Book Description
The grammar, syntax, and technical vocabulary of classical Tibetan used in Buddhist works. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

great book if you really want to lean tibetan...
Hi guys, well i've been living in Nepal for the last 4 years and i can tell you that learning tibetan (and by this i mean really know it) its really hard, but i found that wilson's book is actually great not only coz it does work but also coz it provides you with the tools to do it... its the best next thing just after learning tibetan from tibetan grammarians

so what i would suggest is...
get wilson's book, then if you are completely new go through the whole book, coz it provides basic concept on Buddhism and lots of vocab (all really useful)... if you are a bit more experience then learn by heart apendixes 4 and 5 which deals with verbs, and clases which are a primordial part of tibetan (but for some reason some "serious" books dont even mention them... oh by the way tibetans do study tibetan talking about cases)...then move on to...

Craig preston's how to read classical tibetan... which if you don't know by heart appendix 4 n 5 is rather useless... but otherwise excellent to show how to make the complex sentences (pages long at times) into short and readable clauses or sentences... besides it also completes wilsons lack of talk or not wanting to talk about transitive and intransitive verbs (which they also exist in tibetan and are of great importance when trying to get across the right meaning)

last but not least... in my experience there have been tons of mistranslations all over the place even by "famous" translators... thats why i recommend Tony Duff's excellent Illuminator dictionary...

until the day that someone explains tibetan grammar the way tibetan study it and understand it these are the tools for anyone who is serious about learning tibetan, and when the time is right go and get teachings on tibetan from a tibetan grammarian... then the whole world is open to you... once again i think these are the best for whats outer but once you see the real thing you wont go back...

Decent, but ...
This is the first book I bought at the start of my journey into Tibetan. The overall strategy of this bookis to build an hybrid Tenglish (Tibetan-English) language, which should gradualise and faciltate the student's approach to Tibetan texts. I regard this idea as essentially flawed and therefore I basically agree with the less enthused reviewers.
Still, this is a honourable work and it may be useful for a first, cautious approach to classical Tibetan. If you want to plunge into the real thing right away, I suggest you buy Stephen Hodge's "Introduction to Classical Tibetan"(if you can find it).

Not as good as it looks
The first 5 or 6 Chapters are very useful for the Beginner but afterwards it becames increasingly difficult. It hard to understand the explanations on more advance grammar. I think that unnecesarilly tries to explain many concepts instead of teaching the howto of the language as in the first part. I think I should be reworked (at least the last part) in order to make the student to be able to use the grammar at least for some basic reading. I think I should include more practical examples of reading and interpreting texts. Vocabulary alone is not enough. So I guess that considering the few book about this subject this is a good one after all despite the shortcomings.

Basic for leaning Tibetan
Very useful book for learners with a constructive introduction to Tibetan sentence structure and a useful basic vocabulary for classical Tibetan. Start with this book if you want to learn to read Tibetan and get a good basis. With the next edition please give us a lighter version an add an index!

Less enthused
I am less enthused about this massive tome than the other reviewers. I have a feeling that the book has failed to make the transition from a very lively university course to a textbook.The approach using all thedifferent 'dimensions' is rather idiosyncratic. There problem is that thereare few other choices when it comes to Tibetan textbooks. There is a heavyreliance for examples on the literature of logic. In my opinion moreexamples from practice-related material would have been useful.Too muchreliance is placed on traditional Tibetan grammar for my liking. And thatromanisation is unnecessarily complex. Still, it is a very significantwork, and inspite of its short-comings, is still the best in this smallfield. ... Read more

Product Description
This book reproduces the 1971 translation by the editors of "The Wheel" of this essay on Dhamma which first appeared in the pages of "The Light of the Dhamma," first in an English version followed by a version in Vietnamese. ... Read more

Book Description

The Encyclopedia of Buddhism provides a comprehensive overview of one of Asia's most important religious and social forces, describing the Buddhist worldview, basic teachings and practices, history, and the different schools and sects. This intriguing set illuminates a religion that is a mystery to most Westerners by exploring Buddhist scriptures, art, architecture, saints, demons, monastic orders, festivals, rites and ceremonies, as well as the different forms Buddhism has taken in different parts of the world, and how it has blended with other religions like Shinto, Confucianism, Daoism and Christianity.

