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Rating: 
Summary: Golden Letters
Review: If you're one of the few with the estimable karma to have truly seen through the futility of seeking as the means to 'finding,' you will only need a few lines or pages of this miraculous 'Vajra' (diamond/indestructible) teaching to 'arrive home.' If you're not, your ego's misappropriation of the stuff will probably send you on another ego trip of a few million reincarnations.So... on one hand, this book is worth its weight in diamonds many times over; on the other, it's extremely dangerous, and useless -- it doesn't tell you anything your True Nature does not already know. Have a deep and honest understanding of your state before you click on the order button.
Rating:
Summary: ESSENTIAL READING !!!
Review: John Reynolds was recognized as the first western man (Inje) to take Ngakpa ordination in Tibetan Buddhism. He studied extensively under the late Dudjom Rinpoche who gave him his vows, as well as with Namkhai Norbu, and Lopon Tenzin Namdak. Reynolds was one of the first westerners to translate essential texts in the Buddhist tradition, particularly teachings on Dzogchen. His translations are technically accurate, and show a depth of insight into Tibetan thought and theory which few others have shown. This is essential reading for any Buddhist!
I highly recommend his other texts as well, including his Bonpo Dzogchen teachings which are to be found at the moment in booklet form. See his website: www.vajranatha.com
Samaya hoh!
Rating: 
Summary: History or Fiction ?
Review: Reynolds attempts to anchor the development of Dzogchen in history rather than myth and he fails. His style reminds me of a Christian fundamentalist - and I would bet that is his background - trying to prove the historical accuracy of Genesis. He has an answer for every issue critics and objective historians have raised regarding the origins of Dzogchen, its early documents and their authors, but almost all of those answers are unsupported by anything but conjecture and the pronouncements of lamas. If you are a true believer, this is probably the book for you. But if you would like something of substance that trys to separate history from fiction and partisan conjecture, I(...)
Rating:
Summary: History or Fiction ?
Review: Reynolds attempts to anchor the development of Dzogchen in history rather than myth and he fails. His style reminds me of a Christian fundamentalist - and I would bet that is his background - trying to prove the historical accuracy of Genesis. He has an answer for every issue critics and objective historians have raised regarding the origins of Dzogchen, its early documents and their authors, but almost all of those answers are unsupported by anything but conjecture and the pronouncements of lamas. If you are a true believer, this is probably the book for you. But if you would like something of substance that trys to separate history from fiction and partisan conjecture, I(...)
Rating:
Summary: A lamp in the dark
Review: The essence of the Dzogchen teaching is found in Garab Dorje's "The Three Statements That Strike the Essential Point" (Garab Dorje was the first Dzogchen master). These "Three Statements" appeared in a text known as "The Last Testament of Garab Dorje" which was part of a larger work known as the "Golden Letters". The nineteenth century Dzogchen master Patrul Rinpoche wrote an important commentary of "The Three Statements" entitled "The Special Teaching of the Wise and Glorious King", this is the main subject matter of the present book. Patrul Rinpoche's commentary is a joy to read, it is to the point and written in simple clear language with a minimum of technical phrases. If this wasn't enough we are then treated to further clarification with John Myrdhin Reynolds generous commentary of "The Special Teaching". Later in the book there are more treasures in the form of a translation of the actual "Last Testament" together with Reynold's superb interlinear commentary. By the end of the book the reader is left in little doubt (as far as words can take us) as to the meaning of "The Three Statements". It is written "to look for gold in the dark we need a lamp". "The Golden Letters" is such a lamp.
Rating:
Summary: Golden Letters
Review: This book is of great benefit because it points us directly to our true nature and it gives a very wide range of explanations for those that may need a bit more.It is a great invitation to explore within oneself. This book also helps us understand in more depth what Padmasambhava left us as great gift: Self Liberation through Seing with Nacked Awareness.
Rating:
Summary: Great Wisdom & Understanding
Review: This is a wonderful book, but (per Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung) it should be read with the understanding that there is a difference between objective/material/scientific reality on the one hand, and mythical reality (e.g. the Australian aborigine "dream time") on the other hand. Thus, many legends exist in virtually all religious traditions that are mythological. It is unrealistic to assume that your own religion has no such mythology and all others are merely mythology. In truth they are all a mixture of both types of reality. Neither should be denigrated, neither should be raised high above the other. Reynolds magnificently translates and comments upon this key Dzogchen text. But, he also makes numerous pithy, wise comments of a very general nature about religion/mythology in general. I think these make this work quite unique and particularly valuable in the study of comparative religion. I also find that comparing religious views tends to clarify my understanding. Amazingly enough, the doctrines of Kabbalah and those of Dzogchen and Mahamudra are VERY frequently supportive of each other - if not identical in essence (though differing in terminology, of course). Thus, I have added a number of quotes from this book into my collection:
p. 199: "It is only human nature to overlay the history or the biography of a charismatic figure-whether religious, military, or political-with myth, so that this figure comes to approximate a preexisting archetype. Thus, in later times, what we find in tradition, both written and oral, is not biography in the modern sense but hagiography...But this fact does not in itself disprove the real historical existence of these masters."
p. 202: "Modern scholars, conditioned by our literate civilization and our text-illuminated educational system, tend to overlook the importance of oral tradition...It would seem obvious that the appearance of a text at a particular time in history does not prove that the ideas the text contains first came into existence when these were written down in that text. Quite the contrary."
p. 203: "It is merely the bias of most modern scholars to think that something does not exist unless it is written down in some text."
p. 212: "Tradition itself is always pointing at a higher source and ultimate origin which lies beyond mere history."
p. 294: "It is necessary to be aware of the western intellectual tradition and cultural assumptions underlying our everyday use of language because otherwise we can be led into many misunderstandings."
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Book
Review: This was the best book I ever read. I encourage everyone to read it.
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