Book Description
From the author of The Secret Art of Seamm Jasani comes the definitive guide to the ancient defense-meditation art of Boabom.
The success of The Secret Art of Seamm Jasani by Asanaro surprised many who wondered whether a little-known Tibetan movement system would be able to compete with yoga, Spinning classes, and tai chi. After several printings and thousands of Seamm Jasani converts, the secret is out. Seamm Jasani schools have cropped up across the country, thanks to the popularity of Asanaro's book, and more people than ever are discovering Seamm Jasani. For students eager to continue learning about ancient Tibetan body movement arts, or for anyone curious about cutting-edge strength and spiritual training, The Secret Art of Boabom is a must read.
A cross between martial arts and yoga, Boabom is an ancient system of relaxation, meditation, breathing, and defense originating in pre-Buddhist Tibet. The movements contained within the collective "Arts" of Boabom are designed to develop vitality and internal energy, as well as mind and body balance, which are achieved through movements of defense, self-healing, relaxation, and meditation. Boabom provides quick relief from stress, and improves focus and confidence, as well as physical condition and mental well-being.
The Secret Art of Boabom includes detailed descriptions and more than three hundred instructional drawings of Boabom movements, as well as information about its positive effects. But The Secret Art of Boabom is more than just a how-to book. Combining the thrill of adventure nonfiction, the depth of history, and the profundity of philosophy along with the practicality of a guidebook, Asanaro offers this companion to those eager to explore the secrets of ancient Tibet in order to improve their health and well-being.
Customer Reviews:
Thoroughly engaging book... a great read and a helpful study tool.......2007-09-13
As a person studying Boabom and Seamm-Jasani (or Gentle Boabom) at the Boston School of Boabom, I have found this book to be one that I return to often for many reasons.
The book is engaging, entertaining and helpful. The story that the reader follows is filled with interesting and thought-provoking ideas to ponder. The story, which took hold of my imagination with it's very first sentence (try the Search Inside feature to get a taste of this), is both easy to follow, while at the same time somewhat mysterious. I feel compelled to re-read parts or all of it often.
As one begins to delve into the part of the book covering the physical movements of the art, there are many helpful tips to aid the reader in learning the movements. These movements are the tip of the iceberg, really, but are covered in great detail, allowing for a very good foundation with the Art. As the student advances through the movements, once again, it's always helpful to re-read and study the finer details.
After studying Boabom for a number of years now, I still find myself going to this book, along with Asanaro's other book, to polish and study the details and finer aspects of this Art.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to try a system of movement that is unique, always interesting and thoroughly invigorating. There is not enough space in this review for me to get into the health benefits I have experienced from studying the Arts. As well, it would be hard to describe in so few words the general overall positive shift in attitude that has come along with this. I am grateful for the discovery of these Arts, and am very happy that these books are available so that others far and wide may benefit from studying the Art as well.
Really good book-highly recommended........2007-01-19
Picked this book after a friend of mine kept on incessantly talking about it. A few pages on it and I realized why he liked it so much: the book starts with a nice story that introduces one in the 'lost teachings of this Art' in a simple yet very straight-forward way.
I kept on reading. I started liking it more and more.
Then you have the second section, which explains and clears how to work with this book, how to follow the chart in time (a very useful chart, I must add!!!). A very concise section, that explained all I would have asked a teacher.
I continued reading, and started doing the exercises.
The exercises themselves are simple and easy to follow. Nothing I couldn't follow (I have to say that my friend didn't have any problems himself following them either). The drawings are very good, and even though the author says he drew all of them himself, they have that 'je ne sais quoi'... they go with the book!
The book finishes explaining how the Boabom Schools work and with a scientific study. Also, and I think the author did the same in his previous book, there are comments from real students, people like me and my friend that take the classes or read the book and continue doing the exercises. Real people.
I will not debate on whether these teachings are ten billion years old or a modern creation: they work, and that is what matters. They make me feel great, renewed and refreshed, and they clear my mind of the habitual problems I worry about: work, money, daily stress, bills, being a 'professional procrastinator' and... well... my daily life.
Very good book. Especially considering that it is a book that tries to teach exercises, breathing techniques and coordinations, which is already hard with a teacher in front of you. I have to add that the author managed to do it flawlessly!
Everyone should read it.
a student's perspective.......2006-12-06
I am a student at the Boston School of Boabom, and have been studying the Boabom arts for a good while now under many teachers, including Asanaro himself. It's particularly interesting to me to look at this book as another method of expression for these teachings.
Perhaps most intriguing for me, as a student, is the "story" portion of the book, wherein a theoretical and philosophical underpinning for these arts is laid out in monologue and metaphor. Assertive and instructive without being preachy, this section is rich in meaning and provides much food for thought--for current students and newcomers alike.
The "technical" portion of the book lays out a sequence of basic movements from the beginnings of the art. Transmitting an art based on movement through the media of text and images is no mean feat; there's no substitute for teaching in the flesh. That said, I believe that Asanaro succeeds in conveying the essential elements of the movements with his thorough descriptions and detailed illustrations, expressing clearly the many details involved in each. The attention paid to common mistakes (and how to correct them) should be particularly useful for beginning students.
Boabom is an art that develops only over time, and is not for everyone. This book provides the newcomer with a glimpse of all the art has to offer. Some may find a resonance, and see here a hint of something both familiar and strange; others may find a curiosity, an old way carried carefully through the ages to the modern world. All will find something new, unique, and rewarding in equal measure to the energy invested in it.
The Secret Art of Boabom's impact upon my life........2006-12-05
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. I am constantly re-reading sections to better understand the Art and its meaning.
I am particularly impressed by the book's structure using a story to capture the reader's interest before delving into the technical aspects of the ART.
This book and the Art have had a profound impact upon me. I was in near constant pain when I started studying Boabom over 5 years ago. I am now able to participate in sports without pain. My outlook on life has changed I now look at the glass as half full rather than half empty.
Excellent book - motivating, exciting & full of energy!!!!.......2006-11-18
This book is a wonderful continuation of Asanaro's previous book called "The Secret Art of Seamm-Jasani". The story line continues from his first book. The author uses a number of beautiful poems and the plot of the story is breathtaking. The Art described here (Boabom or Osseous Boabom) is quite different from Seamm-Jasani (Gentle Boabom). The second part of the book is completely devoted to thorough explanations of this Art (including incredible drawings!) on how to begin practice of Boabom on your own. It is very straightforward and easy to follow. At the end of the book, a scientific study is presented along with comments from real students.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, and especially to those who are looking to tone their body, have better balance, learn how to defend themselves, and also to those who are on the lookout for great new literature.
