Dzogchen : The Self-Perfected State

Media:	Paperback
Author:	Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Publisher:	Snow Lion Publications
Release date:	25 February, 2000
List price:	~~$12.95~~
Our price:	$10.36 that is 20% off!

Dzogchen : The Self-Perfected State

Average rating: Stars

Excellent Book on Dzogchen

Chogyal Namkhai Norbu is a true master of dzogchen. This book is an excellent overview of dzogchen and in CNN's style it gets to the point and really opens your eyes. The only caution I have is that there is a small amount of buddhist jargon that gets repeated throughout the book. If you are familiar with the terms you appreciate him using them, but if not just write them down (there aren't many) and you will have no problems.

Dzogchen : The Self-Perfected State - Chogyal Namkhai Norbu

Introductory text

This is one of the first books I had read on Dzogchen. I think it's a nice introduction and it includes some key concepts, but it's not as good as some of the author's other works--especially the advanced book entitled "The Supreme Source" which is most excellent. I also prefer "The Mirror" and "The Cycle of Day and Night." Norbu is, I think, recognized as one of today's Dzogchen Masters. However, this short book simply cannot and does not do the subject justice. I would also recommend the view of Tulku Urgyen and his sons Drubwang Tsokni and Chokyi Nyima who have published a number of fine Dzogchen works.

Chogyal Namkhai Norbu - Dzogchen : The Self-Perfected State

Complex simplicity

I dunno. Maybe it is the innate complexity of the subject matter, maybe something is lost in translation from Tibetan to Italian and then to English, maybe its impossible to treat such a profound topic in 130 pages, or maybe it is just me -- but after reading this book I don't feel I know much more about Dzogchen than I did before.

Although this is the first book I have read about Dzogchen, over the last 17 years I have read hundreds of works on Buddhism (mostly Theravada and Zen but also some Tantra) and practiced in several monasteries in America and Japan. So I feel I should have gotten more out of this than I did.

The author is clearly sincere and knowledgeable about his topic, and the topic itself seemingly has much to offer, but I found this volume unable to answer the simple beginner's question: "what is Dzogchen?" The language seems highly ambiguous and contradictory in many places, the organization and presentation of the material is unclear, and the book is peppered with images that are not discussed and seemingly have no relationship to the text.

The book is not a total disaster. The author has some success in showing how Dzogchen differs from other aspects of Buddhism, and spends some time discussing "the base" or true nature of mind. But many more questions are raised than answered, at least in my mind. He also emphasizes the need for a teacher and direct experience. So maybe its simply that Dzogchen is too complex to be discussed in such a short, introductory format. At least I can say this book raised my interest, and I'll be seeking out more answers on this abstruse but fascinating corner of Buddhism.

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