A Beginner's Guide to Tibetan Buddhism: Notes from a Practitioner's Journey

Highly recommended for the someone new to Tibetan Buddhism. It's written from a western perspective, and it is really helpful and informative from this point of view. This isn't about high-level commentaries from big name Buddhist teachers. It's a good, solid introduction to the concepts and practices. The writing is clear and easy to follow.

When I was first studying physics, I found that it was sometimes more illuminating to discuss a problem with a teaching assistant than with a professor: Although the TA's level of understanding was greater than mine, he would consider more alternative approaches, and show more hesitation in deciding among them, than would a professor. Watching a graduate student proceed in this way, I felt validated in my own process of learning by exploring and stumbling around.The author of this book, Bruce Newman, has certainly achieved a higher level of experience and understanding in the Dharma. For thirty years, he has been living the life that most other Dharma students have only day-dreamed about: living as a nearly full-time yogi, with continual guidance from his teachers, both in and out of retreats, in the East and in the West. As a result of his efforts, he has been given authorization, encouragement and continuing support by two highly regarded teachers in the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages to introduce Western students into the Vajrayana and to train them in its meditation.After teaching other Western students for a decade, and reflecting on his own process of coming to terms with and progressing in the Vajrayana, he has now written a guide to Tibetan Buddhism that explores the issues that arise for Westerners encountering this rather complex system. He is able to explain, in a very down-to-earth way, some of the central issues that we confront: how to deal with the lama most straightforwardly, how to relate to the ritualistic aspects, sexuality (what is "tantric" and what is not?), dealing with other students, fitting practice into your life, and so on. He discusses the detailed relationships among the different types of Vajrayana techniques, why they are done in a certain order, and what they are designed to do; and also some of the difficulties that are likely to arise while doing them.One of the most important points he makes is that Westerners often have a difficult time with their relationship with the guru: They tend to believe that the lama is somehow aware of all of their issues and confusions, without their being discussed. This attitude leads to a lack of communication on meditational experiences that makes it difficult for the lama to point out the nature of the mind to the student in a definitive way.He also explores the conceptual difficulties that arise for Westerners: Some of these come from cultural differences with Tibetans, but some are intrinsic to Buddhist thought. Westerners often come to the Dharma with the general idea that Buddhism is a form of super-logic, a kind of science with added spiritual insight; there is then the tendency to disregard aspects that don't fit into this picture. The author explains in specific detail how this conceptual view can limit one's understanding of how the Vajrayana actually works, and therefore one's experience.The author mentions in general terms, but does not go into detail about, his own experiential phenomena during his career in meditation: This is probably in good taste, as practitioners' phenomena are individual and shouldn't be imitated; but it also means that this book will never serve as the basis for a movie script. He is honest about acknowledging in many cases his own lack of attainment of the lofty goals of the Dharma. (Of course, in the Mahayana tradition, of which Vajrayana is a part, there is, notoriously, no "attainment": It is really the quality of one's "non-attainment" that counts.)One nit that I would pick: There is a useful discussion near the end of the book concerning the difference between the Western concepts of ego and the ego that Buddhists are always trying to get rid of. They're not the same. I believe this crucial point should be explained much earlier.Overall, I believe that even for many Dharma students who have been around for awhile, this book, written in an informal style by someone a bit ahead on the path, will shed some light: validating some intuitions on how to proceed in the Dharma, while disabusing one of others. For newer students, it could be an eye-opener that can save years of orientation to a very complex system of spiritual development.

Loved this overview of Tibetan Buddhism. I can approach the sutras and a meditation center with the foreknowledge of knowing what I’m getting myself into.

Self proclaimed as authorities / experts, etc., and criticized everything and anything. The book is focused on one experience, and doesn't encompassed a large spectrum to befit the tittle, according to their "expert" opinions. Will I find a book / any book written by these experts that superior and covered all areas as they stated - written by them? I'm not looking for it, because very much in doubt if such books existed even if I do look. That being said - I skimmed through and found that this book is written in a traditional religious story telling form, by one who influenced / educated in western education, or perhaps it is simply edited by someone else (no editor listed). The point of view is from an outsider learning the eastern ways of life. If one is learning about theology, specific religion, or something related to that such as sub-sect of various religions and their practices, this is a good book to read. If this experience enhances one - any aspect in life, then it is worth one thousand times of the cost, a good bet in a gambler or an investor P.o.V. If this experience inspires one to do, to act, then it's worth a million time money spent. In a troubled world honesty and passion are rarities, so be kind to ourselves and others; one way is to expand our knowledge through understudying of others' P.o.V.

As the title denotes, this book should be the beginner's first stop in their journey toward understanding Tibetan Buddhism!

Not really the best first book on the topic for beginners but, instead, an excellent encyclopedia-type guide to the many of the main meditation deities of Tibetan Buddhism. You have to know something about Vajrayana Buddhist meditation to have any use for it.

This book will really give you a good look at Tibetan Buddhism. Very well written for a master to a novice! Anyone could pick this book up and totally undertand the subject matter....Well written and a great starter book for the young Buddhist.

Good read, lots of info

I came across this book by coincidences while searching informations about Milarepa, and one thing lead to another and I feel so lucky for that one!I've been into buddhism and meditation on and off for nearly 5 years now, mostly attending teachings here and in Nepal and India, still difficult to map all the progression of one own practice. Like where do i start and what shall i expect next and thanks about the "Sexual behavior " part of the book, it's hard to find advice on the subject...This book is just answering so many important and usefull questions and is really helping in the way it kind of point out what kind of mistakes we can do , it talks "our language" or "our way to think" while it's still written by a genuine teacher.The only thing i think could see as a difficulty for someone very new to buddhism is the vocabulary , when i did my first retreat i had no clue about what are the preliminaries and what the difference is with sutra and tantra, so this book helps and is the kind of book that is nice to have at hand.It's mapping very well the path :-) Thank you very much! And please visit Europe (London) :-)

This is simply one of the best books to buy for a serious practitioner. Honestly written with advice that is simply priceless.

Simply the best...When I finally decided to get a bit deeper into tibetan Buddhism I was looking for a good introductory work.After some disappointements I found it in Newmans " A Beginner`s...."Unlike other introductions Newmans book is pretty much "alive" because its based on his 30 years of practise in Vajrayana.He talks about his insights, experiences a long the way but also about his hardships, disappointements - just hones and insightfult to the bone !