Book Review - A Garland of Advice

 

A Garland of Advice: Special Instructions on How to Bless a Mala and General Advice for Recitation Practice

 

In this book The 12th Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche offers advice on how to use a Buddhist mala and engage in mantra recitation practice because it is important to know how to use a mala correctly to gain merit. 

As he writes, it might seem basic, but sometimes the simple can be profound.

 

Rinpoche also explains the significance of the mala in Tibetan Buddhism and the commitments relating to the mala and includes special instructions on how to bless a mala and make your mantra practice more powerful.

 

The book begins with the interesting biography of the 12th Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche, how he was recognized, his enthronement, education and many activities.

 

The title of this book is very relevant because Rinphche gives many insightful pieces of advice in his writing about malas.  This book really can be relevant to all.

 

He talks of how Buddhism, and I feel other traditions like yoga, have remained relevant because it has moved with the times without sacrificing its main principles.  He writes, "When we fail to adapt to change, we cannot make progress in our lives." and that change will come when we decide to change for the better.

 

In Buddhism the purpose of life is to be happy and to share happiness with others.

How can a mala do this? 

Well, one way is that it requires one to sit still, reflect and become aware of themselves and realise that happiness must be formed from within.  Often our internal emotions are more dangerous than things around us as we cannot run away from them when they are within us.  Rinpoche clearly writes that, "If not free in yourself and are imprisoned by your emotions then you will never find happiness and joy."

 

One can find merit in the simple act of sitting, meditating, reciting mantras with meaning. 

Success in this will depend on our own efforts.  So the practice is very much up to us.

He jokingly writes how people can easily watch tv, search the internet, etc. and not keep track of time, but when it comes to sitting we become serious timekeepers. :) 

 

Although I am not at a stage to use all the directions given, this book was a very interesting read and has shown me how to give even more respect to my mala and my practice.

 

All proceeds from this book go to the not for profit Zurmang Kagyud Buddhist Foundation.

 

 

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.blogspot.com