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Rebel Buddha  By  cover art

Rebel Buddha

By: Dzogchen Ponlop
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis,Dzogchen Ponlop (introduction)
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Publisher's summary

There's a rebel within you. It's the part of you that already knows how to break free of fear and unhappiness. This rebel is the voice of your own awakened mind. It's your rebel buddha - the sharp, clear intelligence that resists the status quo. It wakes you up from the sleepy acceptance of your day-to-day reality and shows you the power of your enlightened nature. It's the vibrant, insightful energy that compels you to seek the truth.

Dzogchen Ponlop guides you through the inner revolution that comes from unleashing your rebel buddha. He explains how, by training your mind and understanding your true nature, you can free yourself from needless suffering. He presents a thorough introduction to the essence of the Buddha's teachings and argues that, if we are to bring these teachings fully into our personal experience, we must go beyond the cultural trappings of traditional Asian Buddhism. We all want to find some meaningful truth about who we are, he says, but we can only find it guided by our own wisdom - by our own rebel buddha within.

Introduction read by the author.

©2010 Dzogchen Ponlop (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche shatters old myths and sweeps away cultural baggage, presenting the essence of the Buddha’s teachings in a fresh, contemporary voice. With uncommon clarity and authority, he offers a new vision for the future of Buddhism that is at once shocking and hopeful. This is a small book with a big message that is timely and important." (Pema Chödrön, author of When Things Fall Apart)
"The author's practical approach is disarming, especially when applying Buddhism to the challenges of everyday life." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Rebel Buddha

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Rebel Budda: On the Road to Freedom

First, I throughly enjoy Jonathan Davis as a narrator! I will always check the books he has done first. His voice is annimated and very easy to listen to. In the reading of Rebel Buddha his voice was a pleasant smile.

Rebel Budda is a book of searching for the buddha in yourself. It addresses the rebel part in us all. In questing our truth we often look to teachers or books before we examine what our basic question is. Dzogchen talks of letting the question grow and ferment first to get to fully understand the question. This one statement resonated for me all through the book.

This is an excellent read for anyone with a questioning mind, seeking answers for themselves.

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38 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Buddhism for the Western World

Excellent book for it makes me want to learn more about Buddhism. I liked that he takes a more philosophical approach as opposed to a religious approach. I also liked that it is written as if the author grew up in Toronto and watched the same TV shows etc. He explained things in a way that made sense and enriched some of my previous beliefs on Buddhism. The book actually made me feel more peaceful.

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31 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

another great listen!

Loved it! Very inspirational if you are a rebel (in the kindest sense). Offers permission, and ways, to open your mouth as well as your heart and still be at peace with who you are.

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28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Approachable

I really enjoyed listening to Rebel Buddha, but I know I will need to listen to it again. There were so many good concepts to digest I know this will be one of those where I pick up something new each time. I find the writing very approachable for the modern reader and I learned a lot about Buddhist concepts which is just what I was looking for.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding !!

Very very good. A modern "Amercanized" version of Buddhism. Huge thumbs up !!

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Spoken in Today's English

A wonderful book that expresses the teachings of the Buddha in a way that us mere mortals can understand. The book uses 'today's language' it is not full of terms that are foreign that can belittle the reader unlike a number of books about Buddha that I have read. The meditation examples are also excellent and have been a real help for me. The speed is great, the narration is excellent, I couldn't recomment the experience highly enough.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A True Gem

Any additional comments?

One of the best books written about Buddhism and it's place in modern life. It is easily accessible and yet deeply profound. The narration is flawless. The reading pace and voice are perfect for the subject. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this beautifully crafted audible.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Easily understood, Intelligent,

Where does Rebel Buddha rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

For anyone who is looking to find an informational book about walking the buddhist path, this is the book to read or listen too. Very intelligent on relating to the present day. The truth just spills out like water pouring over a mountain top. Very, Very enjoyable. I would recommend to everyone who want a clear perspective on the inner workings of our minds and how to practice with it. Much thanks to the author and narrator for creating such a masterpiece of literature.

What about Jonathan Davis and Dzogchen Ponlop (introduction) ’s performance did you like?

They spoke with a sense of knowledge and respect.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great listening to an unusual Buddhist

What did you love best about Rebel Buddha?

Dzogchen Ponlop is one of the leaders in Westernizing Buddhism. Although born and trained in a traditional Tibetan style, he now lives in Seattle, starts his day with coffee and ends it with The Daily Show. This book provides teachings on the Buddhist path in a straightforward manner that is accessible to everyone. If you have wondered if Buddhism is for you, or are just curious about it, this book is a great beginning.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good intro to the subject

For a good, basic introduction to Buddhism, it gets the job done. After studying the subject for most of my adult life, there's just not anything particularly new here.

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7 people found this helpful