Ricard, M.

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Matthieu Ricard

Born in France in 1946, son of philosopher Jean-François Revel and artist Yahne Le

Toumelin, Matthieu Ricard is a Ph.D. in cell genetics turned Buddhist monk who has studied Buddhism in the Himalayas for the last 50 years under respected masters such as Kangyur Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He is a humanitarian, an author, a photographer, and a speaker at various international events.   His books in English include The Monk and the Philosopher; The Quantum and the Lotus; Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill; Why Meditate?; Altruism: The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and the World, A Plea for the Animals, Enlightened Vagabond, Beyond the Self: A conversation between Neuroscience and Buddhism, In Search of Wisdom, Freedom for All and Our Animal Neighbours.

As a translator from Tibetan, in English, his works include,

Dilgo Khyentse, The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel, Shambhala Publications.
Dilgo Khyentse, The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones, Shambhala Publication.
Dilgo Khyentse, The Excellent Path to Enlightenment, Snow Lion Publications.
Dilgo Khyentse, The Hundred Verses of Advice, Shambhala Publications.
Dilgo Khyentse, The Heart of Compassion, Shambhala Publications.
Rabjam Rinpoche, The Great Medicine that Vanquishes Ego Clinging, Shambhala Publications.
Shabkar, Autobiography of a Tibetan Yogin, SUNY Press, reprinted Snow Lion Publications.
On the Path to Enlightenment: Heart Advice from the Great Tibetan Masters. Shambhala Publications, 2013.
The Enlightened Vagabond, The life and teachings of Patrul Rinpoche, Shambhala Publications.

As a photographer, he has published a number of albums in French, including, in English Journey to Enlightenment (Aperture), Tibet: An Inner Journey (Thames and Hudson), Motionless Journey: From a Hermitage in the Himalayas (Thames and Hudson), Bhutan: Land of Serenity. Henri Cartier Bresson wrote about his photographic work: "Matthieu's camera and his spiritual life are one. From there, spring these images, fleeting yet eternal."

As a scientist and Buddhist monk, under the umbrella of the Mind and Life Institute, he has been an active participant in the scientific research on the effects of meditation on the brain and has co-authored a number of scientific publications.

He presently lives at Shechen monastery in Nepal and devotes all the proceedings of his books and activities to humanitarian projects in India, Nepal and Tibet, through Karuna- Shechen, the organization he founded twenty-one years ago (www.karuna-shechen.org), which benefit over 400,000 people every year. (Source: Matthieu Ricard, personal communication, Oct. 12, 2021.)

