On the Path to Enlightenment: Heart Advice from the Great Tibetan Masters - Paperback

by Matthieu Ricard (Author)

An anthology of the most inspiring and instructive texts on spiritual enlightenment from great Tibetan masters--handpicked by a best-selling author and Tibetan Buddhist monk

Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard has selected and translated some of the most profound and inspiring teachings from the eight traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. The selected teachings are from the Buddha himself, Nagarjuna, Guru Rinpoche, Atisha, Shantideva, and Asanga; the great masters of the past, Thogme Zangpo, the Fifth Dalai Lama, Milarepa, Longchenpa, and Sakya Pandita; and contemporary masters, including the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and Mingyur Rinpoche. The teachings address such topics as:

- The nature of the mind
- The foundations of taking refuge, generating altruistic compassion, acquiring merit, and following a teacher
- View, meditation, and action
- How to remove obstacles and make progress on the Buddhist path

Inspired by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Ricard creates his anthology with Khyentse's religious philosophy in mind: "When we come to appreciate the depth of the view of the eight great traditions [of Tibetan Buddhism] and also see that they all lead to the same goal without contradicting each other, we think, 'Only ignorance can lead us to adopt a sectarian view.'"

Author Biography

Matthieu Ricard is a former scientist who gave up that life to become a Tibetan Buddhist monk. He is the Dalai Lama's interpreter in French, has translated numerous Buddhist texts, and is the author of The Quantum and the Lotus, Journey to Enlightenment, and, with Jean-François Revel, The Monk and the Philosopher.