These talks on vipashyana (analytical meditation) provide a wonderful academic introduction to the practices of analytical meditation together with some excellent practice pointers and instructions. The source of this teaching is the Treasury of Knowledge by Jamgon Kongtrul the Great. Rinpoche begins by providing an inspiring history of this great teacher and his work, emphasizing the extent and importance of his contribution to Buddhist thought and practice.

Following this introduction, Rinpoche describes the three aspects of mind, perceptual, conceptual and emotional. He explains that because the root of all suffering is ego clinging, we must focus our practice on understanding our mind, which begins with the practice of shamatha. Talk 1 ends with a beautiful shamatha meditation practice instruction. In talk 2, Rinpoche teaches how practicing the first four paramitas (generosity, discipline, patience and exertion) enhances our shamatha practice (the fifth paramita of meditation) which provides the necessary foundation for developing the sixth paramita (prajna) through practicing vipashyana or analytical meditation on emptiness of self and phenomena.

In the remaining talks, Rinpoche provides a detailed explanation of the classifications of vipashyana. First he presents four approaches to investigating the essence (discriminating, fully discriminating, examining, and analyzing). Second, he explains how vipashyana insight arises from three gateways: (1) designation (the initial idea or recognition of shunyata); (2) thorough investigation (going deeper into the experience of shunyata) and (3) individual analysis (analyzing repeatedly in different contexts). Finally, he presents the six ways to search, seek or investigate. In Talk 5, Rinpoche clarifies the relationship between study and practice, explains how to engage in vipashyana practice and emphasizes the importance of engaging in both shamatha and vipashyana practice.

Talks 3 and 4 include extensive question and answer sessions. Taught in English. Five talks on five DVDs.

The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche is acknowledged as one of the foremost scholars of his generation in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Fluent in English and well-versed in Western culture, Rinpooche has worked to develop and adapt traditional Tibetan education curriculums for Western audiences. Nitartha Institute (www.nitharthainstitute.org), where Rinpoche is the main teacher, provides a focused Buddhist studies program. Rinpoche is a visiting professor of buddhist philosopy at Naropa University, Boulder, Colorado. In 1997, Rinpoche founded Nalanabodhi to preserve the genuine lineage of the Nyingma and Kagyu Schools of Tibetan Buddhism. There are Nalandabodhi centers in North America and Europe, and curriculum materials are available to people worldwide.