The Garden: A Parable

by Michael Roach and Michael Roach

Book Overview

With The Garden , centuries of Tibetan Buddhist wisdom are brought to life for readers by one of its greatest Western teachers, Michael Roach. Through a parable in which a young man is brought into a mystical garden by a beautiful embodiment of Wisdom, Roach presents the pantheon of great Tibetan teachers. The nameless seeker lured to the garden meets the dominant historical figures who have contributed fundamental teachings to Tibetan Buddhism, such...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 038549789X
• ISBN13: 9780385497893
• Release Date: February 2000
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A Wonderment!

A "wonderment" is a thing of wonder. And this parable is that. Haven't you ever had the itch to someday ask Jesus or the Buddha everything that you have always wondered about. "Why do bad guys get rich?" "Why are some good guys poor?" "What happens after death?" "Who stuck me with such a horrible mother-in-law and why can't she just blow away?" "Why did I eat the potatoe chips with food poisoning?" "Why did I spell 'potato' with an 'e'?" "How come babies die?" The author was the first Westerner to become a Tibetan Geshe. And this takes twenty years! So he knows his stuff. To answer these questions and others that you may want to ask, you will take many trips into a garden. Buddhas and Buddhist saints will come to you and answer these type of questions. The reader is represented by a man who is searching. Isn't this what we want? This is a beautiful parable. And somewhat spooky at times! At least, that's the way I felt. Imagine sitting on a bench and waiting for some spooky Buddha to arrive to answer your grisly questions. And that's what happens. I will say no more. Buy the book.

A 21st century Lam Rim

Geshe Michael Roach has encompassed all the tenets of the Lam Rim and embedded them in this wonderful little book. Not only does he know his stuff but he writes beautifully. The Tibetan and Indian masters whom the protagonist meets are vivid and powerful characters. Who could forget the portrait of Vasu Bandhu, or his amazing portrayal of Maitreya? Brilliant stuff Geshe-la....

One in a million

If you are very lucky you come across only a couple of books like this in your lifetime. Geshe Michael Roach has the "can't put it down" style. This little book contains massively powerful information disguised in a parable. The definition of kharma within these pages is beautiful.I cant wait to read it again!

The Garden. A parable

This incredible book was written not only by a learned scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, but by one who has obviously experienced realizations of the path. In this book Geshe Michael provides us with all of the information we need to embark upon the same spiritual journey, and to experience its magical results. If this whets your appetite for more, he also has created a series of correspondence courses which provide even more elucidation of the Buddhist path to enlightenment. (not a money making scheme-these course are free to those who cannot afford them) These are available through the Asian Classics Institute. If you like this book, try also Santidevas "Guide to the Bodhisattvas Way of Life"

The Garden. A Parable

About the Garden. A Parable. This is a breeze of fresh air in the heat of a very complex and stressful world. It is also a very clever way to present the ancient and wise buddhist advices for the modern world. Definitely it is a must for anybody interested in the inner development. The message in it is beyond harmful cultural and historical trappings which unfortunately hide the real religious experience that everybody is thirsting for. Being written by a very special person from our western world that has drunk the essence of the great tibetan buddhist training, definitely it is going to reach our hearts and fill them with the greatest blessings.