The Backwards Buddhist: My Introduction to Dzogchen

The Backwards Buddhist is a book about author, Barbara Fleming's experiences in learning about Dzogchen, one of the most intense paths in achieving enlightenment in the Buddhist tradition. Ms. Fleming begins by giving the reader a brief history of her background. She is a westerner who was raised in the Roman Catholic tradition. Her need to find comfort in the face of the impermanance of life, led her to explore the teachings of Buddhism. She recounts her experiences and her thoughts as she learns the path of Dzogchen. Along the way, Ms. Fleming experiences changes in her thinking and perceptions of people and events which she shares with the reader. Ms. Flemming is very open in sharing her thoughts and experiences with the reader. She is even able to laugh at some of the less fortunate events that befell her (a bout with poison ivy made it difficult to meditate at one retreat.). The glossary in the back of the book is very useful for defining unfamiliar Tibetan terms as is the list of suggested readings for those wishing to learn more about Buddhism. The Backwards Buddhist is a book that would appeal to those wishing to learn a little about Buddhism and to those wishing to read about someone else's experience in pursuing one of the paths of Buddhism.

A Great Book For 2010 The Backwards Buddhist by Barbara Fleming In the Backwards Buddhist, Barbara Fleming searches for a path to freedom. Retelling her own spiritual journey from basic meditation to the practices of the highest Dzogchen of Rushen, Trekchod, and Togal this reviewer learned a lot about the author, her journey and her many destinations. In creating her own path to freedom and beginning a new journey away from her old beliefs, the author formulated a plan of her own: first she had to decide what path to follow. Next, she had to pursue the path until enlightenment or until it was no longer appropriate. Third, she had to reassess while proceeding on the journey in order to measure her progress. Then, not micromanage course corrections and finally evaluate additional major spiritual shifts thoroughly. She decided on Meditation as the start of her journey. Meditation is the conscious cultivation of attention and awareness, often referred to as mindfulness. When you develop mindful awareness it purifies, illumines and frees the mind. It helps to free the person of habitual conditioning, compulsion and attachment. It clarifies and helps to resolve inner conflicts and untangles what is tangled. It helps to sharpen and enhance powers of observation and sharpens the mind. Meditation often brings the person inner peace, calm, centeredness, concentration, relaxation and more. This is something that anyone, regardless of his or her spiritual beliefs can benefit from. Our author decided to take the path of learning Dzochen, which teachings concern the true nature of the mind. Dzogchen is a Tibetan word meaning Great Perfection. It refers to a method of meditative practice that enables the person to recognize their true nature. Ultimately, great perfection is that very nature: the natural. The meditation practice described by the author is that of the Great Perfection and is designed to break up obscuring mental habits of mind and revealing at that moment what is really there. When you meditate you relax and rest in that true nature. You can observe how thoughts spontaneously arise, abide and disappear. In meditation you can discover that there is no effort required to dissolve thoughts and that the very same ones that cause your problems actually arise by themselves and then dissolve by themselves. Beginning her journey at a two week retreat in 2002, our author, allows the reader to join in her journey and experiences and enter the new world of silent retreat along with her. Learning new vocabulary, simple mediations from the teachers, chanting simple mantras and immersing herself in the teachings of Dzogchen. Describing her first days at the retreat you can feel and understand her frustrations, her successes and her determination to learn about Tonglen, the many of the philosophies taught in Buddhism. I am going to summarize the ones that I think the reader would really like to learn and understand and then I will describe some of

This is the story of the author's spiritual journey which led her to Buddhism (and Dzogchen in particular), starting with an unexpected emotional reaction to the death of a celebrity she had never known personally. Already disenchanted with the Catholicism she grew up with, this event was the catalyst for her to begin reading about and start exploring other spiritual paths. Through a series of serendipitous events and occasional missteps (including becoming infected with a raging case of poison ivy while on her first meditation retreat) she finds a spiritual home in the Dzogchen tradition. Interwoven with the author's story are explanations of some of the basics of Buddhism (such as the four mind changers) as well as practical suggestions on how to find a spiritual path for oneself. This is an enjoyable, serious yet lighthearted spiritual memoir (there were some bits that made me laugh out loud). If you like reading personal stories about spiritual searches, are looking for some inspiration on finding your own spiritual path, or are interested in learning about Buddhism and Dzogchen from a meditator's personal perspective, I highly recommend this book.