Average customer rating:
- Take it from one who knows
- This is the beginning of a wonderful JOURNEY!!
- Great exercises to unblock stuck energy!
- Worthwhile in Spite of the Hype
- Great book!
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The Secret Art of Seamm Jasani: 58 Movements for Eternal Youth from Ancient Tibet
Asanaro
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ASIN: 158542241X
Release Date: 2003-06-19 |
Book Description
Seamm-Jasani, an ancient Tibetan movement system, teaches us how to look and feel younger than our biological age, to increase health and decrease illness, and to find inner peace, calm, and relaxation.
More than 10,000 years ago in the ancient Himalayan Mountains, an ancestral civilization committed itself to the study and development of the Science and Art for Eternal Youth. A form kept in close secrecy for millennia is now revealed for the first time in this practical and dynamic guidebook. The teachings focus on cultivating the powers of the individual's mind, the harmony of movements, and the discovery of internal potentialities as the ultimate force of self-healing to extend one's lifetime.
Comparable to a cross between yoga and tai chi, this ancient Tibetan system is designed to increase vitality, balance, and Inner Energy. The Secret Art consists of slow and fluid movements that improve coordination and strengthen equilibrium between body and mind through various breathing and movement techniques. In particular, Seamm-Jasani is known for its combination of relaxation, active motion, and breathing exercises.
Customer Reviews:
Take it from one who knows.......2007-09-27
Having practiced various martial arts, tai-chi, chi-gung, yoga and pilates for over 40 years this is by far the most effective and practical exercise I have encountered. By far. The book is excellent, the art of Seamm-Jasani is amazing.
First, I was able to actually learn it from the book. I read some reviews that call the author pompous and such but I did not get that from the book at all. He is blunt and unapologetic about preferring this gentler and less violent method of exercise to say karate or weight lifting or marathon training etc. Some others observed that this is simply chi-gung revisited. Apparently these people have not had any exposure to chi-gung other than by reading books. It is not warmed over chi-gung. There are some similarities but did it ever occur to those so-called critics that this art precedes chi-gung by millennia. Chi-gung is like Seamm-Jasani not the other way around. Besides, so the genesis of the art or even the author may be in question...the results are not.
My experience: I bought the book and practiced and learned many of the moves. I saw results very quickly and without any pain. I felt better, slept better and thought better after I started Seamm-Jasani. Mark me completely satisfied at that point.
Then I found out that Asanaro (the author) was conducting a weekend class at the Boston Baobom School in Brookline Ma. I live in Texas on modest means but I cashed in some miles and rewards points, signed up for the session and enjoyed the best training days of my life. It turns out that the book instructions were very good and I was doing most of the movements approximately right. But the weekend transcended the practice of Seamm-Jasani. Every member of the school staff and to my pleasant surprise, each participant were simply wonderful people.
As for the author himself, it would be hard to describe the humble, kind, almost monk-like Asanaro. The man exudes love, contentment and friendship. To say he is unique I would be guilty of vast understatement. He would patiently answer every question of every student until there were no more. He was such an amazing teacher that even people who had not read the book learned all the movements easily during the weekend's five mini workshops. His only request was not to practice the art in front of anyone because doing so would show ego and not be true to the energy of the art, which is after all, eternal youth and vitality. On that note I must add that upon my returning my friends and colleagues and co-workers could not stop talking about how much better I looked after my weekend trip.
Let me clear up some confusion about the so-called secret part of the art of Seamm-Jasani. Each student is shown and taught all the appropriate information for their level. Each level, provides more of the art but is given as the student demonstrates the commitment to the art. There were many questions I had about things during the session and many went politely unanswered. This did not bother me, as I knew that I was simply a beginner. Some people might have a problem with that, though I can hardly imagine why. The whole process, in fact the whole art, has tremendous integrity.
Great book, excellent instruction, easy to use and most of all it truly works. You may want to find and visit the Baobom website and see when they will repeat the course. It is priced incredibly low and no where near the value it provides for a lifetime.
This is the beginning of a wonderful JOURNEY!!.......2007-04-10
I am a former professional athlete and currently a martial arts practitioner for 10 years. I have been practicing this art for 3 months and I have read the book 3 times. Each practice session is a new journey. What makes this art unbelievable is that you do not have to practice each day to feel the benefits. The movements add benefit to everything you do. I would suggest this to all former athletes who want to feel the thrill of the energy of their playing days. I would also suggest to continue to read this book as it is full of clues to unlock personal limitations.
Many compliments to Asanaro for providing the road map to Discipline!!!
Great exercises to unblock stuck energy! .......2007-02-17
This book is fantastic and has just captivated me. I found it searching for simple and effective body-mind-spirit techniques to increase my healing power, stamina and body wisdom. Illness and emotional problems happen when our energy is blocked, but we all have inside the power to heal ourselves, and I have verified that these exercises are excellent to unblock stuck energy.
Most of the times we are so absorbed in what we are doing that we forget to move or even to breathe, with serious consequences to our health until we realize we need to change our habits.
The book explains through clear and easy to follow drawings and instructions 58 simple and effective exercises of breathing and movements, which now I know are essential for the free flow of energy through the body, producing immediate balance, health and well-being; of course that you need to be constant and follow the program given by the author.
I'm so happy to have discovered it! The practices have worked very good for me, proving once again that living a positive lifestyle can make a difference. Besides, the author has a corky sense of humor that really made me laugh.
I've become vital and healthy through these simple but powerful exercises, and they have absolutely given me a boost. An incredible energy practice!
Worthwhile in Spite of the Hype.......2005-12-09
I've done various exercise systems over the years and I'd say this one is far beyond all others in terms of giving a workout to the fingers and wrists, major sources of stress in the computer age. It is also a very methodical system, going step by step; for example, one exercise involves the legs, the next adds arm movements, and then another integrates breathing and visualization.
It seems to me that there are several key questions when trying to learn exercises from a book:
1. Are the exercises beneficial?
2. Are they explained clearly enough thru static images and words?
3. Are they presented in a way that encourages the learner to continue practicing them regularly?
I just completed the 12-week program in the Chart of Pedagogy and enthusiastically answer YES to all three questions. The system provides a thorough workout, carefully and compassionately filled with reminders not to push oneself. I found the reminders helpful because my initial stance was nowhere nearly as wide as that shown in the cover photo, but it increased as time went on. I should mention here that I'm over 50 years old.
