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Straight from the Heart brings together an inspiring collection of Buddhist teachings, songs of realization, meditation instructions, and enlightened poetry--all chosen for their power to speak directly to the student. Drawn from Indian Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism as well as from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, some will impress with their beautiful poetry and powerful imagery, others with their profound power of instruction. Still others share personal advice for life that seems to come directly from the mouth of the author, and some serve as immediate and profound practice instructions. Several are just delightfully unconventional, even outrageous, letting in fresh air on petrified views or musty traditions. Most of them are simply unknown precious gems, which deserve a wider audience. Each of the works is preceded by a brief introduction and a short biography of its author. Many of these are legendary accounts of supernatural feats, edifying examples for students on the same spiritual path meant to expand their limited outlook with "mind-blowing" stories. Miraculous deeds, magnificent songs, and pithy instructions distinguish this collection assembled by the Buddhist scholar and translator Karl Brunnhölzl, whose years of work among dharma texts and his skill as a translator yield a rich mine of teachings all chosen for their ability to speak directly to the heart.
Mipham Rinpoche
Mipham Rinpoche (1846-1912) was a student of Jamgon Kongtrul, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, and Paltrul Rinpoche. Blessed by Manjushri, he became one of the greatest scholars of his time. His collected works fill more than thirty volumes. His chief disciple was Shechen Gyaltsab Pema Namgyal.
More by Mipham Rinpoche
Karl Brunnhölzl
Translated by
Karl Brunnhölzl, MD, PhD, was originally trained as a physician. He received his systematic training in Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy and practice at the Marpa Institute for Translators, founded by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, as well as the Nitartha Institute, founded by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. Karl also studied Buddhism, Tibetology, and Sanskrit at Hamburg University, Germany. Since 1989 he has been a translator and interpreter from Tibetan and English. Karl is a senior teacher and translator in the Nalandabodhi community of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, as well as at Nitartha Institute. He is the author and translator of numerous texts, including The Center of the Sunlit Sky: Madhyamaka in the Kagyü Tradition (2004), Straight from the Heart: Buddhist Pith Instructions (2007), Luminous Heart: The Third Karmapa on Consciousness, Wisdom, and Buddha Nature (2009), Gone Beyond: The Ornament of Clear Realization and Its Commentaries in the Tibetan Kagyü Tradition, 2 vols. (2010-11), When the Clouds Part (2014), A Lullaby to Awaken the Heart (2018), and Luminous Melodies: Essential Dohas of Indian Mahamudra (2019). He lives in Munich, Germany.
Karl has set some of the songs of realization in this and the other volumes to contemporary melodies; recordings can be accessed at https: //mindwithoutme.com.
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