Product Description
Closed to foreigners for more than 30 years, Mustang, a tiny feudal kingdom in the Himalayas, has existed in virtual isolation from the rest of the world. Although politically part of Nepal, Mustang is linked by religion, culture and history to Tibet, and stands alone as one of the last pure Tibetan cultures existing today. In 1992 restrictions were eased. Clara Marullo and Vanessa Boeye were among the few foreigners who made the journey to Mustang. This book is an account of their journey, and a view of the society that exists there. With its photographs, it also acts as a visual record of the landscape in this country. However, this is an environment under threat. Now open to the West, the landsape and all that is contained in it is open to change, and the survival of Mustang's ancient traditions is questionable. The final part of the book examines the potential problems of modernization and highlights the need to protect Mustang from the influences of tourism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

If you are going to buy only one book before trekking to Upper Mustang, this is the book. The photos are spectacular.
The authors visited Upper Mustang just after it was opened for tourism in 1992. There are over 150 photos, about a third full page or larger.

Marullo gfives a brief overview of Upper Mustang's history and describes the trek to Lo Manthang. The way of life is detailed including nomads, the role of the King, details of village and family life, children, education, weddings, doctors and death, livestock, and planting and harvesting crops. Buddhism is woven into the fabric of everyday life with Marullo detailing the spectacular monasteries filled with masterpieces of Tibetan religious art. She closes with a diuscussion on conservation and tousism.

If you are going to buy only one book before trekking to Upper Mustang, this is the book. The photos are spectacular. The text is fairly basic, but excellent as an overview. ... Read more

Product Description
Books, audiotapes, and classes about yoga are today as familiar as they are widespread, but we in the West have only recently become engaged in the meditative doctrines of the East--only in the last 70 or 80 years, in fact. In the early part of the 20th century, it was the pioneering efforts of keen scholars like W. Y. Evans-Wentz, the late editor of this volume, that triggered our ongoing occidental fascination with such phenomena as yoga, Zen, and meditation. Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines--a companion to the popular Tibetan Book of the Dead, which is also published by Oxford in an authoritative Evans-Wentz edition--is a collection of seven authentic Tibetan yoga texts that first appeared in English in 1935.

In these pages, amid useful photographs and reproductions of yoga paintings and manuscripts, readers will encounter some of the principal meditations used by Hindu and Tibetan gurus and philosophers throughout the ages in the attainment of Right Knowledge and Enlightenment. Special commentaries precede each translated text, and a comprehensive introduction contrasts the tenets of Buddhism with European notions of religion, philosophy, and science. Evans-Wentz has also included a body of orally transmitted traditions and teachings that he received firsthand during his fifteen-plus years of study in the Orient, findings that will interest any student of anthropology, psychology, comparative religion, or applied Mah=ay=ana Yoga. These seven distinct but intimately related texts will grant any reader a full and complete view of the spiritual teachings that still inform the life and culture of the East. As with Evans-Wentz's other three Oxford titles on Tibetan religion, which are also appearing in new editions, this third edition of Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines features a new foreword by Donald S. Lopez, author of the recent Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A fine book on tantric practices
Evan-Wentz was one of the first Westerners to meet with authentic tantric Buddhist teachings and probably the first to perform a systematic and accurate study of the Tibetan texts with the invaluable help of the late Lama Kazi Dawa-Samdup. The book contains the original texts superbly translated from the Tibetan by the lama and Evans-Wentz own exposition on some of the central practices, such as 'tummo' and 'phowa' (two of the Six Doctriones of Naropa).

Evans-Wentz was remarkably gifted and applied something akin to sublime linguistic flair in writing this book. His greatest achievement perhaps is his invention of a manner of English tantric language to effectively convey Buddhism's rarest and most inaccessible teachings to Western readers. This makes this book not only an accurate and virtually flawless account of tantric Buddhism, but also a delight to read.

Despite dating from the 1950s this book is still one of the finest and most comprehensive renderings of some of the most important tantric practices.

Still impressive after all these years
This book is a compendium of diverse Tibetan Buddhist works, translated, extensively annotated with footnotes, introductions, & addenda.For most, if not all, this was their original translation & publication in English.Evans-Wentz (E-W) adopted a scientific/anthropological view (per his training); per p. xii: R. R. Marett-"He meant to do his best to look through the window without being baffled by his own reflection in the glass."His critics (Donald Lopez in his preface & John Reynolds in his "Self-Liberation") emphasize E-W's history of Theosophy & Hindu yoga.However, as a scientist, I disagree.As George MacDonald said in "Lilith," "What do they know of England who only England know?"It's like trying to see a polar bear in a snow storm or a black cat in a moonless night!E-W non-dogmatically uses information from many sources e.g. Sufism, Christianity, Greek & modern philosophy, etc. to provide contrast & context with the text.Such background material is essential in order to comprehend meaning (knowledge) vs. mere information (dogma).Interestingly, Chen-Chi Cheng's "Yogic Commentary" points out further correspondences between Mahamudra (MM) & Zen, saying that p. xlii: "A knowledge of Tantric yoga contributes greatly to an understanding of all aspects of Buddhist enlightenment, including difficult & obscure Zen koans."As the "Yogic Precepts" in Book I point out, p. 79: "A philosophy comprehensive enough to embrace the whole of knowledge is indispensable," & per E-W, p. 322 note 1: "The one mind of man in its workings transcends the superficial barriers of clime, & race, & creed."The wide range of these 7 documents & the lack of readers' prior training necessitated very extensive background.Nevertheless, this book, even today, is not for the squeamish; it requires perseverance, reflection, meditation, etc., but can be extremely rewarding to discerning readers.It includes both theory/wisdom & practices: MM, Naropa's 6 yogas, chöd (see Edou's wonderful book on the MM of Machig Labdron), powa (transference of consciousness), the 5 Dyani Buddhas & their wisdoms, & a short Perfection of Wisdom sutra.Some of these topics are addressed in more modern works, but some are not-or not in the detail given here or with the extensive explanatory material in Western terminology & embedded multi-cultural analogies.A few of the book's more interesting/controversial statements include: p. 88: "If the empty nature of the mind be realized, no longer is it necessary to listen to or meditate upon religious teachings," p. 310: "Externally mine our thought-creations which have risen up against me as enemies in the shape of deities & demons," & p. 349: As modern scholars have noted, those great thinkers of ancient India taught, as Kant did 17 centuries afterwards, that the world is will & representation...phenomenal appearances."This is a phenomenal work even today.