The book has only a few minor flaws:
a. typo on page 68 (exercise 28 was already introduced in Week 3, so Week 4 should refer to exercise 35 instead)
b. exercise 11 on page 98 would be clearer if the arrow arc on the left side was swapped with the one on the right side
c. exercise 33 on page 126 has impossible arrows, which would make sense if the left and right ones were switched.
But the exercises constitute only about 100 pages of this 200-page book. If it focused exclusively on them, I'd rate it a 4 plus.
Before reaching the experiential part, the reader must wade thru more than 60 pages of background info, including an Introduction in which Asanaro portrays himself as a rebellious Prometheus who decided to teach against the advice of his guide. There is also the hype about Eternal Youth and the Art being 10,000 years old, as well as repetition of the urban legend that humans only use 10% of our brains. All this theory and preparation is chatty, but smooth narrative flow is not sufficient evidence of truth.
I suppose that having a school of meditation compels a teacher to explain how the exercises fit into broader goals, but Asanaro comes across as merely teasing: first hinting about advanced practices, then saying "That part of the art is secret and can't be taught through books." Then why mention it? In my opinion, keeping the book focused on the exercises would have been a clearer and cleaner approach, exuding the confident recognition that those who want more info will ask for it.
By the way, has anyone noticed a strong correlation in the feedback from fellow customers regarding whether a review is "helpful"? It seems that a review that gives this book 4 or 5 stars will get 90% "helpful" votes but any review that gives the book less than 4 stars gets under 50% "helpful" votes and is rebutted in a subsequent review. If someone feels disturbed by the few critical remarks I've made here, perhaps he or she should read my review of Halevi's book School of the Soul.
Great book! .......2005-11-11
I will reccomend this book to anyone! This is one of the best books!
Book Description
Secret Buddhism reveals the essentials of Vajrayana, mantras, empowerments, the six yogas of Naropa, Chod, Pure Land, and the six bardos. A history of the Kagyupa and Shangpa Lineages and some explanation of the principles of Tibetan medicine complete this survey of Tibetan Buddhism.
Customer Reviews:
Mostly standard, but also some real gems.......2005-12-03
This collection of topically arranged excerpts from various speeches is mostly pretty basic, but it does provide some interesting points on empowerments (see Tsele Natsok Rangdrol's Empowerment), Menla practices (see Thrangu Rinpoche's Medicine Buddha Teachings), Lojong mind training (see Pema Chödrön's Start Where You Are), chöd (see Jerome Edou's Machik Labdron & the Foundations of Chöd), & the Bardos (see Sogyal Rinpoche's The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying & Rangdrol's Mirror of Mindfulness). The collection as a whole is somewhat similar to Rangdrol's Heart of the Matter & Tulku Urgyen's Vajra Speech though they are a bit more advanced IMHO. It includes a number of line drawings (my favorite is the dancing skeletons), very concise & well-arranged excerpts, & a great many entertaining legends & teaching stories (including Shariputra's mother in hell saying the Mani automatically & the famous Buddha's/dog's tooth story). It also includes an exposition of the Shangpa/Karma Kagyu lineages including his disciple Bokar Rinpoche (Meditation Advice for Beginners & Opening the Door to Certainty) & a chapter on Tibetan medicine. His statement on the deities is quite interesting: p. 86: "The manifestation of peaceful & wrathful deities is not an external phenomenon, but the expression of the very dynamics of the pure nature of our mind, the tathagatagarbha. During our life, these deities are located in our body--the 42 peaceful deities are in the heart-the 58 wrathful deities are...at the summit of the head." He seems to provide a bridge between ancient mythology & elements of faith (e.g. Tibetan medicine addressing 3 humors & spirit possession) on the one hand; & modern science, psychology & scholarship on the other: thus, metaphysically: p. 132: "The universe is not absolute reality, but a projection of the mind of beings;" psychologically, p. 141: "Chöd is a profound practice using special methods to uproot the ego" & p. 170: "If its destiny is to take rebirth as a man it feels attraction for the future mother & aversion for the future father. If its destiny is to be reborn as a woman, it feels, on the contrary, attraction for the future father & aversion for the future mother" -highly reminiscent of Freud's Oedipus complex; historically, p. 181: "The sutras-the texts recording the teaching of the Hinayana & Mahayana-have their origin in Shakyamuni Buddha, the historical Buddha. Tantras-the texts containing the Vajrayana teachings-have been revealed by the Buddha Vajradhara (Tibetan, Dorje Chang) as an expression of the Dharmakaya." But, despite these gems, the book mostly contains standard information about Tibetan beliefs, has poor punctuation, & is mostly descriptive.
Authoritative detailed explanation of tantric Buddhism.......1999-09-28
This is the English translation of a compilation of edited transcriptions of recordings of various teachings given by the much-missed great Shangpa and Karma Kagyu master around the world. It appeared first in French and it contains some unfortunate and misleading errors (ignored for did not know, etc.) that give the impression that it was somewhat rushed into print, but no wonder. It is a true treasure. It is the third in a set: Excellent Buddhism concerning this master's own life and experiences, and Profound Buddhism about the general Hinayana-to-Mahayana approach are the other two. It is salted with many traditional accounts of the efficacy of the tantric (yoga) approach to the Dharma while placing it firmly within orthodox Buddhism. There is an explanation of the various classes of tantra, details of the preliminary (preparatory) practices and many other topics. Here is what you always wanted to know about the radical approach that is the Vajrayana taught in a straightforward and sensitive fashion.
Book 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 Mahayana 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.
Customer Reviews:
Superb book on tantric practices.......2006-08-14
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.......2006-03-18
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.......2005-09-20
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) seem to 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.......2003-11-27
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.......2003-02-01
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.
Book Description
For nineteenth-century adventures, Tibet was the prize destination, and Lhasa, its capital situated nearly three miles above sea level, was the grandest trophy of all. The lure of this mysterious land, and its strategic importance, made it inevitable that despite the Tibetans' reluctance to
end their isolation, determined travelers from Victorian Britain, Czarist Russia, America, and a half dozen other countries world try to breach the country's high walls.
In this riveting narrative, Peter Hopkirk turns his storytelling skills on the fortune hunters, mystics, mountaineers, and missionaries who tried storming the roof of the world. He also examines how China sought to maintain a presence in Tibet, so that whenever the Great Game ended, Chinese
influence would reign supreme. This presence culminated in the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1950s, and in a brief afterword, Hopkirk updates his compelling account of "the gatecrashers of Tibet" with a discussion of Tibet today-as a property still claimed and annexed by the Chinese.