www.matthieuricard.com

14 Library Items

Interview
Matthieu Ricard: Conversations on Buddha-Nature
In this online interview, the first of a series titled "Conversations on Buddha-Nature," Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho and Matthieu Ricard discuss the meaning of buddha-nature, Matthieu's first encounter with buddha-nature teachings, whether buddha-nature is a seed to be cultivated or something that must be revealed, and whether it is possible to enhance the qualities of buddha-nature without meditation and practice. In addition to these topics, Matthieu also answers questions from the attendees.
Ricard, Matthieu. “Matthieu Ricard: Conversations on Buddha-Nature." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 1. October 24, 2020. Video, 1:07:51. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MurIM00GwUc.
Video
Matthieu Ricard: How Can We Reconcile the Teachings on Buddha-Nature with the Prasangika Madhyamaka System?
Excerpt from "Conversations on Buddha-Nature" with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho
Ricard, Matthieu. "How Can We Reconcile the Teachings on Buddha-Nature with the Prasangika Madhyamaka System?" Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 1. October 24, 2020. Video, 5:40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Vz1kFr7yI.
Video
Matthieu Ricard: Is Buddha-Nature a Seed to Be Cultivated or Something that Must Be Revealed?
Excerpt from "Conversations on Buddha-Nature" with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho
Ricard, Matthieu. "Is Buddha-Nature a Seed to Be Cultivated or Something that Must Be Revealed?" Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 1. October 24, 2020. Video, 4:40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTgZcaYOM1c.
Video
Matthieu Ricard: On His Experience Writing about the Life Stories of Enlightened Masters
Excerpt from "Conversations on Buddha-Nature" with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho
Ricard, Matthieu. "On His Experience Writing about the Life Stories of Enlightened Masters." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 1. October 24, 2020. Video, 7:18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlKT8DOFYV4.
Video
Matthieu Ricard: On His First Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings
Excerpt from "Conversations on Buddha-Nature" with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho
Ricard, Matthieu. "Matthieu Ricard: On His First Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 1. October 24, 2020. Video, 13:35. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMoo0m9TR4s&t=15s.
Video
Matthieu Ricard: On Overcoming "Wicked-World" Syndrome
Excerpt from "Conversations on Buddha-Nature" with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho
Ricard, Matthieu. "On Overcoming 'Wicked-World' Syndrome." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 1. October 24, 2020. https://youtu.be/Z5CbvCspBlM.
Video
Matthieu Ricard: On What Has Made His Life Meaningful
Excerpt from "Conversations on Buddha-Nature" with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho
Ricard, Matthieu. "On What Has Made His Life Meaningful." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 1. October 24, 2020. Video, 2:59. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-x2LS_iHN0.
Video
Matthieu Ricard: On the Importance of the Preliminary Practices and Cultivating Compassion and Altruism
Excerpt from "Conversations on Buddha-Nature" with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho
Ricard, Matthieu. "On the Importance of the Preliminary Practices and Cultivating Compassion and Altruism." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 1. October 24, 2020. Video, 8:17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvZR8BfEDXY.
Video
Matthieu Ricard: On the Transition from a Western Scientific and Philosophical Perspective to a Buddhist One
Excerpt from "Conversations on Buddha-Nature" with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho
Ricard, Matthieu. "On the Transition from a Western Scientific and Philosophical Perspective to a Buddhist One." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 1. October 24, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPo_9zMpf-k&t=15s.
Video
Matthieu Ricard: Reading Recommendations for Learning about Buddha-Nature
Excerpt from "Conversations on Buddha-Nature" with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho
Ricard, Matthieu. "Reading Recommendations for Learning about Buddha-Nature." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 1. October 24, 2020. Video, 2:02. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwKpIbkjHQ0.
Book
Mind in Comfort and Ease
The Dalai Lama delves deep into the teaching of the Great Perfection, or Dzogchen. His enthusiasm and admiration for this profound tradition shine through as he comments on an important work by the great Dzogchen master Longchen Rabjam, Finding Comfort and Ease in Meditation on the Great Perfection. This teaching, with its remarkable breadth and richness, was originally given to an audience of ten thousand in France in 2000, and this book perfectly captures the majesty of the occasion. As Sogyal Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama’s host for the occasion, said, "All of us were moved by the depth, relevance, and accessibility of these teachings; there were those who said that they were among the most remarkable they had ever heard him give. To receive these teachings from him was the opportunity of a lifetime." (Source: Wisdom Publications)
Dalai Lama, 14th. Mind in Comfort in Ease: The Vision of Enlightenment in the Great Perfection. Translated by Matthieu Ricard, Richard Barron, and Adam Pearcey. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2007.
Book
The Great Medicine
"I will speak a little about how to destroy one's clinging to the notion of reality with the great medicine, bodhichitta, the essence of the Mahayana path, the road travelled by all the buddhas and bodhisattvas. Keep this in mind when in dire straits upon the vast plain of clinging to life's appearances."

        So begins THE GREAT MEDICINE: A Remedy that Conquers Clinging to Reality, a moving text written in verse by Shechen Gyaltsap Gyurme Pema Namgyal. Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche's commentary explores the foundation of awakened mind, the inner workings of loving kindness and compassion, the view of emptiness, and the practical applications of this understanding on the path. Rinpoche's teaching style is refreshing and direct, using examples from his own experience and anecdotes about his teachers and the lineage to illustrate the importance of mingling the Buddhist teachings into ones own life.

