The Intelligent Heart: A Guide to the Compassionate Life

Description

Practical instruction in a Tibetan Buddhist method for developing radical compassion--from a contemporary master with a gift for making the ancient teachings speak to modern hearts. Tibetan Buddhist instructions for developing radical compassion through lojong mind training-from a contemporary master with a gift for making the ancient teachings speak to modern hearts Dzigar Kongtr l's lively and accessible presentation of the Tibetan training method known as lojong (mind training) focuses on what he considers the heart of that practice- tonglen, the practice of exchanging self for other, for taking in others' pain and suffering and sending out kindness, ease, and consolation. It's a powerful method for developing compassion of the most transformative kind, and its supreme expression is found in the classic text The Great Path of Awakening by Jamgon Kongtr l. This book is Dzigar Kongtr l's commentary on that beloved text, based on a series of talks he gave on it. It includes his fresh translation of the Great Path, and it is full of his characteristic humor as well as his skill in translating esoteric concepts into terms that not only are easily understood but that speak directly to the heart.

DZIGAR KONGTR L grew up in a monastic environment and received extensive training in all aspects of Buddhist doctrine. In 1989 he moved to the United States with his family, and in 1990 he began a five-year tenure as a professor of Buddhist philosophy at Naropa University. He also founded Mangala Shri Bhuti, his own teaching organization, during this period. He has established a mountain retreat center, Longchen Jigme Samten Ling, in southern Colorado. When not guiding students in long-term retreats and not in retreat himself, Kongtr l travels widely throughout the world, teaching and furthering his own education.

"The Intelligent Heart offers a profound new approach to awakening readers' loving hearts to the essence of bodhisattva wisdom: cherishing others more than oneself. This jewel of a book teaches us how to shower the light-of-love into even the darkest corners of our stressed world."-Tulku Thondup, author of The Heart of Unconditional Love "A wonderful addition to the growing and essential lojong literature. Dzigar Kongtrul's homey, earthy words evoke the very best of the Tibetan spirit of common sense compassion. Deceptively simple, this book carries with it enormous depth of practice and understanding. My copy is rife with underlining!"--Norman Fischer, Zen priest, author of Experience: On Thinking, Writing, Language and Religion and coauthor of What Is Zen? Plain Talk for a Beginner's Mind "This is a wonderful book that will be helpful to anyone who wishes to understand and take up the practices of the Seven Points on Mind Training, especially tonglen. The Intelligent Heart shines a clear light on the method for exchanging self for other, developing compassion, and freeing one's heart. In addition, it's fun to read with helpful illustrations and a keen sense of humor. - Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Happiness