a classic source
Along with the companion volumes making up the Tibetan Series edited by W.Y. Evans-Wentz, this book broke new ground when first published in 1935,effectively placing the first, full length translations of authentic Tibetan Buddhist teachings within our reach. Despite the passage of time and a prolific increase in the number of such translations, the material made available by W.Y. Evans-Wentz and his mentors remains some of the most lucid at our disposal. As W.Y. Evans-Wentz put it: ". . .my aim has been to place on record not only a catena of carefuly made translations of texts . . .but also a body of orally transmitted traditions and teachings relating to the texts, which I received from the late Lama@Kazi Dawa Samdup, who was my Tibetan Guru. . ." - hence, the emphasis throughout is essentially practical. In fact, W.Y. Evans-Wentz hinted that the present volume may well be found to be the most valuable, inasmuch as it gives the very texts of some of the principal yogas and meditations which many of the most illustrious Tibetan and Indian philosophers, including Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa and Milarepa, employed in attaining Right Knowledge " (i.e. samyak sambodhi).

The shortened titles of these seven texts are as follows:

(1) Gampopa's Supreme Path, called 'The Precious Rosary. '
(2) The Epitome of the Great Symbol.
(3) The Epitome of the Six Doctrines
(4) The Transference of Consciousness
(5) The Method of Eradicating the Lower Self.
(6) The Fivefold Wisdom of the Long Hum
(7) The Essence of the Transcendental Wisdom.

Briefly summed up as 'Seven Books of Wisdom of the Great Path' - what we actually find here is a compendium of all the major doctrines and practices known to Tibetan Buddhism, as rooted in the Mahayana- although some practices, such as 'Pho-wa' (transference of consciousness) seemto be peculiarly Tibetan - even though utilised in an orthodox Buddhist context. Special commentaries precede each carefully rendered text, a wealth of information at the reader's disposal.

In recent years, some critics have questioned the approach taken by W.Y. Evans-Wentz. It is worth quoting W.Y. E-W again: " this volume is meant at once for the exact scholar and for the general reader. The former will note that the original textual sources, which are sevenfold, are authentic, and that nothing has been incoporated into the texts or presented in the introductions and annotations which has not had doctrinal sanction. "

Earlier editions of this text had a preface and tribute by Prof Chen Chi Chang, a Chinese Buddhist scholar who not only practiced Tibetan Buddhism with leading Lamas, but also had an honorary Tibetan title bestowed upon him - Cha-gyur Khan-po (Master interpreter/translator). W.Y. Evans Wentz was Rhodes scholar with impeccable qualifications. However, he was no dry-as-dust academic. Something of a scholar-gypsy-cum-pilgrim, W-Y Evans-Wentz wandered around N. India, Sikkhim, Tibetan communities etc., sitting at the feet of genuine Buddhist teachers, before that world was turned upside down by political upheaval. These are valuable sources.

The 3rd book in the Tibetan series from W.Y.Evans-Wentz
This is the third book in the Tibetan series from W.Y.Evans-Wentz. Although this book can be used as a stand-alone yoga book it is certainly not best read that way. Basically this is part of a developing series. The first book in the Tibetan series - The Tibetan Book of the Dead, is the fundamental book of the series which describes Buddhist philosophy, psychology and metaphysics. It is the best translation out there and the original! The second book in the series is called Tibets Greatest Yogi Milarepa is the story of a great yogi who puts into practice most of what we learn from The Tibetan Book of the Dead. It is through the story of Milarepa that we learn more about The Tibetan Book of the Dead. In the story of Milarepa the yogi studies the Seven Books of Wisdom of the Great Path as taught to him by his gurus. THIS BOOK is an expansion that explains those wisdoms and describes the yoga that is used to achieve them. When you understand that, then this book becomes invaluable to anybody who is looking for right yoga path. IT IS HERE!

These texts are ancient and old but have served millions since their inception. The work that Evans-Wentz has done here is substantial if not some of the most important yoga concepts ever seen by the occident. You will probably need a guru of some kind to help you get started in any form of yoga but this book is plain sailing once you learn the basics right. Most of the major yoga practices are covered in this book. Most new books on yoga are indebted to this mans work on the subject, all directly brought back from the orient by master gurus whom which Dr. W.Y.Evans-Wentz was a student for years.

There is lots of philosophy to go through and lots of text and this may put a lot of readers off, or those what to get straight into the practice but there is lots of philosophy and mental orientation to get right first. It is all here... all 434 pages of it! Mostly text! There is nothing else like it! The original is here!

*** The other books in the series are - The Tibetan Book of the dead and Tibets Greatest Yogi Milarepa - before this one. The final book in the series is The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation. ***

Liberating
Ancient wisdom transmuted through the modern, clear perception of Evans-Wentz and delivered in a highly readable and beautifully designed book.

Cannot go wrong here. ... Read more

Product Description
Rich in detail and visually powerful, this compelling picture book provides insight into the intricate and profound world of Tibetan Buddhism. Striking images of sacred spaces, participants, art, and ritual choreography are used to explain such precepts as karma, emptiness, compassion, death and rebirth, the Eight Fold Path, and the processes of Tantric deity practice. 150 color and black-and-white photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

EXCELLENT
This is a hard to find book. If you can get your hands on a copy, you won't regret it! I LOVE THIS BOOK. Full of color illustrations, easy to follow text. Explains rituals and beliefs about Tibetan Buddhism. A must have, even for long time practioners. If not for anything, then for the wonderful photos. I would give more stars if I could.

A tourist's guide to Tibetan Buddhism
Even before the Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, Westerners have looked upon Tibetan Buddhism as a source of timeless wisdom and inspiration. Unfortunately, many of us who participate in the practice of the religion find themselves as lost as a deer that stares with confusion into the headlights of an oncoming car.Robert Thurman has been through that already. In 1964, he became the first American to be ordained a Tibetan Buddhist monk, by the Dalai Lama no less! Four years later, he left that life to pursue an academic career; he now chairs the department of Religion at Columbia University. Having lived in both cultures, (not to mention the fact that he is literally a genius) qualifies him as our guide for this magical mystery tour. If you read this book, you will then recognize at least some of what is going on in any Tibetan Buddhist ritual or celebration which you will ever witness. As an added bonus, reading this book will give you gobs of insightful trivia for interesting dinner-table conversation. The pretty pictures make this a suitable coffee-table book for illiterates; this book has something for everyone ... Read more

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Buddhism between Tibet and China
Interesting book, however, one chapter appears to be not really about Buddhism. Looks like it was a conference panel which was put into a book and I assume it is updated with more current information.Would be a good read for students of Tibetan Buddhism. ... Read more

Product Description
Subject of The Many Canons of Tibetan Buddhism are both the mainstream Tibetan canons of translated Buddhist classics (known as the Bka' 'gyur & Bstan 'gyur), and the alternative canons of literature of the Nyingma sectarian traditions (known as the Rnying ma rgyud 'bum).

