Padmasambhava

The book is certainly interesting. Coming from a culture that spawned Buddhism, some or most of what was revealed in the book wasn't new, strange or weird to me. However, as I read this book, I couldn't help feeling how people can everything, including death, so ritualistic.
I believe that a soul is given a second chance at redemption after death, though I don't think the process is as elaborate as narrated in this book. But then, there is no way to prove or disprove anything with regards to show more death, until one really gets there, isn't it? show less

Treasures from Juniper Ridge combines meditation and pith practice
instructions in a way that is easy to apply and comprehend. It is a compilation
of discovered teachings, termas, by the greatest master of Vajrayana
Buddhism, Padmasambhava, hidden by his female disciple, Yeshe Tsogyal.
Treasures is replete with pieces that are direct, profound, fresh, and pertinent
to our times.
These various revelations are for all levels of practitioners. They provide indepth explanations of assorted aspects of show more practice, including: deity, death
and dying, non-conceptual meditation and recognizing mind nature. The
book outlines ways to apply these teachings for the modern student, while
remaining true to traditional principles.
“Padmasambhava’s pith instructions are extremely important because he
is not just a legendary figure or an ancient myth. He is an actual person
who continuously carries out spontaneous activities, including manifesting
as treasure revealers, so that there is always a fresh, unimpaired teaching
that people can practice. This also ensures that Padmasambhava’s spiritual
influence and blessings are unceasing.
The special quality of these terma teachings is that they provide a method
for accomplishment that is appropriate for each specific generation, period
of time, and individual person who meets them. The treasure teachings
he gave on the Juniper Ridge of Crystal Pearls contain the essential meaning
of hundreds of such instructions.”
—Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche show less

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche exactly defines deity practice from the Dzogchen perspective, offering key points on how to engage in this discipline as a pure Dzogchen yogi. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche was one of the greatest Dzogchen Masters of the last century. His teaching style was direct, simple, and powerful, a comfortable ambiance created by his compassionate humility that opened one up to being able to absorb his profound words. He was fearless in teaching the view, meditation, and conduct of the show more Great Perfection, due to the strength of his realization. Although Dzogchen Deity Practice uses the peaceful and wrathful practice as its basis, the efficacy of these teachings on development and completion stage practices apply to many other sadhanas as well.

It is a hands on guide to engaging in the skillful methods of Vajrayana that prepare us for this life's experiences as well as what will unfold when we die and are in the intermediate state or the Bardo. The beautiful poetry offered expresses a reality beyond our mundane everyday life and helps our minds to be open and aware. show less

The Penguin Classics 2005 hardbound edition is the first complete translation of the whole cycle, rather than just the section that has been translated many times before (chapter 11 in this edition). It also includes introductions, notes and general interpretation aid from actual holders of the lineage/transmission, which probably makes it more accurate than many alternatives (given how heavily Vajrayana Buddhism relies on oral transmission).

What I appreciated most was the translation itself show more (by Gyume Dorje), done in prose (while preserving line breaks) and aiming to clarity and precision rather than "beauty". Given that beauty is a subjective concept, I tend to find 19th century translation of Buddhist texts rather unreadable: this edition is as readable as the subject allows.

I heartily recommend this edition to anybody who wants to read the "Tibetan book of the dead".

As for the content itself, I don't feel it can be rated. It is a classic from an ancient spiritual tradition, and as such its value depends on one's spiritual path and practice. For myself, having read it, I cannot help seeing it as magic rather than spirituality (despite being myself a buddhist and influenced by Tibetan buddhism among other schools). It is fascinating as an anthropological and cultural document, but I haven't found it useful as a spiritual tool. In this I obviously differ from countless generations of Tibetan buddhists: my judgment is not to be taken as condemnation, but as a personal view based on my own inclination and experience. show less