THE DANCE OF 17 LIVES - MICK BROWN

RATING - C+

This book tells of another Tibetan born Buddhist and deals with their escape from Chinese occupied Tibet. This is the third story I have read about Tibetans seeking and reaching safety and freedom in exile.

Although I found the book a hard read, mainly due to its overly political stance, it was sprinkled with enough Buddhism to keep me going. Page 52 talks of birds in a way I found delightful, having had personal experience of birds that have behaved in strange-for-bird ways myself. I was also interested to read that 37 is a supposedly difficult age - looking back, I can only agree! At the same time HH the 17^th Karmapa was making his great escape, I too was traveling on an escape - but only temporarily getting away from a difficult home situation onto an overseas vacation.

Although not from my own lineage, the Karmapas are a major part of Tibetan Buddhism. I would recommend this book to those wishing to know about the important reincarnations of Tibetan Buddhists, those in the Kagyu lineages, and those - like myself - wishing to learn about the situation, culture and religion of Tibet.

DZOGCHEN THE SELF PERFECTED STATE - CHOGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU

RATING - B

A helpful book covering the basics with a few ideas and hints for practitioners. I particularly found the parts concerning vows, putting practice into life, non-positional meditation, and 'presence' to be helpful. The latter being of great help to my main current problem. I appreciate the given explanations and the acceptance that Dzogchen practice does not need to be tied in to a pile of traditional rigmarole - because although I have nothing against such traditions, I have no 'local' temple to practice such at and see little relevance of a meditation center when I have already learned how to meditate.

I would recommend the book to Dzogchen practitioners/would-bes that want to clarify the basics or learn a few pointers and hints - also to those interested in 'The Cuckoo of the State of Presence' verses, or those wanting a good photo of CNN to scan-copy for use on an alter if they are students.

CHILD OF TIBET - SONAME YANGCHEN

RATING - A -

I intend to read a selection of autobiographical books from Tibetan Buddhists. There is something about Tibetan culture that is both appealing and easy to understand - I have never related well to my own background, which to me does not make sense or offer very much of use for living life. I found this book enchanting - the author made sense, as Tibetans and Eastern Buddhists often do!

I was amazed at learning that for one period of her life, she had herself lived in Brighton, Sussex - for so had I! In fact, I live not very far from this very town at the present moment after more than 2 decades overseas. Additionally, that she related to a seagull and blackbird stood out strongly to me - for I spent much time hanging out with birds whilst living in Wollongong and I even wrote a book about my precious feathered friends. I found her attitude to Buddhism and HHDL beautiful - so unlike many of my fellow Westerners.

I was intrigued to learn of the significance of 49 as an age relevant to dying and troubles - as this falls within the 2-8 years I have yet to live. I think it would be amazing if that were the actual age I were to drop this body and greet my next set of skin clothes. Her reaction to England as a favorable living place was strange to me - a native Brit - as I do not find it a pleasing place to live at all. Seen through another woman's eyes, it brings understanding of good points that I would otherwise have missed entirely.

I would recommend this book to anyone not afraid to cry along between moments of relief that wanted to learn a little of the Tibetan people, Buddhist belief, and life in 'other places' that I myself find more understandable than that around me.

LOSING THE CLOUDS, GAINING THE SKY - EDITOR DORIS WOLTER, MULTIPLE WRITERS

RATING - A-

Bite-sized teachings from a multitude of teachers set out in specific sections. These teachings come from more than a dozen Tibetan Buddhist masters, mostly of the Nyingma tradition, including Dzogchen Rinpoche, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Orgyen Tobgal Rinpoche and Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche. Those mentioned are among the ones most meaningful to me.

It was very easy to read for somebody such as myself, who finds they have twenty minutes here and twenty-five there, but who cannot sit down and devour a giant 2-3 hour chunk of text in one sitting. I found the book inspirational and it helped clarify a few points that had previously been somewhat misty. I would recommend it to Buddhist students of the Vajrayana/Dzogchen leaning - especially those of the Nyingma lineages who wish to collect snippets of help.