Faces of Enlightenment by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche – a Review

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Faces of Enlightenment by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche a
Review
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• The images of the Buddhas in Faces of
  Enlightenment and their iconographies changed my
  whole outlook on Buddhism. The images and
  iconographies of enlightened beings represent the
  Dharma in visual form. When we study, contemplate
  and meditate on them, we create the causes to
  attain the qualities of these beings, the
  qualities of enlightenment itself.

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The Many Ways To Walk The Path To Enlightenment

• In Faces of Enlightenment, His Eminence Tsem
  Rinpoche compassionately and skilfully presents a
  pantheon of Buddha deities, whose images and
  forms are, in actual fact, different
  manifestations of the enlightened mind of the
  Buddha. Buddha Shakyamuni taught 84,000 ways to
  reach enlightenment, tailored to the diverse
  dispositions of the mind.

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• Various Buddha images and forms show us the
  numerous ways to travel this path. Even though
  they may be vastly different in form, every
  single Buddha bring us towards the same goal of
  lasting happiness and ultimately enlightenment.
  Therefore whichever Buddhas we have an affinity
  with, will lead us towards the same goal, as long
  as we practice consistently and with a pure
  motivation.

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Enlightenment The Goal Of Peace And Ultimate
Happiness We All Seek

• Enlightenment is a state of mind, it is inner
  peace, and permanent and ultimate happiness. It
  is a state achieved by traversing a path of
  profound mind transformation, that takes us from
  the egocentric mind clouded by the delusions of
  anger, hatred, pride, jealousy, desirous
  attachments and cravings, to a mind that is
  filled with clear-sighted wisdom, and an
  altruistic and heartfelt undiscriminating concern
  for all others, as though they were our only
  child.

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• Each Buddha deity or face of enlightenment
  symbolises a road map for this inner journey.
  Each beautiful face of the enlightened beings in
  their peaceful forms represents the result of
  having walked the path of Dharma, and of having
  achieved that total peace we all want. There are
  also faces of enlightened wrath. For instance,
  Vajrapani is wrathful, as are other tantric
  deities and Dharma protectors. Their wrath (and
  often the flames around them) are transformative
  in function, changing us by helping to clear our
  inner obstacle of delusions (like desire, hatred
  and ignorance).

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An Introduction To The Buddha Form And Iconography

• In this book, Tsem Rinpoche introduces us to a
  rich range of Buddha forms, providing basic
  information to kindle our interest in the
  iconography of statues their postures, gestures
  and mudras, the ornaments and the implements they
  hold. Each one of these is a symbolic teaching in
  itself. Indeed the entire iconography, colour and
  pose of each Buddha statue combined presents a
  path to ultimate enlightenment.

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• Each Buddha has a unique way or path to help us
  overcome our delusions and suffering, and achieve
  wisdom. By studying the significance of the
  Buddha forms in this book, we understand the
  qualities of an enlightened mind. These are
  qualities we need to achieve ourselves, if we
  wish to be free of all suffering and find lasting
  happiness. As we gaze upon these images and
  contemplate on them in peace and tranquillity, we
  are reminded of the Buddha nature within us that
  has the same essential qualities. Therefore, we
  develop a bond of kinship with the Buddha deities.

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• When we pray before a statue, we are not praying
  to an image, but we are praying to what the image
  represents and the qualities embodied by the
  Buddha form compassion, wisdom, the ability to
  overcome and destroy anger, the altruistic mind,
  generosity, patience, perseverance and the like.

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• Praying to them is, in effect, making a wish that
  we may attain the same qualities ourselves and
  thus become an enlightened being with the
  capacities to serve others fully and bring them
  to the state of lasting happiness and
  enlightenment. We see before us a profoundly
  transformed mind that cherishes others and
  spontaneously pours out love and care.

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• It is very important for us to make a daily
  connection to the Buddha or Buddhas, with whom we
  have an affinity, so that we can develop the
  qualities they represent. Therefore it is
  necessary for us to know and understand the
  Buddha forms and their iconography.

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We Still Need A Spiritual Guide On Our Inner
Journey To Enlightenment

• Powerful as it is to have Buddha forms, complete
  with iconographies, for us to contemplate on to
  help us on the path to enlightenment, we still
  need a spiritual guide. It is only through the
  guru or spiritual guide that the full
  transformative power inspired by the enlightened
  mind can work its effect on our innermost being.
  It is the guru who can discern which enlightened
  quality needs cultivation and which accompanying
  deity to practice, through his complete
  understanding of his students strengths and
  weaknesses. A powerful analogy of the guru would
  be a magnifying glass that focuses the rays of
  the sun-like energy of the Buddhas and
  bodhisattvas to ignite our minds of bodhicittta,
  wisdom and skilful means.

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What The Accumulation Of Virtues And Abandonment
Of Non-Virtues Leads To

• As I gaze upon each face of enlightenment, it
  fills me with great awe to realise that each
  represents the culmination of three aeons of
  lifetimes of accumulation of virtues. These
  virtues were accumulated through their consistent
  and continuous holding of their vows, their
  steadfast practice of the six Perfections and
  their total abandonment of all non-virtues. Each
  enlightened being has painstakingly perfected
  altruistic love, compassion or bodhicitta, wisdom
  and skilful means for the sake of all beings.
  They thus continue to inspire us to achieve the
  same state.

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• The path to Buddhahood is two-fold, and embraces
  method and wisdom. Method comprises the practice
  of compassion and bodhicitta, and the Perfections
  of giving, moral discipline, patience,
  perseverance and concentration. Wisdom is the
  Perfection of wisdom the unmistaken view of
  reality, clear of all wrong perceptions and
  projections.

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The Three Qualities Of Full Enlightenment

• Compassion, wisdom, and power or skillful means
  are the three qualities of enlightenment. These
  are symbolised by the three meditational deities
  Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani. In
  Faces of Enlightenment, Tsem Rinpoche present
  these three deities vividly, and in a manner that
  is clear to understand, explaining their
  iconographies which trace the path of complete
  enlightenment.

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• To know more information, visit us

http//www.tsemrinpoche.com/