Open Heart, Open Mind: Awakening the Power of Essence Love

by Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Eric Swanson

In Open Heart, Open Mind, Tsoknyi Rinpoche—one of the most beloved of the contemporary generation of Tibetan Buddhist meditation masters—explains that a life free of fear, pain, insecurity, and doubt is not only possible, it’s our birthright. We long for peace, for the ability to love and be loved openly and freely, and for the confidence and clarity to meet the various challenges we face in our daily lives.

Within each of us resides a spark of unparalleled brilliance, an unlimited capacity for warmth, openness, and courage, which Rinpoche identifies as “essence love.” Timeless and imperishable, essence love is often layered over by patterns of behavior and belief that urge us to seek happiness in conditions or situations that never quite live up to their promise.

Drawing on rarely discussed teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, Rinpoche describes how such patterns evolve and offers a series of meditation exercises to help us unravel them and, in the process, reawaken an energy and exuberance that can not only bring lasting fulfillment to our lives but ultimately serve to enliven and inspire the entire world, as well.

With great humor, intelligence, and candor, Tsoknyi Rinpoche also details his own struggles to reconnect with essence love. Identified at an early age as the incarnation of a renowned Tibetan master and subjected to a rigorous monastic training, he ultimately renounced his vows, married, and is now the father of two daughters.

As he recounts his own efforts to strike a balance between the promptings of his heart and an obligation to preserve and protect the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, Rinpoche provides a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern life, and encourages each of us to rediscover the openness, fearlessness, and love that is the essence of our own life.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Meditation, Nonfiction, Religion, Self Help, Personal Development

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Born in 1966 in Nubri, Nepal, TSOKNYI RINPOCHE is one of the most renowned teachers of Tibetan Buddhism trained outside of Tibet. Deeply versed in both the practical and philosophical disciplines of Tibetan Buddhism, he is beloved by students around the world for his accessible style, his generous and self-deprecating humor, and his deeply personal, compassionate insight into human nature. The married father of two daughters, Rinpoche nevertheless manages to balance family life with a demanding schedule of teaching around the world, and overseeing two nunneries in Nepal, one of the largest nunneries in Tibet, and more than 50 practice centers and hermitages in the eastern region of Tibet.

Reviews

[Brad McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because Pema Chodron mentioned it. I love Ms. Chodron so I trusted her recommendation and was awarded for it.

Tsoknyi Rinpoche battled inner turmoil whilst studying to be a monk. As a Tulku (reincarnation of a great teacher), he really wasn't given a choice to start studying but was allowed to leave the order. Now he's a married father of two that travels the world and teaches. There were three things in the book that I'd like to highlight.

First, he refers to something called patterns, which basically is what makes me, me. I'm afraid of heights (like Tsoknyi, actually), good at technology, hate to drive in big cities, and on and on. He says that we react to situations based on our traits. And if they stop us from doing something, we must overcome them.

Second, he teaches about The Subtle Body. This is something scoffed at by Western Civilization. I found it to be like the OS of a computer; the connection between the hardware (your body) and software (your mind). If your subtle body gets out of way, then your mind can affect your body (and vice versa). It takes a bit of a leap of belief for Westerns. But I've seen much in my day to think there's something to it.

Third, he speaks about an Internal Speed Limit. In the stead of taking each situation for what it is we tend to rush through it. Our internal speed limit says we've got to get through this and move on, no matter what the situation says about pace. Since I'm constantly trying to slow down but have different degrees of difficulty depending on the day, this really spoke to me. He said recognizing that your speed limit doesn't match what the situation calls for is the first step to slowing down.

This is a great read. It's a very approachable style. He's humble and funny yet profound. If you're looking for an intro to Buddhist thought, this is a great choice.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is as helpful, generous, kind and humorous as Tibetan teacher and author Tsoknyi Rinpoche himself. With co-author Eric Swanson, Rinpoche offers advice, based on fundamental Tibetan Buddhist wisdom, to anyone who wants to do more than merely cope with our speedy, challenging modern world. I would recommend Open Heart, Open Mind to those who are seeking to re-find or uncover the warm-hearted spark within, and to live life with love, joy and kindness.

The warm, conversational tone of the text makes it accessible without being diluted, and Rinpoche uses stories from his childhood experience as the son of great meditation master Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, his youth growing up in Tashi Jong monastery as a tulku himself, and his more recent experience as a husband and father of two daughters to illustrate experiences many of us can share, like uncertainty about our place in the world, the sometimes overwhelming desire to please others, and our extraordinary ability to offer love and compassion to loved ones and even complete strangers.

