The Vital Essence of Dzogchen: A Commentary on Dudjom Rinpoche's Advice for a Mountain Retreat

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Dudjom Rinpoche B. Alan Wallace

The Vital Essence of Dzogchen

A Commentary on Dudjom Rinpoche's Advice for a Mountain Retreat

Dudjom Rinpoche, B. Alan Wallace

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English

Shambhala Publications Inc
19 August 2025

Religion & beliefs

A modern commentary on a classic Tibetan text of instructions for practitioners of the Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, with practical step-by-step instructions for advanced Nyingma teachings on realizing the nature of mind.

A modern commentary on a classic Tibetan text of instructions for practitioners of the Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, with practical step-by-step instructions for advanced Nyingma teachings on realizing the nature of mind.

Seamlessly interweaving the language of science with the sublime teachings of Buddhism, B. Alan Wallace presents a modern commentary on a pivotal Tibetan retreat manual, Extracting the Vital Essence of Accomplishment- Concise and Clear Advice for Practice in a Mountain Retreat by twentieth-century Nyingma master, D djom Rinpoche. The root text offers practical step-by-step instructions for dedicated practice in meditation retreat-wherever one may be-and Wallace's commentary elucidates the enduring relevance of these teachings for our contemporary context.

The commentary includes four concise and powerful meditation practices, guided by Wallace, to bring the teachings into one's immediate experience. This volume serves as a practice manual for those familiar with the teachings of Dzogchen and as a clear guide to this pinnacle of Buddhist paths for those interested in broader questions about direct and unmediated insight into the fundamental nature of awareness. ""By extracting the essence of all meditative accomplishment through the practice of Dzogchen,"" Wallace states, ""you draw forth the vital essence of consciousness itself.""

By: Dudjom Rinpoche, B. Alan Wallace
Imprint: Shambhala Publications Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm,
Weight: 369g
ISBN: 9781645473732
ISBN 10: 1645473732
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 19 August 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

B. ALAN WALLACE has authored, translated, edited, and contributed to more than forty books on Tibetan Buddhism, science, and culture. With fourteen years as a Buddhist monk, he earned a BA in physics and the philosophy of science and then a PhD in religious studies. After teaching in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, he founded the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies to explore the integration of scientific approaches and contemplative methods.

Reviews for The Vital Essence of Dzogchen: A Commentary on Dudjom Rinpoche's Advice for a Mountain Retreat

“If you are sincerely interested in the reality of our own lives and of the universe around us, read this book by Alan Wallace. Through knowing and understanding the truth of our reality, we will expand our view to see much more clearly the origins of these phenomena, without depending on our beliefs or faith.” —Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche, author of Emptiness: The Essence of the Heart Sutra: A Step to the Great Perfection “Through his lifetime of devotion to Dharma as a scholar, teacher, translator, and serious practitioner, Alan brings all these elements together to introduce us to Düdjom Rinpoché’s profound Dzogchen teachings. This translation and commentary offer the serious student a wealth of teachings for understanding and practicing along a swift path.” —Tsoknyi Rinpoche, author of Open Heart, Open Mind