Meditation Differently: Phenomenological-Psychological Aspects of Tibetan Buddhist (Mahamudra and sNying-thig) Practices from Original Tibetan Sources.

• Author: Tatz, Mark

This book contains seven chapters, and half is devoted to the seventh: the translation of a work with the abbreviated title, "The Sun's Life-Giving Force," composed by rTse-le rGod-tshongs-pa sNa-tshogs-rang-grol (sixteenth century). The Tibetan title is not provided. The first six chapters are the translator's introduction. The author, rGod-tshangs-pa, attempts to reconcile two systems of praxis, the Mahamudra and the rDzogs-chen, associated primarily with two schools: the bKa'-brgyud and the rNying-ma. He expounds them in the traditional framework of "ground, path, and goal." His emphasis upon the middle term justifies "meditation" in the book title, although the philosophic underpinnings are kept visible throughout. The translator's qualifier "differently" must be intended to denigrate other, unmentioned schools, and the grammar of the meditation differently" demonstrates his inveterate creativity.

A derivative purpose of the author, who belongs to the rNying-ma school, is to authenticate the rDzogs-chen system by demonstrating its consistency with Mahamudra, whose Indian provenance is not doubted. rDzogs-chen texts and their "tantra" sources were excluded from most editions of the Tibetan canon of translated scripture, and for good reason: even as rGod-tshangs-pa presents them, for example, they demonstrate a preoccupation with cosmogonic beginnings that is not typical of Indian Buddhism.

The translated text does indeed present the experience of meditation in unusual ways. Important topics include (p. 1.50) the role of inspection (dran pa, smrti) - whether it entangles the mind or facilitates liberation; the relationship of the two systems to supreme yoga-tantra (pp. 135ff) and its psycho-physiology (138ff.); and the effects of the "lighting up" experience (p. 150). on behavior in the world - in a word, non-activity. Still farther along the path kpp. (pp.153ff), the bodhisattva's wisdom and powers are presented from the point of view of the bodhisattva's mind, not - as in most other texts - by observation from outside. Even the dreams of bodhisattvas are described.

Because the rDzogs-chen has been studied less than the systems of other schools, the value of bringing this text to light is all the greater. However, the dearth of alternative renderings makes it difficult to assess the translators interpretations. The bibliography contains numerous Tibetan sources but no study or translation by any contemporary buddhist or buddhologist...