The first section discusses the formation and transmission of Tibetan "canonical" texts, but also includes important works of reference, such as a Bka' gdams pa handbook and several unique catalogues. It also features a first report on Tibetan textual transmission in Mongolia.

The second section not only presents interpretative analysis of one of the most important alternative canons in Tibet, the Rnying ma rgyud 'bum, but also discusses essential issues of legitimacy, authority and lineage during the "gray" period of the tenth to twelfth centuries which laid the foundation for the formation of all ensuing Tibetan canons.

The volume thus develops fresh perspectives on the nature, plurality and contents of canons in Tibetan Buddhism. ... Read more

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This is a challenging book on the nitty-gritty issues of Sautrantika philosophy, the basis of Madhumika epistemology. ... Read more

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This collection of jewel-like poems, prayers, and teachings has been lovingly selected, translated from Tibetan, and arranged by renowned translator and author Erik Pema Kunsang. These quotations from the great masters of Tibetan Buddhism are practical, beautiful, and precious. They reflect the immense variety of approaches and the profundity that have made the tapestry of these teachings of deep interest to so many. For anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism, this volume is a perfect companion for meditation and contemplation. The book includes wisdom from the following:the BuddhaDilgo Khyentse RinpocheDudjom RinpocheGampopaJamgön Kongtrül the GreatManjushriMilarepaChokyi NyimaPadmasambhavaPatrul RinpocheYeshe Tsogyaland many others ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Beautifully done Primer or Reminder
This is a beautifully produced (bound, selected and arranged) little book of quotes. The selections touch on the Indian roots of the Tibetan traditions (beginning with Buddha Shakyamuni), as well as all four of the main lineages once Buddhism developed in Tibet, although the emphasis is on the Nyingma/dzogchen lineages (from ancient to modern times). They are mostly short, a few lines, or one to two pages at most, the kind of thing helpful to keep at your bedside, or in the bathroom, or as a travel companion for quick reminders and inspiration. The selections are quite varied; ranging from pithy and profound to common prayers and guidelines to conduct. And as with all of Kunsang's translations this is a trustworthy mix of authentic and accessible communication.

A typical example is one like this, titled, The Essence of Cho:

"Compared to begging one hundred times, "Save me, protect me!".
It is much more effective to say once, "Devour me!"
- Machig Labdron-

... Read more

Product Description
The movie, Seven Years in Tibet, starring Brad Pitt, highlighted the religious conflict of that nation for many people living in the West. For those looking for a detailed "insiders account" of more recent Tibetan political and spiritual struggles (from a Western point of view), look no further.

Rogues in Robes pulls back the curtains on the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding the search for the 17th Karmapa. The author provides insightful historical background, which proves interesing in and of itself, and sets the stage for this "real life" adventure.

The social fabric of the old Tibet was very much determined by the institution of the tulku. Nine centuries ago, Karmapa Pakshi, as a small child, declared himself to be the incarnation of the recently deceased Karmapa Dusun Khyenpa. From that time on, Karmapa kept coming back in an unbroken sequence of embodiments that has spanned nine hundred years. In similar manner, other highly realized lamas consciously reincarnate, bringing the mind's enlightened qualities of life after life into contact with their students. Hundreds of tulkus manifested throughout Tibet and the system served as a unique mechanism for preserving an unbroken transmission of Buddha's teachings.

Over the centuries, however, monasteries and their incarnate tulkus grew in wealth and started to wield considerable influence upon the social and political life of the country. A number of tulkus assumed political roles in addition to their religious duties. To locate and deliver the new incaranation of a tulku to his old monastery was to gain influence over, in some instances, a sizable amount of wealth and territory. In many cases the criteria according to which the incarnates were recognized left much room to maneuver, so the process became an instrument for political infighting.

Roges in Robes is a personal account of events by a Western observer. A two-year, chronological review of the happenings that nearly brought the Kagyu School under Communist Chinese control....Let the facts speak for themselves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Very Revealing.
Written by a person clearly quite close to the situation Tommek writes his points in a clear and open way. It really makes the reader aware that there are more than one points of view in the contraversey which reveals the motivation of the reader. Very revealing.

Lots of otherwise unavailable info, but reliability is suspect
The main intended thrust of this book is to persuade followers of Tibetan Buddhism that an unscrupulous Tai Situ has knowingly imposed a fraud, complete with false Karmapa, upon the world.Lehnert's writing is unabashedly partisan.You could pick just about any single sentence from the book and read it on its own, and if it concerns a villain, you'll know from the rhetoric in that one sentence.This strident rhetoric detracts from any sense of reliability.Thirty-five letters from principals in the conflict are photocopied and reprinted in the back of the book; however, this fails to sufficiently document much of the content of the book.

The outline of the story is that the sixteenth Karmapa died, leaving four regents to handle affairs together until the seventeenth could be found and raised to maturity.Traditionally, the Karmapa leaves instructions for finding his successor, but this time, no one seemed to be able to find the instructions.

Tai Situ eventually presented a letter, which Shamarpa (the main regent) and Topga Yulgyal (General Secretary of the Karmapa Charitable Trust and controller of Rumtek Monastery, Karmapa's main seat in exile) considered to be a forgery.Shamarpa wanted the letter forensically tested by Western experts, but Situ blocked this.

Situ subsequently announced that he had found the seventeenth Karmapa, following the instructions in the letter.His candidate was one Urgyen Trinley, in Tibet.Shamarpa did not accept the boy.

Rumtek Monastery remained in the control of Shamarpa's camp.Situ tried to arrange a legal coup by changing the board membership of the trust which controls the monastery, but these maneuvers were ruled invalid by an Indian court.Situ, according to Lehnert, used cash donated by wealthy devotees of Chinese descent to bribe corrupt government officials in Sikkim and then sent gangs and mobs to Rumtek, where they took physical possession of the monastery by violent means, with the collusion of the bought governmental authorities.

