Review of The Cycle of Day and Night

The Cycle of Day and Night: An Essential Tibetan Text on the Practice of Contemplation

by Namkhai Norbu, translated and introduced by John Myrdhin Reynolds

Station Hill Press, Barrytown, New York, 1987. 126 pp.


Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche brings us a clear, precise and highly motivating teaching on the continual practice of Dzogchen toward the ultimate realization of the great liberation (enlightenment). Beginning with a reminder of the reasons to maintain steady practice during eating, sitting, walking and sleeping, he outlines approaches to meditation and post-meditation practices, as well as to lucid dreaming, which can lead to the ultimate realization of pure presence as emptiness, clarity and unobstructed energy.

This 10-page text, through descriptions of practice and experience, provides a simple guidebook for the aspiring practitioner. One can follow step-by-step and/or look back to acknowledge the similarity with one’s own experience along the way. The accompanying 27 pages of “Notes to the Text Based on the Oral Commentary of Namkhai Norbu” provide supplementary information of great interest and/or value. The original Tibetan text in 52 parts is included at the end.


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