Customer Reviews:
Journey to Tibet with other "tresspassers".......2007-04-23
Hopkirk stays on top of the world with this book!
Learn about the "real" Tibet[before China invaded]...
Documented history of Accessing Lhasa.......2007-03-08
An extensive review of the many attempts to gain access to the hidden city of Tibet. Well done, authoritative, exciting events in the time line of the many documented attempts to gain a look into the mysterious city that has been protected from outsiders for centuries. The reasons from military desires to the hope of finding hidden gold deposits are some of the many exploits of carefully planned adventures presented by Peter Hopkirk. They will keep your interest from beginning to end, guaranteed.
Gatecrashers and trespassers have not diminished the lure of Tibet........2006-08-30
Although extraordinary geography was the best natural defense the Tibetans had against foreign invaders, it can also be the sole reason that lures many a traveler, visitor, and tourists to Tibet to date. Of course, religion, spirituality, culture, art, and life on the high altitudes in the most extreme of climates are other reasons for venturing into this land. In Hopkirk's book, trespassing by foreigners, especially Europeans, was an extension of the Great Game, the struggle between Britain and Russia for expansionism in Central Asia. Military supremacy, a face-to-face encounter with the Dalai Lama, or recognition by the Royal Geographical Society and other prestigious societies at the time was the prize for people from different walks of life--missionaries, soldiers, geographers, naturalists---to venture into this forbidden land. Alas, no matter how well-guarded the country, especially Lhasa, was, the Tibetans' defense was no match to the military might of the British. China proved to be a formidable occupier as soon as the British lost their firm hold on Tibet during World War II. An American pilot was the first intruder from the air---by accident. Nonetheless, relentless trespassing by foreigners was the inevitable truth that many Tibetans must have found hard to swallow.
The book is a masterpiece of historical writing. Starting with Tibet's stupendous geography, the book segues on the origin of Tibetan Buddhism. Eventually the reader is initiated to the challenging craft of punditry, the only way the outside world could glean some scientific information on this forbidden land. If Hopkirk intended to instill wonder and suspense on the reader as he narrates a series of close calls by pundits and disguised explorers from being caught and daring-do attempts by intruders in order to be recognized as the first outsider to set foot on this forbidden land, he has succeeded. With exquisite writing style and a penchant for vivid description of people, places, and events, the book is a highly engaging read. Those who risked their lives and their families to venture into a forbidden land can be easily blamed for folly, but Hopkirk brings out the humanity in them. Every adventure is told so well that can make good reading anywhere and anytime. History reading can't get to be more fun that this!
Excellent!.......2006-05-09
This is a great book. It's a fast read, and is always full of anticipation and intrigue. Without unforeseen interruptions, you could probably finish this in 2-3 days.
Just like his other books in this series about Central Asia, Hopkirk's TRESPASSERS is a superb history of the region.
TRESPASSERS recounts the repeated attempts of the explorers that tried to enter the capitol of Tibet, Lhasa (and how the Tibetans succeeded and eventually failed at preventing them from entering).
The recounting of each adventurer's tale is just long enough to give the story "meat on the bones" to keep things interesting. But, the book is also still short enough so that the reader doesn't feel as if he/she is watching paint dry by reading about every last excrutiating detail.
Pulp History.......2005-08-20
If there's ever been a writer of history who captures the essence of Indiana Jones-style adventure, that man is Peter Hopkirk. Having made a career as Our-Man-in-Asia for the London Times, Hopkirk turned from writing news to writing history, in particular the often-overlooked history of Central Asia. He began this phase of his career by writing a history of European encroachment on the Silk Road. He followed this work with Trespassers on The Roof of The World. This history of "the secret exploration of Tibet" is an enjoyable blend of mystery, romance, adventure, history, and journalism.
Trespassers on the Roof of The World traces the history of colonial interlopers in their quest for the legendary city of Lhasa. Hopkirk follows the footsteps of the very first pundits who pioneered the mapping of Tibet and leads his readers through the bloody years of the Red Chinese Cultural Revolution. His treatment is both thorough and comprehensive. The reader first finds that the spirit of James Bond's "Q" was alive and well in the Survey of India, the chief repository of geographic intelligence during the Great Game. The early surveyor-spies for the British Empire were followed in turn by both Men-of-Science and Men (and, perhaps more prominently, Women)-of-God. Explorers of every cut and hue, and finally, the armies, both British and Chinese. Hopkirk treats each one, while intentionally glossing over some of the most celebrated of the Tibetan visitors, such as Heinrich Harrer.
As a collector of "rare books on Central Asia," Hopkirk makes ample use of the most obscure narratives and travel logs, in addition to the archives of the Survey of India and the Royal Geographic Society. Hopkirk's appeal as a writer is in his ability to take these dusty old diaries and bureaucratic reports and breath life into them. His journalistic style imbues the history with the urgency and import of an NBC News Special Report.
Another of Hopkirk's achievements is his ability to remain sympathetic with the Tibetan people without perpetrating the stereotype engendered by the Richard Gere and Company that the Tibetans were living an idyllic virtuous life of contemplation before the Chinese rolled in. Hopkirk points out that although Lhasa is the mysterious, romantic City of God, it was a squalid hellhole, which one source called, "A Metropolis of Filth." He recalls the incidents of monks fighting over young boys, citizens defecating in open cisterns in the streets, and a criminal justice system that frequently used removal of eyes and hands as punishment (the former being more frequent than the latter).
While his tone and style appeal to a popular audience, they do not detract from the book's scholarly endeavor to demonstrate that although it strove for centuries to remain cloistered from the outside world, Tibet has been a crucial character on the world stage.
Amazon.com
Author James Redfield takes readers to the mountains of Tibet in search of the mythical place called Shambhala, otherwise known as Shangri-La. Like his previous bestselling books, Redfield holds the tension between an adventure travel story (in this book, armed Chinese soldiers doggedly pursue him) and divine encounters. Rather than preach his spiritual beliefs, Redfield likes to portray himself as a naive pilgrim, receiving wisdom and insights from the various guides and teachers he meets on his metaphysical journeys.