Shamarpa, operating from Delhi after losing control of Rumtek, announced that the seventeenth Karmapa had been found, one Thaye Dorje.Unlike Situ, Shamarpa took care to extract his candidate from Chinese-controlled Tibet before publicizing his identity.(Urgyen Trinley, of course, was prevented by China from leaving Tibet.Chinese authorities intended to use their captive Karmapa to advance their own control over Tibet.)Situ sent gangs, "rogues in robes", to physically prevent Thaye Dorje's recognition ceremony.Throwing rocks and bricks, they seriously injured one, but were dispersed by Indian police, and the ceremony took place.

Situ, says Lehnert, has since been banned by the Indian government from entering India.Urgyen Trinley escaped from Tibet in 1999.Indian courts have confirmed that the Rumtek Monastery belongs to the Karmapa Charitable Trust, but it still remains in the physical possession of Situ's people, while legal proceedings continue.

Lehnert does not shy from one lesson learned, that some, at least, of the Tibetan Rinpoches are, shall we say, imperfect.Heck, let's say they can be Rogues in Robes.Besides the despicable tactics attributed to Situ, we have the weak-willed acquiescence of many other Rinpoches who had varying degrees of doubt as to Situ's assertions, but who found it personally convenient, under pressure, to sign documents his people presented.We have the implicit belief by at least some Rinpoches that the whole tradition of "finding" the true reincarnation of a Tulku is a pretense.

An Unbiased Review----I am not a Buddhist
I don't think I trust most of these reviews because they are either for one or the other Karmapa's.I am not a Buddhist but interested in the controversy and the book provides some insight from the author's perspective.So far, the other books on this topic are limited in perspective (e.g. Music in the Sky, Dance of 17 lives, Karmapa: The Politics of Reincarnation).The author provides one of the few perspectives from the other side and admittedly he is on good terms with Ole Nydahl and provides Ole's perspective as well which is critical in this entire controversy since Ole Nydahl is one of the most important lamas in Europe.I live in the U.S. in Florida so again I could care less about this whole thing but not only is he an interesting character but from what I have read Ole Nydahl brought in probably about half of the people for the Karmapa chosen by the Shamrapa. Why did Ole go with Shamrapa's Karmapa is one of the key questions which is explained in this book?This Karmapa recently gave a video interview in English to a British Journalist which I thought was very revealing.I don't believe in reincarnation to begin with but if I did I would go with Shamrapa's Karmapa.I hope they can straighten this whole thing out because it is an unfortunate development for everyone involved.Ole just lost his wife and he is back on the trail training...I don't think anything stops this guy.Never met him but if I ever entertained the idea of being a Buddhist, whichwill never happen, I would want to learn from him.And if he came to a location reasonably close to me in Florida I would want to hear him and I would invite others who I know would be interested.

worthy story
A really fascinating account of the split in the Karma Kagyu lineage. A great deal of detailed background information is provided regarding the events that have resulted in two claimants to the throne of the Black Karmapa. Lama Ole's international legacy of spiritual achievement speaks volumes, and that voice is significant. He seems to shun for himself a part in centuries of Tibetan political manoeuvering except insofar as any present machinations threaten or impede the mission given to him directly by the XVIth Karmapa. In the end, what does the controversy mean, does it matter? Buddhism holds in its means a rectitude to solve human conflicts, by healing individual lives. That has been Lama Ole and Hannah's life work. Is that disputable? Whatever else, practictioners must realize the wild human adventure in stories like this one. The book is literate, timelines are crafted with quick follow ease, and the tale it tells is, even through a great sadness, worthy of the Tathagata.

Observation of Reviews
In case you haven't noticed already, the reviewers for this book fall into two factions: those for whom H.H. Trinlay Thaye Dorje is the 17th Karmapa and those for whom he is not.This causes the polarity in ratings, most of which are 1 star or 5.So much disagreement, how exciting.Simply put, Mr. Lehnert writes what he knows, which is what every author does.There are no unbiased authors, just as there are no unbiased reviewers.

-a student of Lama Ole Nydahl ... Read more

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Shows that these ancient teachings are penetrating and relevant, not only for understanding death, but as a guide to life. Illustrated.


From the Trade Paperback edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

fantastic!
so tiny, i keep it in my pants pocket and sneak reads at work! love it!

chogyam trungpa seems to eithernot be great at explaining things or just has issues with the english language because there are some topics he explains that do not come across very clear at all. some seem broken and not explained. some are even things i've read in other books of the same topic so i could tell what it was and that an uninformed reader would not get it. why still five stars? this section of the book by chogyam trungpa is only the intro, not the main text. the main text is a book written a thousand some odd years ago and is translated clearly and beautifully. it's breathtaking and at points plain scary! good stuff! so i'm considering the main text to be the book itself which is perfect.

also on a side note it makes me sad to realize even more fully in reading this book that tibetan buddhism is soooooooo similar to hinduism with all of it's rituals, countless bodhisattvas and gods, prayers, magic spells, fortune telling, etc. don't get me wrong, i looooove learning about tibetan buddhism, i also looooooove learning about hinduism. i'm saying from the point of view of a practicing buddhist that it makes me sad to see the buddha's teachings, which were designed to get away from hinduism to a more pure and simple beleif system, being turned into exactly what he was trying to change. the reason for this is that tibetan buddhism is just the bon religion (indigenous religion of the region) with a nice buddhist coat. it has all the craaaaazy bon gods and goddesses and rituals but they call the gods and goddesses "bodhisattvas" or "buddhas" to make it a buddhist thing. if you study some therevada buddhism (the teachings of THE ORIGINAL BUDDHA: SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA) you will see that around 60 to 75 percent of the stuff in tibetan buddhism in no way existed in what the buddha originally taught. one obvious example is that maaaaaany tibetan "bodhisattvas" hold knives, human skulls full of human blood that they drink, and stand on corpses of humans. how the heck could you call that a buddha? a buddha is an all compassionate being that does no harm. for anyone who doesn't get this that would be like an image of jesus with a machine gun eating a severed human finger. it just doesn't work if you're going to say that's the same guy. still a super cool religion to learn about though! i love all their stories and stuff! and a lot of good teachings do make it through all the dogma.

