Volume Two of this collection expands on Volume One with a series of longer, in-depth teachings by Khenchen Appey Rinpoche on five essential subjects: 1) a commentary to inspire faith, based on verses in praise of the Buddha?s immeasurable qualities from Sakya Pandita's Clarifying the Sages Intent; 2) oral instructions based on Candrakirti's Entering the Middle Way, offering a practical understanding of the Mahayana path as a whole; 3) a commentary on the first three chapters of Santideva's The Way of the Bodhisattva, which includes an explanation of the ritual for the bodhicitta vow; 4) a rarely given explanation of Gorampa's profound teaching on dependent arising according to the four philosophical schools of Indian Buddhism, entitled Illumination of Samsara and Nirvana; and 5) a detailed commentary on Samantabhadra's Noble Astirations to Sublime Conduct, as the supreme means of dedication. Words of a Gentle Sage: Collected Teachings of Khenchen Appey Rinpoche, Volume 2, Christian Bernert (Editor), Vajra Publications, Paperback, 454 pp, $27.50
Khenchen Appey Rinpoche (1927-2010) was one of the most important Buddhist masters in modern times. A disciple of Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro and Deshung Anjam Rinpoche, Appey Rinpoche represents the generation of elite teachers fully trained in Tibet who were able to successfully uphold the lineage of study and practice in exile. Among his many accomplishments figure the establishment of Sakya College in India and International Buddhist Academy in Nepal, the preservation and distribution of rare manuscripts, and the training of lineage holders now able to transmit the teachings to new generations.
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