Shambhala is indeed a paradise, just as it was lovingly portrayed in the famous James Hilton novel Lost Horizon. It is also a spiritual utopia, and Redfield takes great pleasure in pondering the possibilities of living in a culture that is entirely "focused on the life process." Residents explain their lifestyle, which has emerged from a completely spiritual culture, including some rather sensible opinions about technology, parenting, and even genetic testing. Meanwhile, Redfield remains the wide-eyed observer. Those who loved the characters, writing style, and epiphanies in The Celestine Prophecy will not be disappointed with Redfield's latest inspirational portrait of a new world order. --Gail Hudson
Book Description
Continuing the action-packed adventures begun in The Celestine Prophecy and The Tenth Insight, The Secret of Shambhala opens with a search for the legendary Tibetan-Buddhist utopia of Shambhala (or Shangri-La), a magical place that not only truly exists, but is destined to be found and understood in our time. Following a childs instructions and led by fascinating synchronicity, we cross the Himalayas and discover a mysterious community set high on a Tibetan mountain range where the spiritual future of mankind is already being lived. Overcoming Chinese interference and the tests of the mysterious Dakini (the otherworldly guardians of Shambhala) we finally discover the secret of this idealistic way of life, and understand how it will now begin to move into the rest of the world. The Celestine Prophecy has sold over eight million hardcover copies worldwide, and was the bestselling novel in the world in 1995 and 1996. The Tenth Insight, Redfields sequel to The Celestine Prophecy, has over 1.2 million hardcover copies in print and remained on the New York Times bestseller list for 24 weeks, peaking at #2. Also available as a Time Warner AudioBook.
Download Description
Millions have experienced the insights of James Redfield's works and embraced the emerging worldview that they offer. International bestsellers that have sold over 8.5 million copies in more than thirty-five countries, The Celestine Prophecy and The Tenth Insight have helped people all over the world open up to a new sense of personal destiny and purpose. Continuing the exciting adventures of The Celestine Prophecy and The Tenth Insight, this new book takes you to the snow-covered Himalayas in search of the legendary Tibetan utopia of Shambhala. As you follow a child's instructions, are pursued by hostile Chinese agents, and look for a lost friend, you will experience a new awareness of synchronicity . . . and discover, hidden among the world's highest mountains, the secrets that affect all humanity. For Shambhala not only actually exists, but is destined to be found in our time--and will reveal powerful truths that can transform the world.
Customer Reviews:
The Secret of Shambala.......2007-07-03
Must read - logical sequence to Celestine Prophecy and Tenth Insight. Just helps to raise your own spiritual knowledge. Excellent!
reader.......2007-05-19
A wonderful book. A must have for all Celestine prophecy readers. Really gives you a lot to think about. Opens your mind.
Further Spiritual Insights.......2007-05-16
James Redfield continues to offer further spiritual insights after writing The Celestine Prophecy and The Tenth Insight: Holding the Vision (Celestine Prophecy)which are two fabulous books on spiritual adventure and transformation.
This book is the Eleventh Insight and takes place in Tibet and we are offered a glimpse of a spiritual worldview that holds harmony between people and nature and where spirituality guides all aspects of life. It isn't something you do on certain days but it is lived in daily interactions. Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives is also another wonderful book.
All these books offer a vision for a new world based on higher spiritual principles. A current book that furthers the spiritual vision is called Nexus: A Neo Novel. We can share in its insights and let our friends know about it. Through these inspiring books we can change lives.
Raves for Shambhala.......2007-05-07
This is my second copy of this book. Redfield has created another winner. It's not so much about the culmination of the journey, but the journey itself. Chapter three was illuminating with discussing diet as an important part of the path to enlightenment, yet other books on spiritual matters don't seem to approach this concept.
Highly repetative - mildy interesting........2007-01-21
Unlike Redfields previous two books, The Secret of Shambhala was more of the same, told in every angle, for 250 pages.
The dialogue between the characters was very basic and they lacked any depth in personality. Throughout the book, redfield merely walked his characters to new locations, rehashed what needed to be learned in order to "proceed" and occasionally attempted to mix things up with an already overused (in the celestine prophecy and 10th insight) chase by goverment officials, resulting in a highly anti climatic end where the main character finds shambhala.
Although Redfield conveyed some interesting themes, such as prayer fields, he could have done so in a more origional and interesting fashion.
I would only reccomend this book if you have read Redfields previous two books and dont mind his repetative style of writing.
Book Description
One of the few texts dealing with the spiritual evolution of a female aspirant.
Customer Reviews:
The life and times of a female Tantrika.......2007-08-02
This book is a wonderful addition to the library of any Tantrik practitioners. Yeshe Tsogyel was an incarnation of the Goddess Sarasvati, and this book documents her life and adventures. I found it a little tough to get into the language at first, but then I was hooked!
"yes I said yes I will Yes".......2005-08-11
Keith Dowman has had the extraordinary good fortune of learning (and learning well) from very skilled teachers, among the best really, including Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche and Dudjom Rinpoche. The reader of Dowman's translation benefits much from the depth of his learning and engagement with the material.
And what material! What a joy it is to read psychotropic hagiography, the revelation of many gifted hands. (This text is a terma, or what Gurdjieff might call a 'legominism.' Interested?) In short: first order reading of first order importance for men and women engaged in the Tantric Buddhist path, and those interested therein.
A weakness: I found some of Dowman's exclamations on gender in the commentary a bit undercooked. Just to listen in, I would love to share a pot of coffee with him and Judith Simmer-Brown (have you read her book Dakini's Warm Breath yet? Good stuff, mate!). At least Dowman's honest and well-intentioned.
Thinley Norbu Rinpoche's forward is perhaps as indelible as any other aspect of this text; the interested reader may wish to explore his volume Magic Dance, regarding the manifestation of the dakini.
Finally: Tarthang Tulku's translation of this biography, entitled Mother of Knowledge, is very much worth the reader's time and attention.
Homage to the dakinis!
woman buddha.......2000-08-04
yeshe tsogyal. apology accepted if you don't know of her. she is the consumate female yogi, and the events of her life-story, with its sweet and bitter struggles as a stunning village-beauty offerred in marriage to the king of tibet, to her tantric initiation and education and subsequent practice (under the guidance of her consort padmasambhava, the mystic yogi credited with bringing tantra to tibet), all serve to exemplify the triumph over ignorance and suffering. this book is heavy at times (she went through some tuff stuff) but you will be a better woman for reading it (males and females alike!)
Book Description
The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel is the definitive biography of the explorer Lawrence Durrell called "the most astonishing woman of our time." Alexandra David-Neel was the first European to explore Tibet at a time when foreigners were banned; few have led a life of adventure to equal hers or made so much of it.
