The Path Is The Goal

A Basic Handbook of Buddhist Meditation

By: Chögyam Trungpa, Sherab Chödzin - editor

Narrated by: Julian Elfer

Length: 3 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

According to the Buddha, no one can attain basic sanity or enlightenment without practicing meditation. The teachings given here on the outlook and technique of meditation provide the foundation that every practitioner needs to awaken as the Buddha did. Trungpa teaches us to let go of the urge to make meditation serve our ambition; thus we can relax into openness. We are shown how the deliberate practice of mindfulness develops into contrived awareness, and we discover the world of insight that awareness reveals. We learn of a subtle psychological stage set that we carry with us everywhere and unwittingly use to structure all our experience - and we find that meditation gradually carries us beyond this and beyond ego altogether to the experience of unconditioned freedom.

©1995 Diana J. Mukpo (P)2014 Audible Inc.

$2.00!!!

I found great value in this audiobook. It presents some very unique perspectives and explanations that really helped me wrap my head around some concepts and expectations in regards to meditation.
I wouldn't recommend this as a starter book for the very beginner, but very good for anyone beyond the basics of Buddhism.
You really can't go wrong for $2.00.

Generally good information on meditation.

For the most part, I liked the book. It has some good information regarding getting started and continuing meditation. Some of what to expect and how to grow your practice.
My only real complaint is the language. I don't think the story was helped any by using "fucked and fucked up" so many times. I know these descriptions can be useful at times, but I don't think they helped here. Maybe he was going for a young audience. I hope that is not needed to appeal to a young audience. Oh, and my "favorite" word was "fuckedupedness" .

Difficult to understand in content. Narrator was perfect.

I'm new in learning about Buddhism so this was probably way over my head. Also didn't know about Trungpa's reputation so it was a shock at first but it is kinda refreshing. Narrator was spot on in reflecting his reputation.

Deeper by the reading

I find it astounding how this man can communicate with Americans in the late early 70s. I find it astounding how clear his explanations are. I am Shocked that this man came to this country with nothing but the strength of spirit. I am grateful for the gift of his words, and those Whom he touched and who today continue to inspire me.

The performance by Mr. Elfer is also remarkable. I thank him.

I love it

Its as if you are at the feet of the master learning in a classroom.

Trungpa Rinchope is brutally honest in truth!

Brilliant, honest and mesmerizing. Elfer's narration captures the spirit. Go Shambhala! Mudita fellow Beings! Meditate

Some decent information, but weird format.

There are quite a few useful tidbits buried within the book but the teacher/student dialog was hard to follow most of the time. (...for me anyway.) I didn't really care for the term "f*ckedupness" being used either. I know we're all adults, but...aaand we' are all adults.

Not the best one by Trungpa.

I really like Trungpa’s teachings, but this book is a bit messy and unclear. The essence is there, but it could’ve used a bit more editing and coherence.

Didn’t like too much the Q&A session at the end of each part. It was specially annoying the whole dynamic of mentioning the whole “Trungpa Rimpoche” before each one of his responses.

Trungpa’s teachings are not very clear here. There are better books out there.

Meh

Neither the content nor the narrator rise above 2 stars. I recommend that you skip this one.

Very Informative

A lot of good explanations of both what to expect on the path of Buddhism, and of key concepts. Also clarification of quotes from great masters, including Buddha. Plenty of practical guidance too.

Love this book

I've listened to this book 5 times it is so good. I recommend it to everyone

Meditation Rocks

If by chance you’ve landed here, you’ll find Possibly one of the most demystified, down to earth basic meditation manuals you are likely to come across. Breathtakingly no nonsense instructions from a superlative, authentic teacher. Remarkably helpful, runs a risk of stimulating even the sharpest intellect and help both dull ones and bright to make progress on or to get off the path. Helped me stay on course and increase aspiration and practice. Excellent reading of the text too made this a must re-listen, for the content is step-by-step pithy and wonderful. Verdict: more than good (5*)

Great book

Trungpa books are always amazing. The reader is very good but the way he pronounces 'Trungpa' or 'Rinpoche' is too hard.

You have to be fairly experienced

You have to be fairly experienced to grasp the concepts of this teaching, despite the fact it is aimed at students - however the students here are not new to the concept of meditation - it is excellent for those who want to go deeper, but may be lost on noobs.

a mixed bag

Not as clear to me as 'Smile at Fear' but (having just listened to Smile at Fear) this book, 'The Path is The Goal' made more sense to me the second time around. It was the confusion of the student in the exchanges that confused me, I think. Smile at Fear is much clearer in its exposition and progression. The Path is The Goal seems to jump around more with the questioning. I found the narrator to have a very pleasant and expressive voice except the way he said 'rinpoche' and some other terms was strange to me and distracting. Nevertheless, Chogyam Trungpa is such a great teacher that perseverance is rewarded with many gems.

Buddhists Meditation

This book is inspiring but it is not easy by any means but it is worth the challenges, It has helped me understand fundamentals of meditation.

A useful overview of meditative practice

This book has probably made most difference to my meditation practice than any other I’ve studied.

This is a transcription of two seminars delivered by Trungpa in the 1970s, including question and answer sessions with the students who attended those seminars. Fifty years on, some vocabulary has dated, the tutor seems a little harsh with his students. It’s easy to miss when the audiobook is shifting from speech to Q&A, which is quite confusing when you start listening to this.

It is unusually clear on several aspects of meditation which I found helpful:
1) the nature of meditation. You can just be there, like a rock and that’s more than OK.
2) what to focus on when meditating - that 25% of your attention goes on the breath, but the rest of your mental energy can be there to relax and learn from thoughts that arise, so meditation can have a playful, relaxing quality.
3) that meditation doesn’t stop at the mat, that you can (and should) be mindful whatever you are doing - going out with friends, washing up, whatever.
4) through meditation you are trying to understand and accept yourself, and root out sources of suffering in your life, so you can be at your best most of the time.
5) that meditation is often boring and lonely, and yet a life lived with full attention can be really joyful.

For my taste, it makes too much of the idea of ‘no-self’ - that you do not exist - some Buddhists argue that non-existence was intended as a thought experiment to reduce the ego rather than being literally true. But for all its weaknesses, this audiobook contains a lot of practical advice to the intermediate level mediator, and I’m very glad I read it.

Helpful and thought provoking.

Would absolutely recommend this to a beginner like myself. I was able to get through this in a day.

Mind boggling

quite hard to follow at times, but some profound insights that are mind boggling

Profound meditation advice and wisdom

Practical and profound - meditators -beginners and experienced will find these teachings beneficial . Great to have access to such teachings.