PDF A Saint in Seattle: The Life of the Tibetan Mystic Dezhung Rinpoche by David P. Jackson in History

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. this must have been a labor of love. Even I can finish the book without problem ...By William C.Buy it and read it. Darn... this must have been a labor of love. Even I can finish the book without problem and I am the laziest guy on the planet (don't fight me). It is not only the outer biography of Dezhung Rinpoche but it touches many known/unknown figures of all Tibetan Buddhist lineages. The only real complaint I have is the scholarly transliterations of Tibetan names sometimes obstructed the flow and I have to figure out what the usual transliterations for the dummies are. I am sad why they don't make book like this for other great teachers.6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A Monumental Homage to a Holy ManBy Wintu1Writing equally with love; devotion and a careful attention to detail; David Jackson has not only created a monumental homage to a great man but has also offered a little bit of Dezhung Rinpoche to all us.The first 250 pages chronicle Dezhung Rinpoche's life in Tibet from 1906 to 1959. Rinpoche's teachers; his fellow students and family; and the many places to which he journeyed are wonderfully represented in rare photos. The many texts he studied and transmissions he gave; and was given; offer an insight into a religious life outside the world wars and economic disasters of the first half of the twentieth century.Dezhung Rinpoche's life in exile begins in 1959 in India but soon he finds himself in Seattle as part of a University of Washington; Rockefeller Foundation-funded research project. His many friends; colleagues and students over the next 25 years; including the biographer; lend many incredible anecdotes and first-hand reminisces. Between Seattle; New York and Vancouver he tirelessly travels even though his body is breaking down. But his dream to reestablish Tharlam Temple comes true in Nepal; where he later dies in 1987. Humble to a fault; this Saint of Seattle; learned beyond measure; insists; "All you need to do is recite Om mani padme hum." At the end; it's almost like one's father or grandfather has died.Following the biography are ten appendices; which include a talk by Dezhung Rinpoche on the ri-me movement (Buddhism without Sectarianism) and a brief biography he wrote on Kalu Rinpoche. Past this are over 1500 notes and bibliography.30 of 30 people found the following review helpful. An inspiring and compelling spiritual biographyBy Tom TrabinA Saint in Seattle is a fascinating book that I did not want to lay aside. The early chapters are devoted to Dhezhung Rinpoche's childhood and early adulthood; and are a wonderful depiction of what intensive spiritual training was like for a gifted lama in early twentieth century Tibet. The brief biographies of his primary teachers are also great to read--both informative and inspiring.The later chapters focus upon Dhezung Rinpoche's life and teaching activities outside Tibet; primarily in the United States. As one of the very first Tibetan lamas to reside in the United States in the early 1960s; he experienced first hand and helped nurture the gradual spiritual maturing of western students until his death nearly four decades later. This part of the book is filled with anecdotes about dharma in the west--some amusing and some inspiring--that include descriptions of several other famous Tibetan lamas and many Western students. As one of his earlier students; I enjoyed reading about many westerners I have known but had never read about in a publication before who helped to shape Buddhism in the west.The author; Dr. David Jackson; demonstrates a scholar's attention to detail and accuracy throughout the book that I appreciated. He portrays Dhezhung Rinpoche's many-faceted personality through numerous anecdotes; capturing his great kindness and wisdom; sense of humor; unflagging patience and persistence; seemingly boundless energy; intense focus on meditation throughout all aspects of daily life; amazing breadth of knowledge; and profound humility.I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in integrating spiritual practice into everyday life; particularly but not exclusively through the Tibetan Buddhist path. A Saint in Seattle provides spiritual inspiration and a tremendous wealth of information about Tibetan Buddhism as practiced traditionally in Tibet and as transmitted to and practiced by westerners. It is also a wonderfully captivating story of a great spiritual teacher and of the dramatically changing history of Tibetan Buddhism as it migrated west in the 20th century.