Product Description
Vietnamese-English paperback handbook with questions and answers on The Life Of The Buddah. ... Read more

Product Description
I believe that this book is in Vietnamese. See the picture of the book to confirm the language. ... Read more

Product Description
In English and Vietnamese. ... Read more

Product Description
In English and Vietnamese. ... Read more

Product Description
These stories explore Buddhist themes, while introducing the Western reader to the richness of Vietnamese culture. Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the world’s most popular teachers of Buddhism and meditation. He is also the author of many works of poetry and fiction. The Stone Boy is a new collection of his short fiction. Thich Nhat Hanh’s clear, contemplative spirit illuminates these stories, which are mostly of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people. Combining traditional Vietnamese tales with accounts of the contemporary suffering of the Vietnamese people. Now, at a time when America has opened up again to Vietnam, this important collection can inform and illuminate readers. Seven of the stories have appeared in previous collections, The Moon Bamboo and The Pine Gate, which are both now out of print. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Meditative
The Stone Boy and Other Stories is a anthology of short narratives by Thich Nhat Hanh.Thich Nhat Hanh's writing brings together elements of Vietnamese legend and juxtaposes them with stories of the terrible atrocities meted out on the Vietnamese for the duration of and subsequent to its hostilities with France and the US.Thich Nhat Hanh, therefore, is a creation of his individual involvement in Vietnam's very recent history.Not much is really written about Thich Nhat Hanh - in terms of his private life and involvement and this is a great entrée into his mystery.

Thich Nhat Hanh uses heaps of farming metaphors and stories.His stories revolve mostly around the notion of "mindfulness," of become aware of things deeply, as in a really profound way, which is fundamental to a Buddhist conception of enlightenment.Thich Nhat Hanh's tales time after time highlight the import of "true seeing."Thich Nhat Hanh focuses on transcendence rather than anguish. Thich Nhat Hanh gives readers an opening for profound meditation.The eleven stories in The Stone Boy are come with brief commentaries as to their source and are helpful not only for the reason that it gives insight into the historical or spiritual contexts but they moreover provide proof of Thich Nhat Hanh's immense skill as a writer and understanding of complex items through his Upaya (skillful means). This book is a must for every collection.

Miguel Llora

The Stone Boy and other stories
I love all of Thich Nhat Hanh's books.He writes about Buddhism, human rights, and personal healing from trauma in a universal and clear way.This book is especially beautiful.These are fictional stories that show Vietnamese culture, and Thich Nhat Hanh's own experiences.He transforms incredible pain into beauty that teaches deep truths. ... Read more

Book Description

The Encyclopedia of Buddhism provides a comprehensive overview of one of Asia's most important religious and social forces, describing the Buddhist worldview, basic teachings and practices, history, and the different schools and sects. This intriguing set illuminates a religion that is a mystery to most Westerners by exploring Buddhist scriptures, art, architecture, saints, demons, monastic orders, festivals, rites and ceremonies, as well as the different forms Buddhism has taken in different parts of the world, and how it has blended with other religions like Shinto, Confucianism, Daoism and Christianity.

Book Description
Whether you are looking for a room, visiting a monastery, or bargaining for a bus seat, Learning Practical Tibetan will make immediate communication with Tibetans easy and fun. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

No one will understand you
This is a good phrase book ONLY if you can read and pronounce Tibetan script already... The transliterations have frequent outright errors, but in general are simply wrong. They have used their own imaginative system of transliteration, which is fine, but spoken Tibetan words is simply not pronounced this way. As ONE example, according to this book, no Tibetan word ever has a consanent on the end!PAR and PAL and PAG are all PA, apparently. While endings are often softened or clipped in Tibetan, the pronounciation you will get, using this book, will make Tibetans think you have a serious speech impediment. Simply useless to the average student.

A good book, but certainly not the best
Don't let the title of this review fool you, this is a really good Tibetan book.It is full of vocab and set up really well for Westerners.It is great if you are wanting to learn simple Tibetan phrases.But as the title says, this is a 'practical' not a comprehensive language book.The Tibetan language is incredibly complex and difficult.If you are taking a trip to central Tibet and want to know the basics of the Tibetan language, don't leave home without this book.If you want to learn the foundations of Tibetan and really want to tackle the language try "Modern Tibetan Language" (vol I and II) by Losang Thonden published by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala (make sure you get the tapes too!).If you are looking for a comprehensive system to learn conversational Tibetan, try the 4 volume, 18 tape "Fluent Tibetan" system published by Snow Lion.Good luck!

Very useful
This is a very useful book.It is basically a phrase book, but I also gives word-by-word translation, and so you know how the sentences are made.Tapes are also useful.It is very practical in outlook, and frankly it could have been better with theoretical description of sound and tone marks - those who don't care can just skip them.

The Best Tibetan Book Out There
Unless you get the audio forum set that has over 2 dozen tapes & several books, this book is the best thing to get you up to speed with Tibetan pronunciation and vocab. Very useful and user friendly, with lots of vocab and clear instruction, as the other reviewers have mentioned. With casual effort, you can make good use of the book, however the more time you put in with it, the more you will be rewarded in learning Tibetan.

Wonderful book
I first read a glowing review of this book from Columbia University and decided to buy it.It's a wonderful book in its own right and especially good when you purchase the accompanying tapes.I used the book when I was in Nepal with great success, and imagine my surprise when I saw many Tibetans with the same book!They told me it helped them to learn English. By far better than the confusing Goldstein alternative (lonely planet), I thanks the authors for filling a gap with such a worthy product. ... Read more