Tantra: The Foundation of Buddhist Thought

Description

There are a great many books now available describing the complex rituals and esoteric significance of the ancient practices of Buddhist tantra. But none take the friendly, helpful approach of Geshe Tashi Tsering's Foundation of Buddhist Thought series. Understanding the many questions Westerners have upon first encountering tantra's colorful imagery and veiled language, Geshe Tsering gives straight talk about deities, initiations, mandalas, and the various stages of tantric development. He even goes through a simple tantric compassion practice written by the Dalai Lama, using it t.  Read more... Abstract: There are a great many books now available describing the complex rituals and esoteric significance of the ancient practices of Buddhist tantra. But none take the friendly, helpful approach of Geshe Tashi Tsering's Foundation of Buddhist Thought series. Understanding the many questions Westerners have upon first encountering tantra's colorful imagery and veiled language, Geshe Tsering gives straight talk about deities, initiations, mandalas, and the various stages of tantric development. He even goes through a simple tantric compassion practice written by the Dalai Lama, using it t Content: List of Tables Publisher's Acknowledgment Foreword Preface 1. The Uniqueness of Tantra Sutra and Tantra Tantra and the Mahayana The Prerequisites The Vajrayana Was Taught by the Buddha Vajrayana and Its Many Names The Unique Features of Vajrayana The Four Complete Purities Vajrayana Combines Method and Wisdom Deity Yoga Practicing Deity Yoga The Three Aspects of Deity Yoga Utilizing Afflictive Emotions on the Path 2. Entering the Vajrayana The Door to the Vajrayana The Vajra Master and the Vajra Disciple Guru Yoga The Initiation The Purpose of an Initiation. The Preliminary Stages of an InitiationThe Main Initiation The Mandala Vows and Commitments 3. The Lower Tantras The Differences among the Four Classes of Tantra Internal and External Activities Subduing the Vital Wind Yoga with Sign The Concentration of the Four Branches of Recitation The Concentrations of Abiding in Fire and Abiding in Sound Yoga without Sign 4. Practicing Kriya Tantra A Kriya Tantra Sadhana Offerings The Sadhana Refuge and Purification The Purification of the Place Visualizing the Merit Field The Seven-Limb Prayer and Mandala Offering. The Main Deity PracticePranayama A Passport to a New Universe 5. Preparation for Highest Yoga Tantra The Many Deities within Vajrayana An Overview of the Generation Stage Preparation for Practicing the Generation Stage Death, Intermediate State, and Rebirth The Eight Dissolutions of Ordinary Death The Ordinary Intermediate State The Ordinary Rebirth The Four Levels of Achievement 6. Practicing the Generation Stage Before the Actual Practice The Three Components of the Guhyasamaja Sadhana The Yoga of Taking Death as the Dharmakaya into the Path The Eight Dissolutions. The Base, Path, and Result in the Death PracticeThe Yoga of Taking the Intermediate State as the Sambhogakaya into the Path The Base, Path, and Result in the Bardo Practice The Yoga of Taking Rebirth as Nirmanakaya into the Path 7. The Nature of the Body and Mind Coarse, Subtle, and Very Subtle Body and Mind Channels, Chakras, Winds, and Drops Channels Chakras Loosening the Knots Winds Drops The Enlightenment Process Emptiness and Bliss Emptiness, Bliss, and the Meaning of Evam The Union of Emptiness and Great Bliss 8. The Six Levels of the Completion Stage Physical Isolation. The Actual Meditation of Physical IsolationThe Post-Meditation Session Tumo Practice Verbal Isolation The Mantra-Drop Meditation The Light-Drop Meditation The Substance-Drop Meditation Mental Isolation The Two Levels of Mental Isolation The Action Seal The Illusory Body Clear Light Union Learner's Union Non-Learner's Union No-More Learning Appendix 1 The Inseparability of the Guru and Avalokiteshvara Appendix 2 The Six Deities Within the Nyungne Practice Notes Glossary Bibliography Index About the Authors The Foundation of Buddhist Thought.