"O Child Of Noble Family, Listen Without Distraction . . ."
Named for the mythical (?) and mystical kingdom in the East, Shambhala Publications is known for bringing some of the greatest and sometimes most obscure philosophical writings of Mankind to the attention of the general public. Heavily (though not exclusively) concerned with Buddhist and Taoist thought, Shambhala Pocket Classics are an attractive set of unabridged minibooks which fit comfortably in a shirt pocket, making them perfect for reading on planes, trains, and automobiles. Titles in the set include THE BOOK OF TEA, WAY OF THE JEWISH MYSTICS, ZEN FLESH, ZEN BONES, TAO TE CHING, POEMS BY EMILY DICKINSON, THE ART OF WAR, and this volume by with commentary by Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche, THE TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD (BARDO THODOL in Tibetan).

The BARDO THODOL, a classic text of Mahayana Buddhism, is a fascinating little book in and of itself (though Trungpa's speculations in his extended "Commentary" sometimes become an endless hyperintellectual slog), meant to be read to a dying person as he or she passes from this life into the Bardo state, wherein all the karmic issues of the departed's recently-ended life are faced and addressed.

What I wish I knew is how the author, Padma Sambhava, speaks with such authority about the hallucinogenic conditions in the Bardo state, the luminosities, the rays of light, the apparitions, the varying states of terror and ecstasy experienced by the departed, and so on. It would be so easy to say that he invented all this to comfort the living, but there is a very strong ring of truth in what is written here, (and much of it is not comforting). So what then?

Part of this Great Truth is that each of the stages of the Bardo reflect our own states of mind while alive, and the BARDO THODOL is, in that sense, a guide to right living and right thinking. Putting aside everything else, that is the real value of the BARDO THODOL.

If you're not dead yet, you will be after a few pages
A cute little book easily carried in a pocket but whats the use if the subject matter has no meaning for the reader?

I could barely get through the first few pages of this book without being bored to death with its gibberish.

Based on superstition and ritualistic visualizations of Tibetan buddhism, this book has very little relevance for the modern reader, except perhaps as a curiosity or work of fiction. Even then, most will get very little, if any benefit from it.

Open up the book to any random page to read tripe such as:

"...listen without distraction. On the tenth day the blood-drinking manifestations of the Ratna family...will appear before you from the southern corner of your brain; his body is dark yellow..with three heads and six arms...a trident bearing human heads.. and his consort...holds a skull full of blood to his mouth."

Besides the incredibly ridiculous imagery does anyone else have a problem with the fact that we will still have a "brain" when we are dead - and where exactly is the "southern corner"? At any rate there are 250+ pages of this rubbish for the reader's amusement or scorn. I truly can not believe that anyone would actually take this seriously.

It is human nature to hope for something beyond death and even more so, to hope that we can somehow redeem ourselves from our transgressions by knowing some "secret" protocol to follow in the after life. This type of superstitious belief has been with us throughout human history - but never proved with any degree of certainty based on reality.

You ain't dead yet baby - redeem yourself now, in this life - don't wait until you are on your deathbed and then pull out all the straws to "save" your soul - this book is not going to do a thing for you when you are dead and gone. Prepare yourself by the reading, study and practice of the simple, accesible and reality-based teachings of Jesus Christ, Sakyamuni Buddha or Ramana Maharshi.

book of the dead
Smaller book than I thought. Will probably get the full version. Would not recommend if you're looking for a good read.

Tiny book! Fits in your pocket.... but LOADED !
Instead of repeating what most people stated, I just wanted to emphasize on the size. This book is soooo tiny, it can fit in your pocket! It literally fits in the palm of your hand, and perfect to throw in the purse, the murse or your desk at work.

Also, for those non-buddhist coworkers, you won't get that "look" when they see (can't) the title of the book.

I've read better translations, however it is what it is! TINY and loaded with info! ... Read more

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The age-old tradition of Buddhism continues to influence those of myriad faiths in the East as well as the West. This deck features beautiful, traditional images of thirty-six Tibetan deities, bodhisattvas, and guardian figures. The cards explain the historical qualities and strengths they represent and offer meditation exercises to deepen your understanding and practice of Buddhism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

artfully rendered
This little deck is incrediblcy beautiful.It describes Buddhas, Deities and Bodhisattvas in the Tibetan tradition with 36 illustrated cards.The paintings go right to the edge of the card, the illustrations are rich and authentic and the information is thorough and concise.There is a little affirmation on the bottom of the text side of the card for a new age slant.A very nice gift or altar card.

Love them!
I absolutely love these cards! They are so beautiful. They have a nice description on the back of each card giving you some info on the each deity.

Remarkable quality
These cards are astonishingly beautiful. I keep buying them as gifts for my friends. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you are looking for a room, visiting a monastery, or bargaining for a bus seat, Learning Practical Tibetan will make immediate communication with Tibetans easy and fun. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

of some use
This is an unusual language book: a hybrid which combines the practical rudiments of Tibetan grammar with a useful vocabulary for getting around the country and interacting with local people. It certainly would be a must-have for anybody planning to visit and it is certainly more portable than most of its competitors.

My criticism of it is due to its skimpy treatment of the Tibetan writing system- although material is presented both in Tibetan script and transcription (a rather imprecise one) the Tibetan is useful only to a person literate in the language,because the Tibetan writing system is not phonetic. In addition to the 'root letter' and vowel of a syllable (the actual combination that actually gets enunciated), you can have prefices, superscripts, subscripts and up to two suffices. Some of these other letters indicate a change of tone, some of them actually are combined with the root letter, some are there to indicate that the word means something different from another word with the same sound, some of them do slightly modify the sound of the syllable and some of them just seem to be along for the ride, among other possibilities. So a learner cannot just learn the Tibetan alphabet and then figure out the pronunciations of syllables and words. There are other sources for that, of course- 'Fluent Tibetan' and 'Manual of Standard Tibetan' both cover this in all its exruciating detail.

Best of the lot
Although there are some inaccuracies in this book, there are far fewer in number than in all the other Tibetan phrase books. This book is by far the best of the lot and will allow one to have some quite reasonable conversations with Tibetans.

No one will understand you
This is a good phrase book ONLY if you can read and pronounce Tibetan script already... The transliterations have frequent outright errors, but in general are simply wrong. They have used their own imaginative system of transliteration, which is fine, but spoken Tibetan words is simply not pronounced this way. As ONE example, according to this book, no Tibetan word ever has a consanent on the end!PAR and PAL and PAG are all PA, apparently. While endings are often softened or clipped in Tibetan, the pronounciation you will get, using this book, will make Tibetans think you have a serious speech impediment. Simply useless to the average student.

