Spectrum of Ecstasy: The Five Wisdom Emotions According to Vajrayana Buddhism

by Khandro Dechen, Chogyam Nga-Kpa, Ngakpa Chögyam

Book Overview

Here two Western-born lamas of the Nyingma tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism explore what it means to be utterly emotionally alive. Written in contemporary, nonacademic language, this book is a radical... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590300610
• ISBN13: 9781590300619
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Shambhala
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Very Insightful

This book is very insightful when you begin the spiritual path and you start observing yourself, your habits, your inclinations, so that you may be free of them. It also includes practical meditations to help you dissolve the deep seated feelings behind these habits. Wonderful! LOVE Joshua, Angie, Magnus http://www.yournotthat.com

Self-liberation

Spectrum of Ecstasy describes the Dzogchen view of emotions, emotional pain and pleasure - and the liberation of emotions. It is valuable reading for anyone interested in human psychology according to Dzogchen and a must-read for everybody seriously interested in Aro. The book is suited for experienced meditators as well as for beginners on the Buddhist path. The teaching on the psychology of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) shows how we ourselves create unenlightenment through neurotic patterns of emotional reaction to our own spacious nature. It demonstrates in a direct and often amusing way how we are addicted to the form qualities of the five elements. We are obsessed with manipulating our experiential reality in order to prove to ourselves that we are solid, permanent, separate, continuous, and defined. However, as emptiness is always the basis of the equation, this obsession is doomed to interminably repeated failure. Fortunately, by applying the practice of Dzogchen trèk-chöd, we can break this cycle. Our emotions become a powerful dimension of transformation in which we can discover innate enlightenment. This means that instead of acting out, suppressing or obliterating neurotic emotional patterns, we allow the energy of the emotions to expand into their enlightened qualities according to the five elements. Thus, the personality of the practitioner becomes the key to liberation. Spectrum of Ecstasy is written in colourful contemporary language and introduces a wealth of practical examples. After each chapter, there are extensive question and answer sessions taken from teaching conversations between Ngak'chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen and their students. These sections highlight the teachings from different angles and are an informative display of the style of teaching chosen by the authors.

Thoroughly deals with the subject matter

This book thoroughly deals with the five elements view of reality from the perspective of inner-tantra. Any individual wanting to understand the connection between awareness and the naturally arising elements should definitely delve into this work. The authors progressively move from general information concerning the human condition to the specific qualities of the five elements and how they manifest as emblems of awareness. This highly orthodox work will be a benefit to anyone wanting to better understand Buddhism from the perspective of inner-tantra.

Very Creative, A Jazz Riff On The Style of ChogyamTrungpa

Many reviewers are clearly missing the point of how CREATIVE and valuable this work is. Ngakpa Chogyam is following Chogyam Trungpa's unique presentation of Tibetan Buddhist philosphy in an immediate phenomenological, psychological style. Both Chogyams are/were concerned with NOWNESS and Consciousness, not Opaque, Irrelevent aspects of TB. Both Chogyams are very intelligent and articulate in describing the energetic tendencies of samsaric consciousness in the context of emptiness and form. You will either get it/appreciate it or you don't. Whether they are a legitimate lineage is to miss the point. Both Chogyams are artists-psychologists who are highly creative and poetic in their endeavors and controversial because of that. This work is worth serious study and reflection. Also read, 'Wearing the Body of Visions', by Ngakpa Chogyam, as well as 'Transcending Madness,' 'Crazy Wisdom,'The Myth of Freedom' and 'Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism' by Chogyam Trungpa and you will CLEARLY understand where Ngakpa Chogyam is coming from. Awesome Material.

Ways to embrace Vajrayana through emotions

Ngakpa Chogyam and Khandro Dechen (two Western-born lamas of the Nyingma tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism) impressively collaborated on Spectrum Of Ecstasy: Embracing The Five Wisdom Emotions Of Vajrayana Buddhism, an enthus-iastic survey that rejects the supposition that inner Vajrayana is primarily esoteric and filled with little but ritual and liturgy. Showing ways to embrace Vajrayana through emotions as represented through five-fold display, and offering advice for all who seek to awaken their supreme and enlightened potential, Spectrum Of Ecstasy is a welcome and significant contribution to Vajrayana Buddhism discourse and study.