Reading this book was indeed a transforming experience for me. I highly recommend it.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a generous book. I will take away so much from this book.

[Dan Organ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first time reading anything related to Tibetan Buddhist thinking and It definitely widened my world view.

Your spiritual, mental, emotional and physical bodies have many levels to them. When they are out of sync it can cause you to become ill, physically or emotionally and we need to listen to our bodies, slow down and notice things around us. You can do this through meditation or breathing exercises focusing on the base of our stomach, drawing in breath and focus it going to the base of your stomach. (It isnt literally going there but the act of doing it and thinking it helps your mind to centre.)

“Find the spark within.”

Great Tibetan story about a wrestler who lost a jewel in a fight. The jewel had fallen into a wound on his head and the wound healed over the jewel. The wrestler spent the rest if his life searching for it, not knowing it was within him all of the time. Metaphor for us always searching for meaning externally but it we just looked internally and scraped below our experiences and scars we Would find what we are searching for.

[Do what needs to be done, even if you dont want to, even if it causes you hardship and pain. Expect nothing in return. This is the way to enlightenment.]

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part memoir, part guide on mindfulness through Tibetan Buddhist practices, "Open Heart, Open Mind" is a solid introduction into mindful living. Though I could do without most of the personal vignettes outlining Rinpoche's education in Buddhism, I did find the monastery culture to be fascinating. The authors take care to define a number of common Buddhist terms in plain language and display numerous examples of the practices in action. I wish the book was longer, to accommodate the memoir sections, or even imitted them all together as i did not find most of them beneficial to understanding the practices within. Either way, this was an enjoyable read.

[Sushil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Open heart, open mind by Tsokyni Rinpoche is a profound text on connecting with your inner spark and breaking the patterns that exists to make an illusioned world. The text is lucid and opens up your heart and mind. It will make you calm and patient. I liked the Buddhist philosophy a lot..now the time comes to practice it..

[Dory Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've now read a couple of books about Buddhism and am in the middle of another and this was such a wonderful read by a clearly wonderful man. I enjoyed almost every page and I found lots of wisdom within these pages. This is a highly accessible book that is a great read for anyone interested in learning more about Buddhism, I may buy a physical copy after reading it in class.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

With disarmingly simple stories from his own life, Tsoknyi Rinpoche entertains and also illustrates important aspects of this life, the causes of "suffering" and how to live a more compassionate life. I found this book very easy to read although it deals with very difficult topics ...
I consider Rinpoches book a gift ...
It has certainly resonated with me and helped me on my way ...
Thankyou. 🙏

[Shilpa Kapilavai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read loaded with wisdom about finding the spark we already have within us. Rinpoche's tools help us get out of auto pilot and live a happy and fulfilling life.

Here an article I wrote inspired by the book if you are interested, about noticing our internal speed limit: https://shilpakapilavai.substack.com/...

[Alex Lennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and very approachable book which really speaks to me.

[John O'reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent study of meditation and Buddhism

I greatly enjoyed and benefitted from the teaching of the Rinpoche. The material is presented with clarity and love. Enjoy.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Open Heart, Open Mind was a book a friend at work recommended as a good read to be more positive in a work environment that has turned very negative recently. This book is based on the Buddhism religion, and encourages everyone to seek happiness in a world that is increasingly uncertain and bleak. I thought it was interesting how the author described his youth and the pressures he faced to be perfect, to be the individual people expected him to be… which leaves the impression that those pressures are everywhere, even in a culture that thrives on life free of fear, pain, insecurity, and doubt.

Did this book “reawaken an energy” and help me discover an “essence love” in my life? Unfortunately, I can’t say that it did… although I do feel that it gave me ‘new’ questions to ask myself and open myself up to experiencing new things. Or in the case of my current work environment, to fight through the challenges because it will not only empower you to understand other people’s struggles, but also to see the challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Overall, I thought the book was very well written and offered great insights through the author’s own experiences in life that each of us can incorporate into our own life.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike Tsoknyi Rinpoche's other books which are compilations of edited lectures that are primarily of interest to students of Dzogchen (and are brilliant on the subject), this is a much more personal book. He describes his uneasy path as a tulku (reincarnated lama) through leaving his family to be taught by some of the great masters of Tibetan Buddhism, and how he gave up his monastic vows, married and became a family man, all of which inform the lessons of this book. It is an well written book with some heart-felt advice for those on a path of transformation in language that is designed to appeal to Buddhists and non-Buddhists. As a student of his, it certainly gave me greater insight into some of the changes that I have observed over time, and how he contrasts with his younger brother, Mingyur Rinpoche.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes an interesting addition to my Buddhist / mindfulness-related due to the fact that the author was trained as a Buddhist monk, but then renounced his vows, got married, and had kids. That greater similarity to my own life helped me get past some potential hurdles in accepting the teaching.