A good book, but certainly not the best
Don't let the title of this review fool you, this is a really good Tibetan book.It is full of vocab and set up really well for Westerners.It is great if you are wanting to learn simple Tibetan phrases.But as the title says, this is a 'practical' not a comprehensive language book.The Tibetan language is incredibly complex and difficult.If you are taking a trip to central Tibet and want to know the basics of the Tibetan language, don't leave home without this book.If you want to learn the foundations of Tibetan and really want to tackle the language try "Modern Tibetan Language" (vol I and II) by Losang Thonden published by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala (make sure you get the tapes too!).If you are looking for a comprehensive system to learn conversational Tibetan, try the 4 volume, 18 tape "Fluent Tibetan" system published by Snow Lion.Good luck!

Very useful
This is a very useful book.It is basically a phrase book, but I also gives word-by-word translation, and so you know how the sentences are made.Tapes are also useful.It is very practical in outlook, and frankly it could have been better with theoretical description of sound and tone marks - those who don't care can just skip them. ... Read more

Product Description
This groundbreaking study focuses on a village called Te in a "Tibetanized" region of northern Nepal. While Te's people are nominally Buddhist, and engage the services of resident Tibetan Tantric priests for a range of rituals, they are also exponents of a local religion that involves blood sacrifices to wild, unconverted territorial gods and goddesses. The village is unusual in the extent to which it has maintained its local autonomy and also in the degree to which both Buddhism and the cults of local gods have been subordinated to the pragmatic demands of the village community.

Charles Ramble draws on extensive fieldwork, as well as 300 years' worth of local historical archives (in Tibetan and Nepali), to re-examine the subject of confrontation between Buddhism and indigenous popular traditions in the Tibetan cultural sphere. He argues that Buddhist ritual and sacrificial cults are just two elements in a complex system of self-government that has evolved over the centuries and has developed the character of a civil religion. This civil religion, he shows, is remarkably well adapted to the preservation of the community against the constant threats posed by external attack and the self-interest of its own members. The beliefs and practices of the local popular religion, a highly developed legal tradition, and a form of government that is both democratic and accountable to its people all these are shown to have developed to promote survival in the face of past and present dangers.

Ramble's account of how both secular and religious institutions serve as the building blocks of civil society opens up vistas with important implications for Tibetan culture as a whole. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is for intermediate and advanced Buddhist practitioners who wish to deepen their understanding by joining practice with study of traditional ideas. It introduces the reader to contemplations that investigate a series of views of reality as they evolved in the Buddhist tradition. These views are explained in plain English, with contemporary metaphors and examples to bring out their meaning for modern Buddhists. Quotations from both historical and living meditation masters and scholars are presented as examples of key principles. Topics include

   • Egolessness
   • Appearances and reality
   • Methods of investigation
   • Enlightenment
   • Tenets of different schools through the centuries
   • The root of compassion
   • The origin of thoughts


Guided exercises encourage the reader to trust in experiential understanding through deep contemplation of complex concepts. The book is structured as a guide for the reader’s journey.

For more information on the author, Andy Karr, visit his blog at http://contemplatingreality.blogspot.com/. For more information about this book, please visit www.contemplatingreality.org.  ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Clear and concise
This is by far the most accesible book I have read on this topic. Contemplation of emptiness and the main philosophical systems (Vaibhashika, Sautrantika, the Cittamatra, & Madhyamaka) are not light and easy topics. Most books that I have read in this area tend to rely on jargon and specialized terms. While accurate, it can make for very dense reading if you are not already familiar with the topic (and even if you are). Karr's book, however, manages to avoid that. It's a pleasure to read, but it's not over-simplified or condescending. He's successfully struck a very delicate balance between readability and depth. I highly recommend this.

one of a kind
This book is truly unique--an introduction to Indian and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy for nonspecialists that manages to be both rigorous and accessible. Coming from outside the Tibetan tradition (I'm a student of Korean Zen) I found myself wishing that there were an equivalent text introducing key elements in the East Asian tradition. But for any student of Buddhism--even a student in an academic class who feels confused or asks, "what does this have to do with my life?"--this book would be an excellent choice.

Excellent, worthwhile contribution, especially for practitioners
This is an excellent addition to the library of Buddhist works meant especially for practitioners. It focuses on contemplation, as opposed to either textual study, meditation, or the practice of precepts. Its premise is that contemplation has historically been a key component of practice, a link between study and meditation that is often neglected today. To "flesh out" the practice, the author proceeds through a survey of the Buddhist philosophical landscape, using statements that are key tenets of various systems--e.g. Vaibhashika, Sautrantika, Chittamatra, Madhyamaka--and applying the practice of contemplation to those statements. The statements are explained using examples from everyday life that are often exceptionally clear and thought provoking. This procedure helps you to see how contemplation, like the practice of morality, can be an important component of one's practice, a part of the "mind re-training" so central to serious practice, which cannot be limited to the time of meditation alone. Definitely worthwhile.

Contemplating Reality
I was looking for a book that could explain in a more comprehensible manner some of the arcane concepts of Buddhism.Andy Karr makes a valiant effort to do so in this book.He has a good sense of humor and relatively down-to-earth approach to subjects that are extremely difficult to grasp.He also explains the different schools of tenets and describes their somewhat differing approaches to the subject.I recommend it!

An Excellent Manual
Contemplating Reality is a wonderful contribution to the body of teachings on analytical meditation. Analytical meditation is a very important practice of the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist traditions, which emphasize bringing intellectual study and experiential praxis together. It is a key to ensuring that the knowledge we gain from our studies will not be left on our book shelves, but will permeate our day to day experience.

In this delightful book, Andy uses fresh and modern examples, even delving into discussions of modern science, to help readers find a ground-level approach to unlocking the life lessons of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism's four main philosophical systems: the Vaibhashika, the Sautrantika, the Chittamatra, and the Madhyamaka. Praised by Publisher's Weekly and many Kagyu and Nyingma lineage teachers, this short book will whet the reader's appetite for contemplation and its prerequisite, study. What's more, it will offer a senior Western Buddhist student's seasoned perspective on a heretofore relatively unexplored topic in the West. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Vital context for Buddha's teaching
While much of the Buddha's teaching transcends specific cultures, there is a lot to be gained by the serious student through understanding the cultural context that nurtured the teachings we have received. It takes nothing away from the value of these teachings to know that complex cultural and philosophical currents have shaped the texts that have come down to us. In seeking the gnosis, or wordless knowing, that lies at the heart of these texts, understanding the philosophical history of India is crucial. Bronkhorst's book provides an excellent and reasonably concise primer on these subjects. ... Read more

Product Description
The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation, which was unknown to the Western world until its first publication in 1954, speaks to the quintessence of the Supreme Path, or Mah=ay=ana, and fully reveals the yogic method of attaining Enlightenment. Such attainment can happen, as shown here, by means of knowing the One Mind, the cosmic All-Consciousness, without recourse to the postures, breathings, and other techniques associated with the lower yogas. The original text for this volume belongs to the Bardo Thödol series of treatises concerning various ways of achieving transcendence, a series that figures into the Tantric school of the Mah=ay=ana. Authorship of this particular volume is attributed to the legendary Padma-Sambhava, who journeyed from India to Tibet in the 8th century, as the story goes, at the invitation of a Tibetan king. Padma-Sambhava's text per se is preceded by an account of the great guru's own life and secret doctrines. It is followed by the testamentary teachings of the Guru Phadampa Sangay, which are meant to augment the thought of the other gurus discussed herein.