        "We need to gain real experience with these valuable instructions and integrate them into our lives. Doing so is the only reason to study them. The result of spiritual practice should be our inner transformation into a better human being. After years of practice we should gain a sense of inner peace and become less vulnerable to outer circumstances. Inner freedom, relaxed and open happiness, as well as joy will arise when negative emotions and mental confusions disappear. In contrast, we will have missed the point of the practice if our mental poisons remain all-powerful, torment us constantly, and cause us to remain preoccupied with ourselves."

        Shechen Gyaltsap Gyurme Pema Namgyal, (1871-1926) was one of the most learned and accomplished practitioners of his time. His 13 volumes of writings contain many lucid and profound commentaries. He was the root teacher of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

        The 7th Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, born in 1966, is the grandson and spiritual heir of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He is the abbot of Shechen Monasteries and Nunnery in Nepal, India, and Bhutan and the founder of a number of on-going humanitarian projects. (Source: Back Cover)
Namgyal, Shechen Gyaltsap Pema. The Great Medicine: A Remedy That Conquers Clinging to Reality; Steps in Meditation on the Enlightened Mind. Explained by Shechen Rabjam Jigme Chokyi Senge. New Delhi: Shechen Publications, 2006.
Book
The Heart of Compassion
What would be the practical implications of caring more about others than about yourself? This is the radical theme of this extraordinary set of instructions, a training manual composed in the fourteenth century by the Buddhist hermit Ngulchu Thogme, here explained in detail by one of the great Tibetan Buddhist masters of the twentieth century, Dilgo Khyentse. In the Mahayana tradition, those who have the courage to undertake the profound change of attitude required to develop true compassion are called bodhisattvas. Their great resolve—to consider others’ needs as paramount, and thus to attain enlightenment for the sake of all living creatures—carries them beyond the limits imposed by the illusions of “I” and “mine,” culminating in the direct realization of reality, transcending dualistic notions of self and other. This classic text presents ways that we can work with our own hearts and minds, starting wherever we find ourselves now, to unravel our small-minded preoccupations and discover our own potential for compassion, love, and wisdom. Many generations of Buddhist practitioners have been inspired by these teachings, and the great masters of all traditions have written numerous commentaries. Dilgo Khyentse’s commentary is probably his most extensive recorded teaching on Mahayana practice. (Source: Shambhala Publications)
Khyentse, Dilgo. The Heart of Compassion: Instructions on Ngulchu Thogme's Thirty-Sevenfold Practice of a Bodhisattva. Translated by Matthieu Ricard and edited by John Canti (Padmakara Translation Group). New Delhi: Shechen Publications, 2006.
Book
The Life of Shabkar (2001)
The Life of Shabkar has long been recognized by Tibetans as one of the masterworks of their religious heritage. Shabkar Tsogdruk Rangdrol devoted himself to many years of meditation in solitary retreat after his inspired youth and early training in the province of Amdo under the guidance of several extraordinary Buddhist masters. With determination and courage, he mastered the highest and most esoteric practices of the Tibetan tradition of the Great Perfection. He then wandered far and wide over the Himalayan region expressing his realization. Shabkar's autobiography vividly reflects the values and visionary imagery of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the social and cultural life of early nineteenth-century Tibet. (Source: Shambhala Publications)
Ricard, Matthieu, Jakob Leschly, Erik Schmidt, Marilyn Silverstone, and Lodrö Palmo, trans. The Life of Shabkar: The Autobiography of a Tibetan Yogin. By Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol (zhabs dkar tshogs drug rang grol). Edited by Constance Wilkinson, with Michal Abrams and other members of the Padmakara Translation Group. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications, 2001.


Affiliations & relations

  • Shechen Monastery · workplace affiliation
  • Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery · secondary affiliation
  • Tibetan Buddhism · religious affiliation
  • Kagyu · religious affiliation
  • Kangyur Rinpoche · teacher
  • Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche · teacher

SUNY - State University of New York

Kagyu - The Kagyu school traces its origin to the eleventh-century translator Marpa, who studied in India with Nāropa. Marpa's student Milarepa trained Gampopa, who founded the first monastery of the Kagyu order. As many as twelve subtraditions grew out from there, the best known being the Karma Kagyu, the Drikung, and the Drukpa. Tib. བཀའ་བརྒྱུད་

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