In Tibet and Sikkim, David-Neel lived among hermits and shamans while studying first hand the secret mystical practices of Tibetan Buddhism, including out-of-body travel, telepathy, vampiric shamanism, and tantric sex. After returning to France, she wrote more than thirty books, among them My Journey to Lhasa and Magic and Mystery in Tibet. She has had a profound influence on Beat culture and the emergence of American Buddhism.
Drawing from rare source material, including information obtained from the secret files of the India office, Barbara and Michael Foster have written a vividly detailed chronicle-of both David-Neel's quest to conquer her personal demons and of the outer journey that made her one of the most celebrated figures of her day.
Customer Reviews:
A woman explorer .......2005-09-21
Alexandra David-Neel is reputed to be the first Western woman to reach the forbidden city of Lhasa, Tibet. She did so in 1924, a small woman in her mid-50s, disguised as a beggar and accompanied only by her adopted Tibetan son. This was the highlight of a life that lasted until 1969 when she died at age 100.
As the authors point out, however, practically nothing can be said with surety about Mme. David-Neel. One biographer has even claimed that she fabricated the whole story of visiting Lhasa. Probably not -- although she fabricated a lot and was hardly of unimpeachable character. As a matter of fact, although the authors are very respectful of her, she seems a thoroughly selfish, self-centered and repellent person.
David-Neel was a serious student of Buddhism and wrote many books on the subject. One of the juiciest parts of the book concerns the question of whether she participated in group Tantric sex rituals. The authors conclude she probably did.
David-Neel's religion had nothing to do with morality, and it seems unlikely that she ever found inner peace from her Buddhist rituals as she suffered from an endless variety of mental and physical ills. Still, living to be 100 is quite an accomplishment...
Alexandra David-Neel was an opera singer, a hardy and determined traveler, a student of religion, a writer, and a public figure of some note. Some of her papers are still unreleased so the final word about her character and achievements is still to be said. In the meantime this is an entertaining and well-researched biography.
Smallchief
Read Alexandra's own 'My Journey to Lhasa'.......2002-12-24
The best chapters of 'The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel:'
owe much to Alexandra's own account of her journey to Lhasa. Her own books are wonderful to read, all of them , but in particular her 'My Journey to Lhasa' Beacon Press republished it as a paperback in 1993, ISBN 0-8070-5903-X
I can guarantee you will have a most enjoyable read.
Fascinating Biography.......2001-11-01
It is my great pleasure to let Amazon readers know about the exploits of Alexandra David-Neel, the explorer of Tibet, which the Fosters chronicle so vividly in the biography, THE SECRET LIVES OF ALEXANDRA DAVID-NEEL. This bio reads more like a novel or adventure tale due to the wonderfully-detailed scenes with such authentic touches I felt as if I were truly there, and often worried about David-Neel's ability to survive. Obviously the Fosters have done their research incredibly well and write graceful,lucid prose; I was captivated from the first sentence and actually resented having to put down the book to take care of chores. This is is one of the best biographies I have ever read. The story cries out to be told visually on the big screen.
Unique Woman Explorer at Turn of Century.......2001-09-16
Little known crossdressing Victorian Frenchwoman undertakes a dangerous journey of discovery in forbidden country disguised as a monk and lives to tell her tale to the world. Thoroughly well researched,and well crafted The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel is the biography of a remarkable woman. A woman born to the mannered and circumscribed Victorian era who chose to strike out on her own initiative to explore the spiritual secrets and she was among the first Europeans to report about it from inside to the rest of the world.
I found it a fascinating read about a remarkable woman of whom I knew nothing, a woman who accomplished amazing things in her life. I recommend this biography by Barbara and Michael Foster to anyone interested in tales of high adventure in exploration, in the golden age of exploration and of unknown exotic lands. If the story of resolutely fearless woman pursuing her dream of exploring Forbidden Tibet whets your appetite I recommned you read this well crafted biography. I can recommend it without reservation. ZaneMason
Unique Woman Explorer at Turn of Century.......2001-09-16
Little known crossdressing Victorian Frenchwoman undertakes a dangerous journey of discovery in forbidden country disguised as a monk and lives to tell her tale to the world. Thoroughly well researched,and well crafted The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel is the biography of a remarkable woman. A woman born to the mannered and circumscribed Victorian era who chose to strike out on her own initiative to explore the spiritual secrets and she was among the first Europeans to report about it from inside to the rest of the world.
I found it a fascinating read about a remarkable woman of whom I knew nothing, a woman who accomplished amazing things in her life. I recommend this biography by Barbara and Michael Foster to anyone interested in tales of high adventure in exploration, in the golden age of exploration and of unknown exotic lands. If the story of resolutely fearless woman pursuing her dream of exploring Forbidden Tibet whets your appetite I recommned you read this well crafted biography. I can recommend it without reservation. ZaneMason
Average customer rating:
- I thought David-Néel was DEAD
- Entertaining Read, Not a Book for Practising Magic
- Good, but uneven in its accessibility.
- Pleasent blend of theory and practicality, but too short!
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Occult Tibet: Secret Practices of Himalayan Magic
J.H. Brennan
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
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ASIN: 0738700673 |
Customer Reviews:
I thought David-Néel was DEAD.......2004-05-09
Okay. So I get this book. I read it.
I'm stupider when I finish than when I start.
As a student of Bon & Buddhism and of the languages and cultures related to it, I can confidently say that this book is a load of rehashed Orientalist crap. What is the point of this idiotic, new age crap? There is nothing in it that has value. It's regurgitated old mumbo-jumbo by 19th century spiritualists and a good third of it has NOTHING TO DO WITH TIBET.
If you want to learn something about "occult" Tibet, read Tibetan books. The ones that aren't classed as "spiritually dangerous" are available in translation.
But don't use the recommended translations from the book. Like most fundies, the author thinks aged translations (i.e. like the supposed superiority of the King James Version of the Bible) are intrinsically better. Skip Evans-Wentz and read the "Life of Milarepa" translated by Lobsang Lhalungpa.
Ooh, let's take an archaic, outdated translation by an Orientalist occultist over the widely accepted and long-standing translation by a native speaker with actual Buddhist and linguistic training. Yeah, right. Kinda sums up the book in general.
My advice? Find a TEACHER. It's not rocket science.
Entertaining Read, Not a Book for Practising Magic.......2002-10-24
The information provided is rather skimpy but the "light" treatment makes it an entertaining read for those who have no idea at all of Tibetan magic. If you want a better exposure of the practices, look for books on the Six Yogas of Naropa and also books written by Alexandra David-Neel.
