Expert: Bodhicitta - 9/5/2005

Question
Bodhicitta, thanks for your response. I am living in Madison, Wisconsin.

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Followup To
Question -
Hello, I am wondering if you might
be able to help me with some information.

I am a 35 year old law librarian,and I've been developing a growing interest in Buddhist spiritualy for the last five years or. Recently, I read Sogyal Rinpoche's Tibetan Book
of Living and Dying,was profoundly inspired by it, and have decided I would like to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism. I decided to contact
Rigpa, the organization that Sogyal Rinpoche heads, so that I could undertake his distance introductory course in Buddhist studies/meditation.

I was just wondering if you know anything about
Sogyal Rinpoche as a monk and spiritual master,  before I decide to undertake this path.

Any help/suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated.

Sunil
Answer -
Hi Sunil
Where are you based?

Bodhicitta

Answer
Hi Sunil
You are far away from me - I am in Britain. So I am not sure
I can advise you on options near to where you live.

I always feels its good to meet the teacher and receive meditation instruction directly. It is also good to meet
the students of the teacher and teacher without any commitment and get a general feel for the situation.
It is an important step receiving something valuable like
buddhist meditation instruction.Traditionally it is
said you should take time and test your teacher and
choose him carefully.

I dont feel able to say anything to you about Sogyal.I
havent met him.
His book of Living and Dying seems to be very popular
with non-Buddhist or people who are new to Buddhism.People were reading it on the New York subway apparently! The contents
from I can see are nothing remarkable but just bits
and pieces from the Buddhist tradition - edited together and rewritten in a popular style by one of his student and marketed in a popular way.

As I emphasize to everyone starting . it is good to read around the whole subject a bit. Inform yourself as widely as possible. Then meet students and teachers from different traditions. You finally have to trust your
instincts. When you have finally selected your teacher ask for meditation instructions and go and practice them for a while. Then go back and discuss your experiences regularly.

Hope this helps
Bodhicitta