Still more useful supplementary material will be found in the book's introductory remarks, by its editor Evans-Wentz and by the eminent psychoanalyst C. G. Jung. The former presents a 100-page General Introduction that explains several key names and notions (such as Nirv=ana, for starters) with the lucidity, ease, and sagacity that are this scholar's hallmark; the latter offers a Psychological Commentary that weighs the differences between Eastern and Western modes of thought before equating the "collective unconscious" with the Enlightened Mind of the Buddhist. As with the other three volumes in the late Evans-Wentz's critically acclaimed Tibetan series, all four of which are being published by Oxford in new editions, this book also features a new Foreword by Donald S. Lopez. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A mistaken interpretation of Dzogchen and Tibetan Buddhism
This text has now been published as "Self-Liberation Through Seeing With Naked Awareness" translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds and published by Snow Lion.This edition by Evans-Wentz is basically a misinterpretation of Tibetan Buddhism in general and of Dzogchen in particular.In the book "Self-Liberation Through Seeing With Naked Awareness" over forty pages are given to a detailed discussion of Evans-Wentz and Jung's basic misunderstandings.This alone is well worth reading so you can make up your own mind before (if) you decide to get the Evans-Wentz version.I have found the translation by John Myrdhin Reynolds to be far superior and truly inspirational.

backward-foreword
Having returned to this marvelous work recently after an incident in my life required it, I was shocked to be reminded of the disturbing foreword, which detracts from the majesty of the actual work and Evans-Wentz's accompanying interpretations.

Without dwelling too long on the foreword, written by Donald S. Lopez, Jr., let me say that it strikes me as one of the most long-winded, derogatory and self-serving forewords I have ever seen in a book; not to mention the fact that the foreword is advertised on the cover of this edition. Donald Lopez insults Evans-Wentz on every page and goes on to tear down Jung, as well.

There are genuine reasons for why marvelous works by men such as W.Y. Evans-Wentz stay in print, and they go far beyond the bruised egos of stoic/pedantic academics like Lopez. When so-called Buddhist scholars, such as Lopez and Thurman, project themselves as arrogant intellectuals, it contradicts everything that Evans-Wentz stood for.

Oxford University Press should be ashamed for pulling in a voice so anti-thetical to the spirit of this work. The work, itself, is awesome and is hindered only by the hypercritical Lopez touch.

One of the best
This is one of the earliest and still one of the best volumes to come out of the still-intact Tibetan region into the English language. Lots of Voltage.
It's interesting to see in these reviews how many people want to show off what they know.

Best Wishes

The 4th book in the Tibetan Series by W.Y.Evans-Wentz
This is the forth and final book in the Tibetan series from W.Y.Evans-Wentz. Although this book can be used as a stand-alone book it is certainly not best read that way. Basically this is part of a developing series. The first book in the Tibetan series - The Tibetan Book of the Dead, is the fundamental book of the series which describes Buddhist philosophy, psychology and metaphysics. It is the best translation out there and the original! The second book in the series is called Tibets Greatest Yogi Milarepa and is the story of a great yogi who puts into practice most of what we learn from The Tibetan Book of the Dead. It is through the story of Milarepa that we learn more about The Tibetan Book of the Dead. In the story of Milarepa the yogi studies the Seven Books of Wisdom of the Great Path as taught to him by his gurus. Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines, the third book in the series, is an expansion that explains those wisdoms and describes the yoga that is used to achieve them.

The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation is a three act book which ties together everything learned from the other three books. Essentially the start of the book develops a clearer understanding of the metaphysics associated with the first three books in the form of a general introduction. The book then lays out the premise for a type of yoga practice called the Supreme Path or Mahayana, that was created to serve as an INSTANT ENLIGHTENMENT yoga. It is mostly psychological. The middle section of the book is devoted to the guru Padma-Sambhava who brought this yoga to Buddhists in the eighth century. The latter part of the book expounds on that yoga in a full translation.

Make no mistake about it. This is the ORIGINAL and best work because this was the man who brought the work to the occident! These texts are ancient and old but have served millions since their inception. The work that Evans-Wentz has done here is substantial if not some of the most important Tibetan Buddhist concepts ever seen by the occident - all directly translated by master gurus whom which Dr. W.Y.Evans-Wentz was a student for years.

There is nothing wrong with the translation. Forget those who seek to play down the originals so that they can sell their new version. This book has stood the test of time. It was first published in 1954! The original book in the series was published in 1921! Evans-Wentz was in Tibet at the turn of the century learning under these gurus! He is held is highest esteem by Oxford University for his endeavors!

*** The other books in the series are - The Tibetan Book of the dead - Tibets Greatest Yogi Milarepa - Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines - all before this one, the final book in the Tibetan Series. ***

Ian Myles Slater on: Still Worth It, But Check Competition
The title text of this collection of translations has recently appeared in a significantly clearer and better-annotated translation, as "Self-Liberation Through Seeing With Naked Awareness." Like the other three books in W.Y. Evans-Wentz's "Oxford Tibetan Series," it suffers from a dependence on Tibetan translators working at time when few clear guidelines for translating technical terms had been developed, and from Evans-Wentz's own lack of familiarity with Mahayana Buddhism and its various schools. (Which apparently has not prevented it from achieving its own canonical status with some readers; a process not unknown in the history of translations, from the Christian adoption of the Septuagint in place of its Hebrew original, to some Chinese -- and Tibetan -- renderings of Buddhist Sanskrittexts.)