Good, but uneven in its accessibility........2002-07-24
I must first state that I have only completed an initial reading of this book, and I have not yet attempted to practice any of the exercises. At times, I found this work to be profoundly informative and engrossing. However, it seemed to me that the author did not keep a steady focus on the identity of his audience. Too many of the relatively few pages of this book were written in an effort to convince a skeptic of the powers of, say, visualization or the existence of past lives. I think these were wasted pages as Mr. Brennan could have easily assumed that his reader needed no convincing. Further, a few too many pages strayed from the Tibetan systems of mystical practice to detail Western techniques and practices, which are widely available elsewhere and detracted from the focus of the book. My final criticism is that a lot of the material is somewhat inaccessible. While Tibetan mysticism may well lay largely beyond the grasp of the Western mind, there are simple things the author could have done to ameliorate this somewhat. For example, in the section about Tumo, he could have suggested a course of study similar stating when you should move on from one exercise to another. I have no idea whether I should complete all of the preliminary exercises in one sitting or seperately, and whether they need to be practiced in conjunction with the remaining exercises each time, or whether they can be perfected and then replaced with the advanced exercises. In addition, perhaps he could suggest alternatives to visualizing complex Tibetan letters, which I doubt have any inherent power other than the cultural significance attributed to them over time, which most Western readers will lack. I plan to draw the letters over and over while meditating on their alleged significance before attempting any of these visualizations. The value of this book would have been augmented had Mr. Brennan suggested similar techniques for making the visualizations meaningful and accessible.
That said, this book contained very interesting information about karma, Tibetan mystical practice, and the history of Tibet. The segments on sound and the Tibeten understanding of the body's subtle energy systems and chakras were particularly informative. I also found the summation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead to be succinct and informative.
In all, I was not dazzled by this book, but it contains a lot of potentially useful information, provided you have the skill, time, and perseverence to find ways to make it accessible to you personally.
Pleasent blend of theory and practicality, but too short!.......2002-06-24
Though we may harvest for paper all the Earth's trees, and on them print every known datum of Tibetan spiritual systems, the ultimate cavernous depths remain secluded. Even having the procedures of the ancient rituals written in detail gains us nothing without the ability to properly digest and experience the wisdom internally. J.H. Brennan knew well these barriers, yet he proceeds to offer a functional glimpse into, and a taste of the Tibetan spiritual experience within the pages of Occult Tibet: Secret Practices of Himalayan Magic. In this work, Brennan unfolds the history, philosophy, and mindscapes of the humans that grew upon the icy, wind whipped rocks of the Tibetan plateau.
Much of the book consists of a brief, concise overview of the historical and philosophical aspects of the intricate Tibetan magical protocols. Brennan goes the extra mile to offer correlations between ancient paranormal rituals and modern scientific experimentation. I particularly enjoyed his musings on the physical power of sonic energy and have applied much of his theory in my own use of ritual harmonics. Brennan even supplies the reader with several basic, yet powerful, protocols which allow direct experience of Himalayan Magic. I found the procedure for raising basal body temperature, known as "Tumo," effective even in the abbreviated form that Brennan offers within this short book. Also, in the chapter on reincarnation, the author offers effective suggestions for initiating and structuring past life regressions. The book also touches on methods of lucid dreaming, and dream yoga, and methods to employ Tibetan meditative symbology.
I have added to my own personal grimoire several of the magical exercises presented in this work. This book allows a surprisingly deep philosophical and experiential understanding of Tibetan magical systems. Brennan's ability to weave a skillful pattern of theory and practice makes the spirituality of this book easily digestible, and therefore, ultimately, useful. Due to this balance of philosophy and protocol I consider this book an important and functional part of my library of magical systems. I have only one complaint: I wish Brennan had written two or three thousand pages of theory and exercises instead of just under two hundred. Otherwise, I consider Occult Tibet an important and worthwhile read.
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Move over, Robert Thurman--Tibetan Buddhism has a new secular prophet. Learned, articulate, and devoted to his subject, Reginald Ray writes about Tibetan Buddhism as an insider and as a teacher who gets his point across quickly and clearly, without dross or hyperbole. Following the success of Indestructible Truth, his general introduction to the history, sects, and forms of Tibetan Buddhism, Ray now tackles the more subtle and esoteric side of vajra, or indestructibility. Divided into four parts, the first section sets the historical stage. In the second, we enter the unique universe of tantra--the limitations of thought, the use of mandalas, the devotion to a teacher. Here Ray also introduces practice with personal deities and the inner yogas that explore the "subtle, energetic dimensions of the body." Part 3 is devoted the twin pinnacles of Tibetan Buddhism, mahamudra and dzogchen, which ultimately both teach the complete ordinariness of enlightened existence. In Part 4, Ray explains a variety of practices related to dying, incarnate lamas, and the retreat. Throughout, the reader gets the sense that Ray is a teacher with the priceless ability to transmit his vast knowledge to outsiders. --Brian Bruya
Book Description
This book provides an entrée into the Tantric (or Vajrayana) Buddhism of Tibet, as conveyed by Tibetan masters teaching in the West, and as received by their Western students. The Tantric tradition is a unique collection of lesser-known texts, concepts, and meditation practices that are usually made available only to experienced and specially initiated practitioners. The "Vajra World" ( vajradhatu in Sanskrit) is a realm of indestructibility, the level of reality beyond all thought and imagination, all impermanence and change, which a fully realized person knows and inhabits. Used metaphorically, "Vajra World" refers to the traditional culture of Tibet and the unique spirituality that is its secret strength. Topics include: The tantric view of human nature and the external world The special role of the guru, or tantric mentor The preliminary practices that prepare the student for full initiation The major dimensions of Vajrayana practice, including visualizations, liturgies, and inner yogas The tradition of the tulku, or incarnate lama The lore surrounding the death of ordinary people and of saints The practice of solitary retreat, the epitome of traditional Tibetan Buddhism Secret of the Vajra World is the companion volume to the author's earlier book, Indestructible Truth: The Living Spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism. While that book focuses on the history, cosmology, philosophy, and practice of the more public, exoteric side of Tibetan Buddhism, this work treats its more hidden and esoteric aspects as they take shape in Vajrayana. Together, the two volumes provide a broad introduction to the major traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
Customer Reviews:
Everything you wanted to know about Tibetan Buddhism - without taking vows.......2007-04-09
This two-volume introduction to Tibetan Buddhism was written primarily for the author's students at the University of Colorado and at Naropa University (North America's only accredited Buddhist university). Across both books professor Reginald A Ray provides what is perhaps the most thorough modern grounding in the history, philosophy and practice of Tibetan Buddhism.
