Single book that provides survey or overview of tibetan Vajrayana

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karmanyingpo
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Single book that provides survey or overview of tibetan Vajrayana

Post by karmanyingpo »

Hello all. I am wondering if there is a single book that provides a sort of survey of Tibetan Vajrayana and basic information like terminology, deities, history that are important for a beginning practitioner to know. Obviously this wouldn't be exhaustive and I am not looking for it to be! Also best if it is good for non specialists/academics. I feel like I have already absorbed most of the basic terms and knowledge of which deities are associated with what etc. over time and I am starting to get a better grasp on less basic things but I have a friend who has been attending teachings with me and she wanted recommendations on this type of book. I think I could also benefit from a good overview of this kind of background info that is useful for practitioners

KN
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karmanyingpo
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Re: Single book that provides survey or overview of tibetan Vajrayana

Post by karmanyingpo »

karmanyingpo wrote: Mon Jan 11, 2021 5:19 pm Hello all. I am wondering if there is a single book that provides a sort of survey of Tibetan Vajrayana and basic information like terminology, deities, history that are important for a beginning practitioner to know. Obviously this wouldn't be exhaustive and I am not looking for it to be! Also best if it is good for non specialists/academics. I feel like I have already absorbed most of the basic terms and knowledge of which deities are associated with what etc. over time and I am starting to get a better grasp on less basic things but I have a friend who has been attending teachings with me and she wanted recommendations on this type of book. I think I could also benefit from a good overview of this kind of background info that is useful for practitioners

KN
I would like to add that I got the recommendation of "Opening the Door To Bon" about Bon and maybe there is something similar in content but about Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism rather then Bon?

KN
ma lu dzok pe san gye thop par shok!
Archie2009
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Re: Single book that provides survey or overview of tibetan Vajrayana

Post by Archie2009 »

There is this book by John Powers, Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. I would also be interested to know if something else exists.
Look inside here.

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Last edited by Archie2009 on Mon Jan 11, 2021 5:59 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Sādhaka
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Re: Single book that provides survey or overview of tibetan Vajrayana

Post by Sādhaka »

World of Tibetan Buddhism by the Dalai Lama from what I remember covers a lot regarding Vajrayana specifically; and I recall it not being a very long book.

I haven’t yet read Opening the Door to Bön, but there are a lot of excellent books in English coming from Yungdrung Bön.
taleen
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Re: Single book that provides survey or overview of tibetan Vajrayana

Post by taleen »

Archie2009 wrote: Mon Jan 11, 2021 5:51 pm There is this book by John Powers,
In schools, it is usually either this book or Geoffrey Samuels that is used as text books.

People doing the tergar program will notice that Reggie Ray’s book is recommended alot
Archie2009
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Re: Single book that provides survey or overview of tibetan Vajrayana

Post by Archie2009 »

taleen wrote: Mon Jan 11, 2021 10:49 pm
Archie2009 wrote: Mon Jan 11, 2021 5:51 pm There is this book by John Powers,
In schools, it is usually either this book or Geoffrey Samuels that is used as text books.

People doing the tergar program will notice that Reggie Ray’s book is recommended alot
I haven't read Geoffrey Samuel's recent Introducing Tibetan Buddhism, but I understand it is very classroom oriented with lists of questions for readers/students to answer after every chapter. His earlier book Civilized Shamans: Buddhism in Tibetan Societies is a favourite, but more academic and probably not as suitable for beginners.
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karmanyingpo
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Re: Single book that provides survey or overview of tibetan Vajrayana

Post by karmanyingpo »

Thanks all for the recommendations.

KN
ma lu dzok pe san gye thop par shok!
Schrödinger’s Yidam
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Re: Single book that provides survey or overview of tibetan Vajrayana

Post by Schrödinger’s Yidam »

“Indestructible Truth” by Reginald Ray is informative and readable. It a broad overview of Dharma with an emphasis towards Tibetan practices. It’s what I wish was available when I started.

It was originally designed as the text for “Buddhism 101” at Naropa Institute. But it doesn’t read like a college text.
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karmanyingpo
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Re: Single book that provides survey or overview of tibetan Vajrayana

Post by karmanyingpo »

Thx again everyone, and, I also want to add. I was kindly told by a member (tingdzin) that the Opening the Door to Bon book is actually mostly about the Bon preliminaries or ngondro so I share this information to hopefully help out anyone who may be reading this thread for info on intro books...
Tingdzin recommended Samten Karmay or Per Kvaerne's works for thorough introductory info on Bon.
Konchok Thrinley suggested this website for intro on Bon https://ravencypresswood.com/


KN
ma lu dzok pe san gye thop par shok!
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Matt J
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Re: Single book that provides survey or overview of tibetan Vajrayana

Post by Matt J »

That’s a good one. Some also recommend Introduction to Tantra by Lama Yeshe.
Schrödinger’s Yidam wrote: Tue Jan 12, 2021 7:55 pm “Indestructible Truth” by Reginald Ray is informative and readable. It a broad overview of Dharma with an emphasis towards Tibetan practices. It’s what I wish was available when I started.

It was originally designed as the text for “Buddhism 101” at Naropa Institute. But it doesn’t read like a college text.
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karmanyingpo
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Re: Single book that provides survey or overview of tibetan Vajrayana

Post by karmanyingpo »

Matt J wrote: Tue Jan 19, 2021 2:09 am That’s a good one. Some also recommend Introduction to Tantra by Lama Yeshe.
Schrödinger’s Yidam wrote: Tue Jan 12, 2021 7:55 pm “Indestructible Truth” by Reginald Ray is informative and readable. It a broad overview of Dharma with an emphasis towards Tibetan practices. It’s what I wish was available when I started.

It was originally designed as the text for “Buddhism 101” at Naropa Institute. But it doesn’t read like a college text.
I bet that is a very trustworthy source. Lama Yeshe was a very reputable teacher.

KN
ma lu dzok pe san gye thop par shok!
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