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.

EYE OF THE STORM - KEITH DOWMAN

RATING - B

Yet another Dzogchen book! I was very sleepy while reading most of the book, and therefore very slow to complete reading it through. I was trying to stay in a mode of understanding and contemplating, rather than letting words go in my eye and disappear into thin headedness - but did not have much success.

I intend to re-read the entire book once I am getting enough rest & sleep to feel alert while reading, as the first short piece was firmly understood on 2-3 reads, but I have yet to properly figure out the other 4 pieces.

I wonder if it is significant that the two pieces with birds in the title were those that stood out the most?

I would recommend this book to Dzogchen practitioners interested in reading through texts with commentaries as ideas and pointers towards furthering their practice.

NATURAL RADIANCE, AWAKENING TO YOUR GREAT PERFECTION - LAMA SURYA DAS

RATING - A (almost A+!!)

A very interesting and entertaining practice manual combining a book and CD. Along with the Ngondro of my former lineage, I intend for this book/CD to become the basis of my regular practice over the rest of my current life. I was also interested to learn how much of the Dzogchen teachings I could re-find from a former life.

Highlights include:

* amusement at my initial attempt at 'morning sky breath', due to sounding somewhat akin to dirty bath water going down the plughole. (With further practice, I sound as if a cross between a didgeridoo and someone doing a Tarzan impersonation, but....)

* confusion over 'Rushen' - due to previously achieving the same results in a different way and having to try to find and then go in the back door after already having gone thru the front. The instructions appeared as 'just words that were spoken' without leading anywhere, as I already had arrived thru differing means.

* likewise concerning Thekchod - I have already learned to achieve the same result using a differing method.

* the results of my initial practice of Hung Mantra and Togal.

Overall, I find this a highly valuable book. It would suit someone who was unable to take one-on-one instruction in Dzogchen at the moment, yet was curious and determined to practice anyway. With either practice from a former life or an ability to tune in spiritually to the writer at the point of the recording of the CD, this book/CD should be workable with until linking to a teacher.

NB: in many opinions, it is impossible to practice Dzogchen without a teacher-to student DIRECT/LIVE transmission. Whilst I have not personally found this to be the case due to having practiced/received transmissions in former lives, I agree that a complete 'newbie' would benefit extremely from personal tuition and transmission from a qualified teacher in a one-on-one basis.

DZOGCHEN HEART ESSENCE OF THE GREAT PERFECTION – HHDL

RATING - A-

Highlights from the book include a page agreeing that some people can have done something in previous lives enabling them to have a clearer view to start with in their current life & a paragraph explaining why I find some harder things easier than the easy things. There are also a chunk referring to what I call think mind and know mind, linking it to conventional and ultimate, an explanation of Rigpa,...

Altogether a highly instructive book that I would recommend to anyone wishing to know the basics of Dzogchen practice who had a basic knowledge of Buddhism. Covering all the essential aspects without giving away too much, this book can be used either as reference material or for an informative read.

THE EXCELLENT PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT – DILGO KHYENTSE RINPOCHE

RATING - B+

I wanted to read a book compatible with practices from the Nyingma Dzogchen lineage to confirm that this is the lineage I once followed in a former life. I found the text both invigorating and helpful. Covering matters I had already encountered, it covered them in assistive ways to ingrain these practices and understandings deeper.

By the time I was a third of the way through the book, I knew it would become a re-read text and be on my 'read again' booklist. This is the sort of book to come back to and practice with – if the next book in line is not the ngondro teachings I choose to at-home practice with, I shall use this one myself!

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in/practicing the Nyingma Dzogchen lineage seeking to have a basis for at-home preliminaries. Also, for those seeking to learn more about or reinforce their current practices.

DREAM YOGA AND THE PRACTICE OF NATURAL LIGHT – CHOGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU

RATING - A-

I selected this book partly due to it concerning Dzogchen and partly due to it concerning dream Yoga practices. Both topics interest me enough to participate in practicing them. I have been able to enter the dream zone and participate fully whilst awake for some time, but have had little ability to be aware whilst dreaming/sleeping itself – I thought that this book might assist me.

I found it extremely helpful in learning what I do and do not currently know and what I can and can not currently do. It also amazed me in that I discovered that I had already been practicing what is termed 'Thegchod' without knowing it was called this, due to memories from a past life that resurfaced. As the subject was discussed, I realized that I had already begun to practice this! Obviously, I will need to now find a book on that topic and continue my studies!

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in practicing dream Yoga from a Buddhist point of view – but would also say that this book agrees that for the practice to be conducted properly one needs a transmission – something I have not yet had in THIS life, though have had formerly.