The first volume, Indestructible Truth, begins with a rather dry recitation of the principle names, dates, and trends in the history of Buddhism as it came from India to Tibet and as it developed in the latter over the past two millennia. A more lively middle section covers assumptions common to all schools of Buddhism, warmly and wittily illustrated with anecdotes from the lives of Buddhist saints as well as the author's personal and professional life. The book closes with a rushed overview of Buddhist philosophy that is often more confusing than enlightening.
This is partly made up for in the second volume, Secrets of the Vajra World, with more detailed explanations and examples, but besides the sorely needed review of philosophy there is also a 100-page summary of concepts that don't require recapitulation unless perhaps you've missed Indestructible Truth. The second volume is much heavier reading than the first, if only because Ray has a wider canvas in Indestructible Truth. In Secrets he has to plod through the minutiae of Mahamudra and Dzokchen, the two primary schools of Tibetan meditation, elaborate and multifaceted practices. The volume concludes with chapters on the lives of tulkus, the reincarnated Buddhist masters, and a riveting recounting of the miraculous passing of one such master in an American hospital.
Despite the title of the second volume, very few "secrets" are revealed. Besides being a well-read scholar, Ray is also a committed Buddhist and mediation instructor and is unwilling to disclose secret meditation methods. Unfortunately, he also seems unwilling to challenge any of the assumptions he so carefully explains for his students and readers. To his credit, Ray acknowledges the difficulties western practitioners and students have with ideas such as reincarnation, the worship of deities, the guru-student relationship, and karma and free will. He often provides alternative ways of viewing some of these concepts, such as the Six Realms of Existence (in the Wheel of Life) as psychological states, but never once challenges them. And in that sense, while Ray is to be admired as a great preserver and presenter of tradition, he never impresses as an original thinker.
Read these books to know what has come before. To see where Buddhism is headed, including Tibetan Buddhism in North America, you might like to sample the three volumes of Shambala Sun's series, Best Buddhist Writing, or have a look at Stephen Batchelor's Buddhism without Beliefs.
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The best primer on Tibetan Buddhism........2007-02-26
While I was attracted to this book by the gorgeous graphic design and illustration, I was more than a bit intimidated. As interested as I am in this topic, I assumed this book would be way over my head. At best, I hoped this 2-volume set of 500-page books might replace Hegel's "Phenomenology of Spirit" as my bathroom doorstop.
No so. This is a terrific book, even for non-specialists. Ray articulates his goals for this "circumscribed, nontechnical introduction to Tibetan Buddhism" as follows: to "(1) provide an outline to the subject in relatively short compass; (2) not be overly technical or burdened with the myriad details of Tibetan Buddhist history; (3) address the spirituality or "practice" of the tradition, rather than focus primarily on philosophy, dogma, institutional life, or political history; (4) give due attention to the "Practice Lineage" traditions such as the Nyingma and the Kagyu, which are often underplayed in this story; and (5) try to strike a balance between my own Western perspective and that of Tibetans speaking about their own traditions in their own voices." He achieves each of these admirably.
Of course, it's not an easy read; this book and its companion are densely packed with information. But most the terminology is layed out in logical sequence, without discontinuity or digressions. This ethereal topic has a strange way of escaping the student's intellectual grasp. Authors in this area use terms (e.g. "emptiness") that -while apparently crystal clear to accomplished meditators- are largely inaccessible to "book students." I understand the teachers' hesitance to reduce Buddhist concepts to abstract defintions, but non-answers like "Zen is three pounds of flax" can be pretty infuriating for the newbee. That's why I was pleasantly surprised to find that Ray just goes ahead and defines terms without a bunch of qualifications.
Finally, the author comes up with some really poetic langauage like: "Old Tibet [...] lay close upon the incandescent sea [of the] turbulent burning wisdom of reality."
This is a book to study - to be read and re-read.
An excellent scholarly work for serious students.......2006-05-25
Reginald Ray's "Secret of the Vajra World" is the second volume of a two volume set put out by Shambhala Publications on Tibetan Buddhism. The other companion book is called "Indestructible Truth." Together, these books present a comprehensive and scholarly overview of Tibetan Buddhism.
While these books are very interesting, they present a lot of detail and are difficult to enjoy if you don't already have a good foundation knowledge of the topic. For those who are just starting out, I recommend "Introduction to Tantra" by Lama Yeshe or one of the many other excellent books referred to in some of the reviews below.
If you are a serious student of Tibetan Buddhism, these two volumes are an excellent reference. Although I have read them through once, I primarily use them to look up questions that I have or to establish context when I am reading other books on the topic.
If you are very new to Tibetan Buddhism and you want something that is much less esoteric or intimidating, then I would consider "The Art of Happiness" by the Dalai Lama. While this is not a book on Tibetan Buddhism as such, it presents a lot of the important principles in a way that is understandable to almost anyone. It is co-authored by Dr. Howard Cutler who is a psychiatrist. I found his commentary helps bridge the gap between East and West for people who are completely new to this worldview.
Read this after you've been on the road awhile.......2003-05-14
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Despite its unfortunate title, this is one of the most readable and informative books I've read about Tibetan Tantra. It's not a "first book" -- not one of those books that makes converts, like Walpola Rahula's "What the Buddha Taught," or the Dalai Lama's "Art of Living," or Suzuki Roshi's "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind." Those books distill the Buddhism into a single powerful, moving message, leaving behind everything distracting or extraneous -- they're basically the Four Noble Truths, told again, told new. If you want a simple introduction to Buddhism, read one of those, not this.
This is a completely different kind of book. It's full of details and byways. What's the difference between Nyingma, Gelugpa, Kagyu, and Sakya? What are the four different Ngondro practices? What's a Yidam? What's Tummo? What are all those Kayas, and how do they signify? How is Mahamudra different from Dzogchen?
If you're not already a Tibetan Buddhist, you probably don't want to know these things. If you just became one, don't mess with all that stuff yet: find a good teacher, listen to what he or she says, ask a lot of questions, and meditate a lot.
This is, however, a great book for a year or two down the road, when you've settled down to some practice and are starting to get irritated by all the terminology you still don't know, and all the references to persons, places, practices, and things that everyone seems to think you'd just magically already know about. This book is sort of like that trusted friend you sidle up to after puja to ask, "so just what *is* a Bhumi, anyway?"
Not that The Secret of the Vajra World doesn't have its inspiring moments. The story of the 16th Karmapa's death in a Western hospital is very moving, as are the
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