The Dalai Lamas on Tantra

By: Glenn H. Mullin

Book Overview

This is a unique collection of authentic teachings by the Dalai Lamas on Tantric Buddhism and tantric practice. The clarity and power of their tantric writings is unparalleled. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 155939269X
• ISBN13: 9781559392693
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Snow Lion Publications
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A Beautiful Collection of Tantric Texts

Besides Buddhism itself, the Dalai Lamas are Tibet's greatest legacy. This beautiful collect of poems and short texts on Buddhism by various Dalai Lamas gives us a rare glimpse into its enlightened legacy. We are extremely fortunate to have access to these rare texts, that in Tibet would have only been accessible to the privileged and the monastics, are available to us in beautiful and accessible language. The Dalai Lamas on Tantra is an exceptional compilation of Tantric texts on a variety subjects within the Tantric path as uniquely preserved in the rich Tibetan Tradition. There are ten different texts on Tantra covering a variety of subjects from the most esoteric to the more well know. Each text is accompanied by a brilliant introduction by the translator, and provides an exceptional companion bringing relevance to each text and placing it within the context of the Buddhist path as a whole. The Texts: The Thirteenth Dalai Lama's A Brief Guide to the Buddhist Tantras is a wonderful and compelling overview of the Tantric path. In the second chapter the Seventh Dalai Lama provides a beautiful poem in relation to Heruka Chakrasamvara. In chapter three there is a wonderful commentary on the esoteric and profound practice of completion stage called the Six Yogas of Niguma by the Second Dalai Lama. In the next chapter we see a brief but beautiful text concerning Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion, in the form a poem. Next are the two texts related to the popular Kalachakra Tantra; the first is an introduction by the present Dalai Lama and the second is the First Dalai Lama's commentary on the generation and completion stages of Kalachakra. In chapter seven we find a rare glimpse into the highly esoteric from of transmission called Tantric Initiation into the life-practice of Hayagriva. Generally this text would be reserved solely for those who have received initiation into this very specialized and profound form of transmission. In chapter eight is the illuminating commentary to the two stages of Yamantaka or Vajrabhairava, this commentary although highly specialized penetrates deeply into the methods of progressing to enlightenment through this profound practice. Next is the Second Dalai Lama's explanation on how to survive solely small balls of flowers so that one may maintain strict meditation retreat under the harshest of conditions. And finally there is the Eight Dalai Lama's A Tantric Prayer. There is few alive today who could translate these texts with the accuracy and eloquence that Glenn Mullin has provided. Not only is he one of worlds foremost Tibetologist - living most of his adult life amongst the Tibetans - but he has the experience of a life-time of Buddhist practice, making him uniquely qualified. I would give this book the highest recommendation for anyone interested in Buddhist Tantra, the Dalai Lamas, or Tibet's mystical culture. This text is a must-have for anyone interested in the practice of Buddhist Tantra.