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• Thubten, Anam. No Self, No Problem. (Sharon Roe, ed.)  Ithaca, NY:  Snow Lion Publications, 2009.

This 113-page paperback is derived from a series of talks by Anam Thubten, founder of the Dharmata Foundation.  Lama Anam's own teacher was Tulku Tsurlo, a Dzogchen* master.

Whether you are new to the Dharma or a long-time practitioner, you will certainly find some helpful advice here.  "Nothing is holding you back from Awakening." 

Some Excerpts

On tradition: "When we try to live in accordance with a cultural code or an outdated religious ethic, it is stifling and binding rather than liberating."  (Ch. 8, Truth's eternal mantra: hey, it's your fantasy, p. 79.)

On attachment to Ego / Self: "Have you ever ridden a bicycle? The bicycle does not run on its own.  The bicycle only runs when someone is pedaling it.  The moment we stop pedalling the bicycle, it falls over.   Unenlightened consciousness works in the same way. It doesn't perpetuate itself.  The moment we stop perpetuating it, it dies. Like everything else, it dies on its own.  Meditation is not so much like doing something or going somewhere or acquiring this or that. Meditation is actually a way to stop feeding this unenlightened consciousness."  (Ch. 11, Nonattachment: going beyond all limitations, p. 115.)

Procrastination:  "Ego is very afraid of its complete demise, so it tries all kinds of methods and strategies to buy time and postpone.   If it cannot do anything else, at least it can always postpone."   (Ch. 5, No self, no problem:  ultimate awakening, p.53)   Prayer is a good treatment for this, says Rinpoche.

More information and articles about Anam Thubten can be found on the Snow Lion web site by following the No Self, No Problem link at the top of this page.

An Emerging School of American Buddhism

A student of Anam Thubten's, who teaches at his request, Dana Marsh is an American living in Idaho.  She explained his perspective as "an emerging school of American Buddhism.  . . .  that seeks to adapt the Eastern philosophy to the Western mindset."

"That means not making it so mysterious and full of mysticism and ritual, but still teaching the heart of what Buddha taught," Marsh says.

The fact that a new form of Buddhism is emerging is nothing new to the practice, Anam Thubten said.

"If you know the history of Buddhism, it has gone through many changes," he said.

It started in India then kind of died there. Then it was reborn in Tibet and other countries and became something slightly different as it blended with a variety of cultures. Now there are several different schools of Buddhism, from Mahayana to Zen, that put an emphasis on different qualities, from mindfulness to compassion.

The emphasis of Anam Rinpoche is to remind us, in the words of Dana Marsh, that

"Put simply, Buddhism is a way of training the mind," . . .   .

"Some people think Buddhism is a religion. It's not, really. The main point is to get rid of all concepts and beliefs so you can see everything purely and in its natural state," she said.

That natural state is our relaxed essence that shows you that the answers you seek are inside you.

"It's like a dusty mirror. All you have to do is brush the dust off and you find your true nature reflected there," she said.

~ "Boisean teaches the way of the American Buddhist," by Dana Oland, Idaho Statesman, Jan 20, 2008. Online at buddhistchannel.tv

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Dzogchen ( "Great Perfection") is the name given to the key concept in the mind-training system as taught by the Nyingma denomination.  Dzogchen is a Tibetan rendering of the Sanskrit title, Prajnaparamita.  The famous Heart Sutra stating, "Form is Emptiness; Emptiness is Form" encapsulates its essence.