The Dawn of Tantra

by Guenther, Herbert V.; Trungpa, Chogyam

• ISBN13: 9781570628962
• ISBN10: 1570628963
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-11-13
• Publisher: Shambhala

Summary

Westerners wanting to know about tantra-particularly the Buddhist tantra of Tibet-often find only speculation and fancy. Tibet has been shrouded in mystery, and "tantra" has been called upon to name every kind of esoteric fantasy. InThe Dawn of Tantrathe reader meets a Tibetan meditation master and a Western scholar, each of whose grasp of Buddhist tantra is real and unquestionable. This collaboration is both true to the intent of the ancient Tibetan teachings and relevant to contemporary Western life.

Author Biography

Herbert V. Guenther is Professor Emeritus of Far Eastern Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. Among his many published works are his translation of The Life and Teaching of Naropa and The Dawn of Tantra. Master of meditation, social visionary, author, artist, poet—Ch÷gyam Trungpa (1939–1987) founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, the first Buddhist university in North America; the Shambhala Training program; and Vajradhatu, an international association of meditation centers (now known under the name Shambhala International).

Table of Contents

Tantra: Its Origin and Presentation	1	(5)
Herbert V. Guenther
Laying the Foundation	6	(6)
Chogyam Trungpa
Yogacara and the Primacy of Experience	12	(9)
Herbert V. Guenther
The Mandala Principle and the Meditative Process	21	(5)
Chogyam Trungpa
The Indivisibility of Openness and Compassion	26	(8)
Herbert V. Guenther
The Development of Shunyata	34	(7)
Chogyam Trungpa
The Guru-Disciple Relationship	41	(6)
Herbert V. Guenther
Visualization	47	(6)
Chogyam Trungpa
Empowerment and Initiations	53	(10)
Herbert V. Guenther
Questions and Answers: Guenther	63	(15)
Herbert V. Guenther
Questions and Answers: Rinpoche	78
Chogyam Trungpa