This is a commentary on the three vows of Buddhist ordination. Which gives concise explanations on the vinaya or instructions the Buddha and his disciples left behind. The Bodhisattva vows and tantric vows.
The topics in this book are too vast to go over casually. Suffice it to say that the book does an excellent job of going over the vinaya, the Bodhisattva and the tantric vows in a clearly understood and easy to read manner.
This book is an absolute must for anyone considering or studying to become ordained monks and nuns. It is also useful for laypeople who wish to learn more about the vows, especially if he or she desires to take certain lay vows. Even though this book is fairly easy to read, it is filled with information that could confuse the basic practitioner or someone who has not entered the Buddhist path. I highly recommend going over this text with a qualified teacher in order to clear up any confusion or misunderstandings.
This book is indispensable for the ordained, those who desire ordination and the lay person who wishes to learn more about the vows. I recommend not only adding this to your personal library but to add it to your own root texts as well. This is one of those books that cannot be simply read once and put aside. It must be read again and again in order to reap the benefits of such a treasure.
~review by Patricia Snodgrass
Ngari Penchen and Pema Wangyi Gylpo
Wisdom Publications 1996
pp. 189, $18.00
