Vivid Awareness: The Mind Instructions of Khenpo Gangshar

This is a most remarkable book, a book among books. Thrangu Rinpoche is a very direct and pragmatic teacher but in this book he reaches new levels. Not sure how to get your attention on this. Perhaps this will make it clear:In the 1950s, Khenpo Gangshar was invited by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to head up teaching at Trungpa's monastery Dutsi-Til, part of the Surmang monasteries in Kham, Tibet. During his stay there, Khenpo Gangshar became ill and died. Trungpa Rinpoche himself stood vigil over the corpse to determine when Khenpo Ganshar came out of Samadhi and his body could be prepared for burial.During that vigil by Trungpa Rinpoche, Khenpo Ganshar suddenly came back to life and reported that two very great lamas, Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye and Jaying Khentse Wangpo, appeared to him in the bardo and said he was to return to life and complete the liberation of certain beings that they (the two lamas) had been unable to finish.Khenpo Gangshar, who was ablaze with devotion and insight, then proceeded to give authentic pointing out instructions to everyone he met, monks and lay persons alike. He travelled to many monasteries in Kham and according to two great teachers I know personally, in every case those who heard these teachings were deeply changed.Those teachers (Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche and Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche) met Khenpo Gangshar and personally received these teachings and they both attest to their veracity and profound nature. This book presents those teachings just as they were received from Khenpo Gangshar himself.I have been studying this material (Mahamudra meditation) for many years and have taken many teachings and empowerments from both Thrangu Rinpoche and Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, so I have heard this directly.This book is an incredible opportunity to receive a ultra-concise teaching that you can use both on the cushion and throughout your day-to-day life.

Very readable. Lots of good teachings for both the intermediate and advanced practitioner. It might be slightly advanced for an absolute beginner, but would definitely be readable if one were to look up some of the concepts.

This book is easy to understand. Even if one does not have any experience with Tibetan Buddhist teachings, this book offers very practical advice and recommends spiritual practices which any practicing Buddhist can appreciate. As a Zen Buddhist practitioner for 24 years, and not trained in Tibetan Buddhism, I found this book very practical and clear in its teachings. I would recommend this book for any serious practitioner of Buddhism's core library.

If you really want to deeply understand Tibetan Buddhism, you won't find a more clear, concise explanation than Thrangu Rinpoche's illuminations, especially here. In particular, this volume deals with the essence of Mahamudra and our mind. As another wonderful teacher, Pema Chodron says, "These instructions are exceptionally concise and easy to follow." And if you've read Pema's books, you know how clearly she conveys esoteric concepts. I love all of Thrangu Rinpoche's writings and teachings, but this book truly is a gem, perhaps I should say a jewel-- as dharma students refer to the three jewels of Buddhism (the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.) As others have mentioned, this is actually a commentary on a famous teaching known as "Naturally Liberating"--liberation from suffering and samsara (the cycle of life) being the ultimate goal for all sentient beings. The "how to" was the Buddha's revelation. These are the techniques, plain and simple.

It is humbling to write a review on such a great book when there are so many other informative and insightful reviews.This is my favorite book on Mahamudra after the Moon in Mahamudra which is the definitive teaching on the subject.The other fine reviewers have described the teachings wonderfully. I would just like to point readers to all of the other great commentaries and books by Thrangu Rinpoche and especially to his teachings in the online magazine:SHENPEN ÖSELThe Clear Light of the Buddha's Teachings Which Benefits All BeingsONLINE EDITIONThe volume below is especially enlightening:VOLUME 3, NUMBER 3 JANUARY 2000Tilopa's mahamudra instructions to Naropa, Mahamudra Upadesha; teachings on Mahamudra Upadesha by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche.Anyone who benefited from the great teachings in Vivid Awareness will surely appreciate the teachings in Shenpen Osel.At times when our minds are full of thoughts, it is nice if they can at least be great ones, equanimity aside and all of that!

At first glance, Vivid Awareness feels a little bit simplistic and repetitive, but by book's end you find that you have been given a full outline of philosophy and practice in the entire Buddhist canon--from lesser vehicle Hinayana to tantric Dogchen. I've been studying various schools of Buddhism for thirty years as a serious amateur, but rarely have I seen a presentation that so clearly differentiates the various types of Buddhism and makes them understandable. Dogchen, one version of Tibetan tantric philosophy, is no easy thing to comprehend and practice, but this book is brilliant in its elegant simplicity. It is perhaps the only book I know that gives a genuine overview of exactly what Dogchen practice looks like, from its philosophical underpinnings to practical techniques.This should not be viewed as a practical how-to manual exactly--this is powerful practice that really requires a relationship to a skilled teacher--but for those seriously interested in the extreme edges of Buddhist practice, there is no better down-to-earth description. Highly recommended.

For a vajrayana practitioner this book is enormously useful. It has a powerful atmosphere which makes the profound mind teachings accessible to understanding and, even more helpful, makes the meditation on those teachings feel simple and doable. Thrangu Rinpoche's immense scholarship and meditative experience make his introduction to this influential text, and his commentary on it, a delight. As always with any vajrayana text, to practise the teaching the blessing of a qualified lama is necessary.

Amazing book, well written and explained. Not for begginers. I highly recommend this book for everyone interested in the nature of the mind. If you have been studying tibetan buddhism for many years this book will give you the feeling that everything you are reading is completely new for you.

This is an amazing book! For anyone who is doing Shinay or calming meditation, it gives clear instructions about how to improve your meditation practice. I found it confidence building. It made me believe that what you hope to achieve is doable!

This is a wonderful book. Anyone who feels a connection with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche will automatically feel a connection with one of his main teachers, Khenpo Ganshar. The commentary by Trangu Rinpoche makes the teachings accessible. For those who want to access the nature of mind and receive instructions for ones daily life and all circumstances, this is the book.

Have wanted to purchase this book for a while and treated myself during lockdown.Very insightful and a great purchase.Arrived promptly and we’ll packaged.