Chogyam Trungpa, Ripoche (1939-1987), meditation master, scholar and
artist, was the founder and president of Vajrahatu, Naropa University and
Shambhala Training. This book is a collection of his original discourses on
Tibetan Buddhism given in various parts of the United States between 1971 and
1973. With a foreword by the currently popular Pema Chodron this book provides
both an introduction to Buddhist psychology and a clarification of meditative
practices of the Tibetan school for those that are already familiar with
Buddhist teachings.

The book begins with an original
poem by Trungpa in which he writes “The warrior without a sword, Riding on a
rainbow, Hears the limitless laughter of transcendental joy. The poisonous
snake becomes amrita” In this volume Trungpa takes us through the different
psychological types that can interfere with the road to freedom.  Such self-absorption as paranoia, passion,
anger and stupidity are outlined. As a Clinical Psychologist myself the
categorization seemed somewhat limited as I reflect that there are infinite
ways in which sentient beings imprison themselves in their misery. Yet as with
most religions, the mystics have outlined psychology and the methods to
transcend them. So this would be a helpful study for those interested.

As a long term student of
meditation failed to find his explanations of the process very enlightening and
I found the tone a little too serious. (The
first joke doesn’t appear until page 51.)  Of most interest was the explication of the various roles of the
teacher on the path of Mahayana devotion from spiritual friend to the crazy
wisdom guru as the student matures. This can be used as a model for the
different roles a therapist might take during the course of treatment. The type of explanations that he gives to
the role of teacher or Guru remind me of the Zen tradition where the master was
unpredictable and a great deal is demanded from the student in return for his
or her ever-growing enlightenment. It speaks of the path of human development
as not being a comforting or easy one but one of risks and dangers—truly the
path of insecurity. In a world where
people want quick fixes, easy answers and managed care packages surely this
deeper voice deserves to be heard.

Not too difficult to read, this
book is suitable for all practitioners in the healing arts and their students
and all those that suffer and wish for freedom. The transformation of poisons
into blessings could be the outcome.

©
2003 Prem Dana Takada

Prem Dana Takada, B.B.Sc.
(Hons) M.A. Clin Psych, originally trained as a Clinical
Psychologist in Melbourne, Australia where she also acquired registration as a
Family Therapist. After leaving Australia, Prem Dana worked as a Principal
Clinical Psychologist in West London where she continued to work with
individuals, couples, families, and as a group therapist and received further
training as a Hypnotherapist in Oxford. She has traveled widely having also
lived and worked in India, and has been in Japan for the last eight  years where she  runs the Psychotherapy and Healing Practice and is current President
of International Mental Health Professionals
Japan–a professional organization established for International
Therapists.

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