Yoga Tantra: Paths to Magical Feats by Dalai Lama


Yoga Tantra: Paths to Magical Feats
Title : Yoga Tantra: Paths to Magical Feats
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1559392371
ISBN-10 : 9781559392372
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 181
Publication : First published October 20, 2005

The Dalai Lama opens the door to the topic of Yoga Tantra with an extraordinarily detailed teaching on a classic text. Rarely in the Dalai Lama's lifetime has he given teachings of such a nature on this topic. There follows a translation of the Yoga Tantra section of Dzong-ka-ba's The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra , one of his most important works and a monument of Tibetan Buddhist literature. Jeffrey Hopkins concludes this book with an outline of the steps of Yoga Tantra practice. This is an invaluable book for anyone who is practicing or interested in Buddhist tantra in general.

This is the third book in a series presenting The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra . The first two books are Tantra in Tibet and Deity Yoga . Tantra in Tibet , part one of The Great Exposition , describes the differences between the Lesser and Great Vehicles, and between the Sutra and Mantra Great Vehicles. Deity Yoga , parts two and three of The Great Exposition , presents Action Tantra and Performance Tantra.

Yoga Tantra: Paths to Magical Feats Reviews

  • Mustafa Al-Laylah

    The title of this book underscores a beef I have with the general misunderstanding the West has concerning how Yoga and Tantra are treated in Asia in general and Tibet in particular. I suspect that there have been a number of half-hearted seekers in the spiritual supermarket who have passed by this slender little book and thought: “Oooh, a book on Yoga and Tantra!” These poor folk probably culled in their imagination images of twisted up yogins performing auto-fellatio or engaging in some super-orgasmic coupling made possible only with the use of some oriental secret!

    But outside of any potential misunderstanding the work is solid and amazing. The text consists of a lecture by H.H. the Dalai Lama on Yoga Tantra (which seems barely discernible from Magick in my opinion), a translation on Tsongkhapa's “The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra”, and concludes with Jeffrey Hopkin’s instructions on cultivating this style of spiritual work with exercises, meditations, etc.

    I found this book at a Border’s and noticed that it was vol. III in a trilogy of works on Tibetan Buddhist Tantra. So I scoured around the shelves seeing if I could find the other two volumes, to no avail. What’s very peculiar is that I have also been to other Border’s and Barnes and Noble stores to find its siblings only to find vol. III only! Now having had some experience with Tibetan meditation practices and a number of years of active participation in the Western Mysteries I could follow the work with little difficulty, but I am still desirous of having the initial two volumes to fill whatever gaps I may have missed (esp. as it relates to Tibetan Deity Yoga!).

    Still, an altogether delightful book on the Tibetan method for acquiring magical abilities.