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Ratings: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Genre: Buddhist Biography / Tibetan Buddhism / Spirituality

Book Review:
''Brilliant Moon'' is a precious and inspiring autobiography of one of the most beloved Tibetan Buddhist masters of the twentieth century, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. As H.H. the Dalai Lama writes in his foreword, ''It gives me immense pleasure to know that this authentic account of the life and activities of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, whom I am fortunate to revere among my own precious teachers, has been prepared to remind those who knew him and inform those who did not.''

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991) was a revered meditation master and scholar of the Nyingma lineage, respected and beloved by all schools of Tibetan Buddhism and by practitioners of other Buddhist traditions. His life spanned a period of immense change, including the Chinese invasion of Tibet and the subsequent diaspora. Through it all, he remained, as his grandson Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche describes, ''quite still, like a mountain, effortlessly exuding an all-pervasive confidence.''

The book is divided into two parts. The first is Rinpoche's own autobiography, told through lively anecdotes and stories. He recounts his early years, his studies with great masters, his years of retreat, and his teaching activities. His voice is warm, humble, and direct. The second part comprises recollections by those who knew him: his wife Khandro Tseyang, his grandson Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Tenga Rinpoche, the Queen Mother of Bhutan, and many others. These testimonies paint a rich portrait of a man whose wisdom and compassion touched everyone around him.

The translation by Ani Jinba Palmo, a student of Rinpoche's, is clear and graceful. The forewords by four prominent teachers—H.H. the Dalai Lama, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpoche, and Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche—attest to Rinpoche's significance and the book's authenticity.

For students of Tibetan Buddhism, this book is essential. It offers direct contact with a master's life and teachings. For anyone interested in spiritual biography, it is deeply moving. And for general readers, it is a window into a world of profound wisdom and compassion.

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche's tribute captures Rinpoche's presence: ''He was a great leader, and just like a majestic American Indian chief or a distinguished samurai general, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was never affected by chaotic or difficult circumstances, however tumultuous.'' This book allows us to encounter that presence.

''Brilliant Moon'' is a gift to all who seek inspiration on the spiritual path. Highly recommended.