Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness

By: Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, Lama Shenpen Hookham - translator

Narrated by: Ken Cohen

This new edition of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche's classic teaching on progressive stages of meditation on emptiness was updated in 2016 by Lama Shenpen Hookham.

Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness is a series of meditation practices on Emptiness, a particular aspect of the Buddha's teachings. The idea is that by beginning with one's first rather coarse commonsense understanding, one progresses through increasingly subtle and more refined stages until one arrives at complete and perfect understanding. Each stage in the process prepares the mind for the next in so far as each step is fully integrated into one's understanding through the meditation process.

Concise but comprehensive, Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness lays out in a practical and systematic way the teachings of the Venerable Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, one of the most erudite scholars and accomplished yogis of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism of our day. Khenpo Rinpoche is especially well-known for his breadth of vision and the clarity of his Dharma expositions, uniting prodigious scholarship with great compassion.

Lama Shenpen Hookham, translator and arranger of Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness, has been a student of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche since the 1970s. A prolific writer, translator, and teacher, she is the founding lama of the Awakened Heart Sangha, a worldwide spiritual community based in the UK.

©2016 Shenpen Hookham and The Marpa Foundation for the Study, Practice, and Support of the Buddha Dharma (P)2017 Ken Cohen

Critic reviews

What Dharma Teachers Are Saying About the 2016 Edition

“The Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness is a signature teaching and systematic method of instruction taught by my amazing guru, Khenchen Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. Profound and concise, it is a transformative way for sincere students at any level of study to connect with the experience of shunyata. Lama Shenpen Hookham's skillful presentation of Rinpoche's teaching on these progressive stages so many years ago has been a great and enduring gift to the dharma world. I am delighted by this revised edition, which will benefit all who take its pithy wisdom to heart” - Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

“Khenpo Rinpoche’s text, expertly translated and arranged by Lama Shenpen Hookham, is an eminently practical tool to familiarize ourselves with the notoriously difficult Buddhist notion of emptiness through a gradual approach and make it a personal experience in all its facets” - Karl Brunnholzl

Excellent!

An amazing and profound text that is accessible and understandable. The reading narration is excellent too.
The way all audio Dharma books should be.
Under 3 hours at 1.1x speed. So you can absorb the book in an evening. And easy to listen to over again. A blessing for Dharma practitioners.

Advance teachings of emptiness.

Loved it. It's a jewel of a teaching on emptiness. It's not an introductory course, more like advanced, and petty solid. Highly recommend. Very well narrated.

Shentong understanding of Emptiness

I strongly suggest readers to have at least some basic understanding of this century long controversy: Shentong vs Rangtong, before touching this book for this is a book that promulgates Shentong view of things.

I have no personal opinion regarding the subject matter. Whatever idea you might have, or the lack thereof, the book is a highly useful, well presented, and unrivalled by few in its depth, breadth and clarity.

Enjoy!

needed!

You may struggle in May take many listening. What shall be remembered will be remembered. " Done is what had to be done "
🕉🧘‍♂️ EMAHO GLORIOUS 🙏

Very nice audio book

There are not many audiobooks on Emptiness, so I consider this one important. The author is a great scholar and practitioner and can lead us into important reflections about this basic principle of Buddhism. I wish it was longer and this fascinating subject would be explored in more depth. 😊

Amazing

Rinpkche’s teachings are amazing and this book is no different. Although his teachings and other books (by different translators) usually use clear and simply words, the translator/author here chooses words and phrases at times that are unnecessary difficult to simply understand. This is not a comment on the content, just the way it has been presented in English. It sounds like a philosophical argument where points are won for using obscure words and sterile terminology, as opposed to the simplicity that he elsewhere delivers so I think this layer has been added by the translator. If you can get over the difficult nature of the delivery its contents are well worth the effort. A true step on the path to understanding the nature of mind

Insightful and engaging

Excellent book with wonderful voice narration. The book delves into deep philosophical waters, questioning the very nature of our perception of the physical world and its ramification on how we process reality. The narrator, Ken Cohen, did an excellent job conveying the ideas in an appropriately soothing, relaxing tone.

Because I have resistance to it

Because I have resistance to it I am playing it over & over and slowed down the speed a little to have a chance to accept it’s wisdom with a mind so slippery as mine. Ken Cohen is one of my favorite voices in the universe so it has an overall soothing effect whether I refuse to listen closely and follow or not. I think it is a jewel, but I try not to think too much lest I feel stupid. I am a rogue wanderer who enjoys breathing, mind control practices and absolute truth in all of its forms.

Great Dharma, invaluable description of path

The philosophy and contemplative practices of the Mahayana are within this book. The philosophy of no-self, of mind only, and many different perspectives on emptiness are presented here. This is the real deal.
Without the right view, our insights in meditation will also be mistaken. The information in this book helps us to navigate our different insights and experiences while practicing meditation and provides contemplations to help you progress further. If you want to understand the philosophy and logic of the different schools, that is all presented here in a clear, and understandable way that also doesn't hold back in its philosophical rigor and depth.
I can't recommend this book enough. I spent a year as a temporary monk and by studying this book as well as Andy Karrs "Contemplating Reality" I finally understood many things I had been struggling to understand in Buddhism and my own practice.
I listen to this book on audible now whiled ping some routine things so that I can keep the dharma fresh in my mind. I listen to it at the gym, while driving, or cleaning. It is amazing to be able to hear such amazing teachings during my daily life. This in depth level of Dharma teaching is hard to find in books as most are designed only for shamatha and breathing meditation. Shamatha is good, but this will open you up to much more if you have been stuck in your shamatha practice and feeling like you aren't getting anywhere.

Amazing

So concise and potent, this is a must have. Even if you're just starting out, this is priceless.