Having recently finished the book, I can tell you that it is a great read
on several levels:It gives a wonderful account of the three great
tertons, Chokgyur Lingpa, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Jamgon Kongtrul.
The way these three worked together to reveal and transmit dharma
teachings that are now being practiced all over the world is one of the
truly great spiritual renaisances to have ever taken place in history.
The book gives a vivid sense of how the confluence of these three great
rivers produced a mighty torrent of benefit for all those of us who
havestood "downstream" ever since.

For anyone practicing the Chokling
Tersar lineage, it is an excellent primer on the lineage holders, their
lives, miracles and all their human idiosyncracies. Although it is very
respectful, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche presents these men and women as fully
human, so the stories of their lives are as likely to set you laughing on
one page as crying on the next. It really deepens the experience of
saying the lineage prayer at the start of the Trinley Nyingpo practice,
to have a fuller picture of who these people were.

For anyone with a
connection to the Longchen Nyingthig, there are wonderful accounts of
Patrul Rinpoche, HH Dudjom Rinpoche, HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Chatral
Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche.The book opens with an account of
the length to which Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's grandmother went to be sure
that the Chokling Tersar wouldcontinue to be transmitted. It continues
all the way through with accounts of her activities and those of other
esteemed women in thelineage. Something that is often rare in spiritual
biographies ofthis kind. It is also an excellent account of the last days
of a free Tibet and the struggles that various lamas went through in
escaping to freedom to the West.

The real beauty of the book, however, is
that within these very engaging "stories" lies a treasure trove of rich
dharma teachings in easy to understand language, that are immediately
applicable to ourpractice. The best way to learn is when we don't even
realize that we are beingtaught. In an effortless way, Tulku Urgyen
tells one fascinating story after an other. Once we reach the end, we
realize that wehave learned valuable truths about how to apply the
richness of theDzogchen tradition itself.There is an excellent glossary
(also online) with helpful definitions and explanations of various
Dzogchen practices, termas, lineageholders,

Best of all,
Erik Pema Kunzang, Marcia Binder Schmidt and Michael Tweed (to whom these stories were told by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche) have managed to effectively
capture Tulku Urgyen's "voice." Although I never met him personally, the
style of writing conveys a true human(if extraordinary) individual. I
came away from reading the bookwith a sense that I had been there too,
sitting at his feet hearing these wonderful teachings myself.

Many thanks
are owed to all those who put so much effort in sharing their personal
blessing with the rest of us.

Having recently finished the book, I can tell you that it is a great read on several levels: It gives a wonderful account of the three great tert?ns, Chokgyur Lingpa, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Jamgon Kongtrul. The way these three worked together to reveal and transmit dharma teachings that are now being practiced all over the world is one of the truly great spiritual renaissances to have ever taken place in history. The book gives a vivid sense of how the confluence of these three great rivers produced a mighty torrent of benefit for all those of us who have stood "downstream" ever since. For anyone practicing the Chokling Tersar lineage, it is an excellent primer on the lineage holders, their lives, miracles and all their human idiosyncrasies. Although it is very respectful, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche presents these men and women as fully human, so the stories of their lives are as likely to set you laughing on one page as crying on the next. It really deepens the experience of saying the lineage prayer at the start of the Trinley Nyingpo practice, to have a fuller picture of who these people were.
For anyone with a connection to the Longchen Nyingtig, there are wonderful accounts of Patrul Rinpoche, HH Dudjom Rinpoche, HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche. The book opens with an account of the length to which Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's grandmother went to be sure that the Chokling Tersar would continue to be transmitted. It continues all the way through with accounts of her activities and those of other esteemed women in the lineage. Something that is often rare in spiritual biographies of this kind. It is also an excellent account of the last days of a free Tibet and the struggles that various lamas went through in escaping to freedom to the West.
The real beauty of the book, however, is that within these very engaging "stories" lies a treasure trove of rich dharma teachings in easy to understand language, that are immediately applicable to our practice. The best way to learn is when we don't even realize that we are being taught. In an effortless way, Tulku Urgyen tells one fascinating story after an other. Once we reach the end, we realize that we have learned valuable truths about how to apply the richness of the Dzogchen tradition itself.
There is an excellent glossary (also online) with helpful definitions and explanations of various Dzogchen practices, termas, lineage holders, etc. http://rangjung.com/blazingsplendor/blazing-glossary.htm Best of all, Erik Pema Kunzang, Marcia Binder Schmidt and Michael Tweed (to whom these stories were told by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche) have managed to effectively capture Tulku Urgyen's "voice." Although I never met him personally, the style of writing conveys a true human(if extraordinary) individual. I came away from reading the book with a sense that I had been there too, sitting at his feet hearing these wonderful teachings myself. Many thanks are owed to all those who put so much effort in sharing their personal blessing with the rest of us. - written by Rigzin John Tute