The Essence of Tibetan Buddhism

By Lama Thubten Yeshe
California, 1980 and France, 1982 (Archive #038 377)

This book consists of two teachings. The first, The Three Principal Aspects of the Path, was given in France in 1982, during an FPMT-sponsored tour of Europe by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The second teaching, Introduction to Tantra, was given at Grizzly Lodge, California, in 1980. You can view both of these talks on our YouTube channel.

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The Essence of Tibetan Buddhism
Lama Thubten Yeshe

The first teaching in this book, The Three Principal Aspects of the Path, is an introduction to the path to enlightenment. The second teaching, Introduction to Tantra, comprises the first two lectures of a commentary on the Chenrezig yoga method and is a wonderful explanation of the fundamentals of tantric practice. These teachings were given in France in 1982 and at Grizzly Lodge, California, in 1980.

"Meditation is not on the level of the object but on that of the subject—you are the business of your meditation.

"Bodhicitta is very practical, I tell you. It’s like medicine. The self-cherishing thought is like a nail or a sword in your heart; it always feels uncomfortable. With bodhicitta, from the moment you begin to open, you feel incredibly peaceful and you get tremendous pleasure and inexhaustible energy. Forget about enlightenment—as soon as you begin to open yourself to others, you gain tremendous pleasure and satisfaction. Working for others is very interesting; it’s an infinite activity. Your life becomes continuously rich and interesting.

"Historically, Shakyamuni Buddha taught the four noble truths. To whose culture do the four noble truths belong? The essence of religion has nothing to do with any one particular country's culture. Compassion, love, reality—to whose culture do they belong? The people of any country, any nation, can implement the three principal aspects of the path, the four noble truths or the eightfold path. There's no contradiction at all."
   - Lama Yeshe


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ISBN 9781891868085 / 9781891868306

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