There were some good anecdotes about some folks that Tsoknyi Rinpoche has worked with, including two that were chillingly familiar to some of my own struggles.

Chapter 12 "Putting it Together" is a nice practical prescription for using the ideas expressed in the several preceding chapters.

I find this book to be a good compliment to his brother's work (The Joy of Living by Mingyur Rinpoche) as well as The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend recommended this book and ever since then it means a lot to me. I didn't want to finish it because on days where I feel torn apart, I pick up this book and read, and feel much better after. I used mindfulness taught in the book, allowing me to be much more at peace with myself. Even though i don't have a religion nor am i spiritual, this book still changed the way I see myself and others. It has taught me to "let go", something which I have a lot of trouble with.
I particularly loved Tsoknyi Rinpoche's take on everyday things around him, many of which I find relatable. I also liked how he shared his struggles.
Thank you for writing this amazing book. I enjoyed every single part of it, now that i am done, it feels like I lost a friend.

[me · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read many Buddhist books. Lately, I haven't felt connect to many. I find many Buddhist authors while wanting to assist others are not as learned or experienced as they should. I start many books then put them down because of this.

That being stated, I read this book from cover to cover. I found it easy to connect with the author. He has had many years of exposure to very qualified and experienced teachers and it shows.

I also like he is a householder, it provides a interesting view.

Overall, I really recommend this non academic book. It is grounded in everyday life and the teachings are throughly rich. Some of the teachings I had never heard or read before.

[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written insightful and accessible to this non Buddhist. It certainly had me thinking especially about attachment among other things. There are opportunities to practice, which I did not. Each chapter though struck a chord within me. I read a chapter about every other day allowing much time for reflection on the "lessons". I plan to read it again and possibly incorporate some of the meditations into my daily existence in my transition towards my intention to be in the moment, present to possibility, unattached to outcome with less expectation and diminished assumptions.

[Ana Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, funny, warm, teachings; fast, accessible read. Great insight on essence love, the work of learning to love and be loved by tapping into the spark of brilliance we all possess. How to pay attention to that which brings out our capacity for warmth, courage, and openness, as well as how to work with the things that get in way of clarity.
This would be an excellent graduation gift for high school and older.

[Katherine Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains a helpful categorization: “REAL BUT NOT TRUE”. Many fears, notes Rinpoche, fall into this category. This is not just clever wordsmithing – it gives us a helpful way to approach our fears. Instead of trying to brush fears aside or feeling helpless because they are irrational, we can acknowledge that they are indeed real, and then move on to recognizing that they are ALSO not true, clearing the way for less fear and more joy.

[Vishnu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was going to be more about Tsonkyi Rinpoche's personal choice to leave monastic life, and it wasn't. I also hoped this book would discuss something interesting about the idea of "Essence Love," and I didn't see much of that either. Instead, this book was kind of a plain vanilla general introduction to Buddhism and meditation. For what it was, it was pretty good! But definitely not what I was in the market for.

[Mary]

The story that begins this story:
the speaker was chosen, at age 8, to be the next great spiritual teacher. After completing years of study, he asked to be released from his vows.
Got hitched to his Love and had two children.
And now: he's a great spiritual teacher.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book is actually Tsokyni Rinpoche with Swanson more as an editor/coauthor. And the subtitle is actually Awakening the Power of Essence Love. Shows that even rinpoches have their challenges to overcome, and he demonstrates how to do this. Worth reading.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

ⓒ 2012 Tibetan Buddhist teacher gives instruction in meditation from the beginning including some different exercises that I hadn't seen before. Also includes more advanced practice suggestions. Clear and easy to understand overview of the whole trajectory of meditation practice. Very helpful.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has moments of sheer genius surrounded by lots of boring.

[Laura B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic advise about dealing with circumstances and emotions.

[Christineslucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful way to examine how your own thinking can help or hurt you.

[Ben Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. The author is both a buddhist monk and an outsider, bringing a nice mix of humility and wisdom. Thoughtful and full of great insights.

[Nikki Magennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear, pragmatic and thought provoking.

[Maughn Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly easy-breezy lessons in keeping the mind open and the heart soft - with now-and-then revelatory thunderbolts of insight.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never could connect as deeply as I hoped. In line with my own practice, I could either recall or put into practice those things I first learned as I began more than 15 years ago.