Mind in Tibetan Buddhism

I read and studied this in the print copy twenty years ago and refer to it often. It is a study in "lo rig", examining levels of conscious awareness ( and unawareness) that is known as , awareness and knowledge. A commentary of the topic from classic texts. I had the precious opportunity to attend several teachings by Lati Rinpoche prior to his passing and can attest that this a true lineage master of the Tibetan Gelug tradition and his teachings are authentic and true to the source. This book also has a superb introduction which covers detailed background studies and related and comparative Buddhist and other schools of thought , Elizabeth Napper being co author, This text includes references to the various schools of tenets in Tibetan Buddhist thought along with the overall context needed to see all this in perspective historically. The presentation of the seven levels of awareness are; 1. direct perceivers 2. inferential cognizers 3. subsequent cognizers 4. correctly assuming consciousnesses 5. awareness to which the object appears but is not ascertained 6. doubting consciousnesses and 7. wrong consciousnesses. These of course, are described and developed in detail and any student of Buddhist thought could benefit and refine their practice from this study. This is not a fast read, the study of knowledge and awareness itself, requires review and review and a lifetime , and pursuit may be a more proper term that study. Someone once said " the unexamined life is not worth living". So be it - and this a treasure to read and re- read a treasure such as this will never outlive its relevance to all but the totally enlightened mind - even then it is a treasure for all sentient beings yet to come and I would suppose, a resource to all interested in how we know and become more aware spiritually. Certainly a resource for the Bodhisattva and all pilgrims who would wish of see more clearly: " But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding" Job 28:12 -- So a treasure and a wish fulfilling jewel for all.

This is an extraordinary book. The written Introduction is detailed and specific enough to immediately expand one's own knowledge and one's own personal experience of one's own knowledge, to allow for a whole series of conceptual leaps in personal knowledge both directly and indirectly. The rest of the book follows forward from this point. I studied with Lati Rinpoche, and he was an exceptionally brilliant man.

Excellent read, a practical handbook

Quite difficult book without a teacher explaining the content. Ideal for Shedra teachings