (University of California Press) (Papercover) Gives an insider's view of how Tibetan Buddhist are trained in Tibetan scholasticism. Dreyfus trained for 15 years in various Buddhist universities. In The Sound of Two Hands Clapping we are shown the these strengths and weaknesses of Tibetan intellectual culture as he observed that while studying.  He examines Tibetan monastic education, analyzing its central practices: memorization, the reading of commentaries, and dialectical debate. Dreyfus’s thesis is that this education is central to comprehending Tibetan Buddhism, that has formed many of the brilliant Tibetan teachers who have captured the modern imagination. More

Psychology and Buddhism: From Individual to Global Community edited by Kathleen H. Dockett, G. Rita Dudley-Grant and C. Peter Bankart (International and Cultural Psychology: Kluwer Academic/ Plenum Publishers) Psychology and Buddhism is intended to inform, stimulate, and broaden the thinking of psy­chologists and others interested in the interface between psychology and Buddhism. As the interest in Buddhism grows within the psychological commu­nity, the need for more information on theoretical as well as practical levels becomes apparent. In this book we move from considerations of the individual, through the community to global conceptions for world peace. We attempt to fur­ther the dialogue between psychology and Buddhism at many points along the continuum. Individuals and communities, empowered and ready to engage the millennium ultimately will have global implications for the future of humankind. Given the severe challenges to peace facing our world, the editors hope that this book will provide one more resource for those who would seek to transform the way in which human beings understand and interact with each other within and across all boundaries globally. More

Understanding the Mind: An Explanation of the Nature and Functions of the Mind by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso (Tharpa Publications) A unique combination of profound philosophical exploration and practical psychology that is part of the teacher training program founded by Geshe Kelsang. The explanation of the mind is based on the works of the classic Indian Buddhist scholars Dharmakirti and Dignaga, presented in two parts. The first part explains the nature and function of the different types of mind, and how to develop and increase knowledge and understanding. First, each type of mind is clearly defined so that it can be correctly identified, and then the different varieties of each type of mind are enumerated and illustrated by examples. Then there follows an explanation of how each type of mind is generated, and finally there is advice on how to apply our understanding of each type of mind to Dharma practice and meditation. These explanations show how to develop and increase valid knowledge and Dharma realizations. More

The Power of Denial: Buddhism, Purity, and Gender by Bernard Faure (Buddhisms: Princeton University Press)(Hardcover)  Innumerable studies have appeared in recent decades about practically every aspect of women's lives in Western societies. The few such works on Buddhism have been quite limited in scope. In The Power of Denial, Bernard Faure takes an important step toward redressing this situation by boldly asking: does Buddhism offer women liberation or limitation? Continuing the innovative exploration of sexuality in Buddhism he began in The Red Thread, here he moves from his earlier focus on male monastic sexuality to Buddhist conceptions of women and constructions of gender. Faure argues that Buddhism is neither as sexist nor as egalitarian as is usually thought. Above all, he asserts, the study of Buddhism through the gender lens leads us to question what we uncritically call Buddhism, in the singular. More

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