Principles of Buddhist Tantra

Kirti Tsenshap, Ian Coghlan, Voula Zarpani, Ian Coghlan, Voula Zarpani

• Publisher: Wisdom Publications
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN:
  9780861712977
• eBook ISBN:
  9780861716883
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Buddhism

Kirti Tsenshap Rinpoche was a renowned teacher of Tibetan Buddhism with students worldwide. Revered as a teacher by even the Dalai Lama, he was known especially as a master of Buddhist tantra, the powerful esoteric methods for attaining enlightenment swiftly. The teachings in this book are a singular record of his deep learning in that field. Originally delivered in California to a group of Western students, the teachings comment on a classic introduction to tantra by the nineteenth-century Mongolian lama Choje Ngawang Palden. The work, Illumination of the Tantric Tradition, is a staple even today of the curriculum for training young monastics.Kirti Tsenshap Rinpoche explains the distinctive features of the four classes of tantra--action tantra, performance tantra, yoga tantra, and highest yoga tantra--by describing the way to progress through their paths and levels. He illuminates key issues in tantric practice that are still a matter for debate within the tradition. Finally, he gives a special treatment of the unique methods of Kalacakra tantra, which is regularly taught around the globe by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Introduction
• ILLUMINATION OF THE TANTRIC TRADITION
• Introduction
• PART I - The Three Lower Tantras
• PART 2 - Mainstream Highest Yoga Tantra
• PART 3 - Kālacakra Tantra
• APPENDIX - Tables
• Notes
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Index
• About the Contributors
• About Wisdom Publications
• Copyright Page