As Lopez points out in his introduction to this new edition (part of an end-of-the-century reissue of the series, in which the publisher formally acknowledges over a half-century of additional scholarship), Theosophy and Hinduism are the real points of departure. There is a commentary to the translation offered by C.G. Jung, which is of great importance to students -- but of Jung, not of Tibetan Buddhism. The historical significance, and sometimes impressive literary quality, of the translation series is enduring; its value as a set of primary sources is not.

However, a large section of the book is given over to an (abridged) translation of one of the traditional biographies of the *Lotus-Born Guru*, the "Apostle to the Tibetans." In western terms, it is a mix of popular hagiography (like "The Golden Legend"), heroic romance, and supernatural thriller. So far as I have been able to determine, it is the only English-language version of this particular text (there are other Tibetan treatments of the subject, a number of which have been translated), and it makes fascinating reading, simply as a piece of story-telling.

The translation of the story has extensive, and sometimes obsolete, annotations which attempt to tie down the places and times mentioned, but which also recognize that portions, at least, are intended to be symbolic or allegorical (which does not mean that the original audience would not have regarded them as literally true, as well). Padma-Sambhava, besides introducing advanced forms of Buddhist Yoga, is supposed to have written, and concealed for future generations, a number of important texts, including, besides the one translated as "The Great Liberation," the so-called "Tibetan Book of the Dead" (Evans-Wentz's catchy, but potentially misleading, title). He also appears as a major character in some versions of the Tibetan "Gesar" epic.

The presence of this fascinating piece of Tibetan literature may account for the interesting fact that Snow Lion, the publisher of the competing "Self-Liberation Through Seeing With Naked Awareness," offers this book in its catalogue as well (as of Summer 2003).

Those who find this portion of the book interesting will probably also enjoy the traditional "biography" of a Tibetan holy man, in "Tibet's Great Yogi Milarepa," another volume edited by Evans-Wentz. (It is a companion volume in the Oxford Tibetan series). It presents itself as its hero's own account of his progression from black magician (to avenge his family) to Enlightenment. (There are several editions of the translation available; the 1999 Oxford paperback reprinting, uniform with the present volume, including a new introduction, should be in print at this writing.) ... Read more

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This unique work presents invaluable material related to the Tibetan sacred dances, which have met their doom with the destruction of monastic life in Tibet. ... Read more

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Milarepa, the prince of yogis used to sing: The fear of death has led me to the snowcapped mountains. On the uncertainty of the moment of my death I have meditated Thus I have reached the immortal stronghold of true essence My fear has vanished into the distance.

Later, the great sufi poet, Jalal Od-Din Rumi was to say: "Our death is our wedding with eternity."

Not so long ago Sri Ramana Maharishi, the wise man of Arunachala wrote the following in one of his rare books. Those who fear death intensely only take refuge at the feet of the Supreme Lord whom neither death nor birth can impress. Dead to themselves and to all possessions, how could the thought of death arise within them? They are immortal!

We will almost certainly never be as certain as these sublime beings. At best we will have hope and at worst we will experience the anguish of nothingness.

Death who are you? What do you have in store for us? Will you end with all encompassing darkness the fleeting moments of several decades of life? Will you open a window onto other worlds, other splendors and other hells for us? From the scientist for whom awareness and brain are irremediably linked to the sage who during this lifetime has realized immortality, there are many responses.

Buddhism asserts that beings live on eternally beyond the impermanent fluctuations of this life. Death is not a definitive end but just a passage to one of the three other states: - a rebirth in the world of human beings or in another world of the cycle of conditioned existence where a constant flow of joys and suffering goes on; - the entry into a "pure land", domain of luminous manifestation as we shall see as this book unfolds; - the flowering of the ultimate nature of being as a pure, non- dual, unlimited all-knowing and all-loving consciousness, which is called Buddhahood.

It takes an entire life of labor to prepare for these achievements. Nonetheless, when time comes, there is an "art of dying", an ars moriendi as it was said in the Middle Ages. Such will be the main thrust of this work even though a general description of death had to be provided and is contained in the first chapter. The real issue, the one from where it will be pointless to divert oneself with fine theories is as follows: how can we turn our death into a positive expansion? Such was the question we asked Bokar Rinpoche and which he answered in the precise frame of Buddhism and, more particularly, within the Tibetan tradition. Another essential issue is how can we accompany those who are leaving before us and what can we offer them by way of a pleasant journey? As curious it may seem when dealing with a subject like this, this book is intended to be more practical than philosophical. May this book ensure that our last moment is also the most beautiful. ... Read more

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"Hopkins deserves congratulations on making this difficult material on the nature of emptiness as transparent as possible."--Religious Studies Review ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Helpful for understanding emptiness meditation
Although, I had only a beginners understanding of Tibetan Buddhism before I read this book, I felt myself easily acquainted with the analytical methods discussed in "Emptiness Yoga."Hopkins is able toelucidate complex philosophical and experiential topics concerning themeditative practices of Tibetan Buddhism so that anyone with a goodphilosophical background or an acquaintance with meditation will be able togain a more profound understanding of emptiness. My only criticism is thatI often felt myself being tantalized by what appeared, at least on closerinspection, to be over-simplistic analytical tools.Though, this isperhaps more a problem with the subject matter than the writer.I hadalways envisioned Tibetan Buddhism to be more experiential and subtle inits understanding of cause and effect and emptiness.Yet, perhaps furthercomplexity is not within the scope of this book.Nevertheless, I highlyrecommend this book to anyone interested in Buddhism or in attaining a moreprofound understanding of emptiness.

Enormously beneficial.
The essential text for Westerners interested in the Pransangika view of emptiness. Covers profound topics while maintaining clarity of prose.Best for those with some familiarity with Buddhist philosophy, but educationalfor beginners as well. ... Read more

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A detailed explanation of the efficacy of Tibetan charms and amulets, with all examples illustrated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Disappointing and Deceiving
From the title to the text, this book is a deceiver. It ONLY deals with a small segment of Tibetan Amulets...a single group that is limited to a single sect....and the high Lamas of that single sect, to boot.Not only have most Chinese and Westerners never seen or likely to come in contact with these, most Lamas in Tibet have never encountered them!
What may be worse than this limitation is that the book IGNORES the hundreds of OTHER GOOD AMULETS that Tibetans have used for centuries.....amulets that are of a mixed group of materials, images, sizes and purposes.The field is so rich with possibilities that is is unconscionable that this author bypasses them to concentrate on that single brick in a wall so full of varied symbolism.
Do not waste your money unless you are looking out of arcane curiosity or for advanced Doctoral study. ... Read more