Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual director of Ligmincha Institute. Recognized as one of the few Bon masters now living in the West, he is the author of Tibetan Yogas of Dreams and Sleep. In this substantive book, Tenzin Wangyal explores the three doors to enlightenment in the Tibetan Bon Buddhist tradition: body, speech, and mind. Each can be hobbled by pain, as the author illustrates with movies: pain body in The Wrestler; pain speech in Burn after Reading; and pain mind in Brokeback Mountain.
Many of us regularly feel stressed, exhausted and at the end-of-our-rope. The body holds this tension and needs light. Tenzin Wangyal suggests infusing positive behaviors into our days such as finding places where we can renew our bodies through silence and peace. Or seek out persons who lift you up or make you feel energized. In another chapter, the author presents six vigorous physical movements that overcome negative emotions.
Our way of speaking in the world can be enhanced by following the four virtues, abandoning lies, not slandering, not using harsh words, and not indulging in idle gossip. Next, Tenzin Wangyal shows how ancient mantras can enhance what he calls "inner sound."
Last but not least is taming the mind through guided meditation, use of the tantric mandala as a gateway to wholeness, making the most of prana, and trying to transform the ego-based identity. The spiritual practices of the Bon Tibetan branch of Buddhism offer some fresh approaches to dealing with obstacles and bad habits related to our bodies, speech, and minds.
