Tantra: historical perspective

[Kjigme]

Hi guys,

What are some good general books on Tantra? By that an historical overview of tantra in India, Tibet and the Himalayan regions....

Sometimes i think I jump too quickly into a certain practice without having a good foundation. I know I have an interest in Vajrayana but I think it would be good to have a general understanding of where tantra came from etc....

Thanks!

[Hazel]

I moved this thread out of Tantra Talk as it is my assumption this discussion can be had without requiring private/secret discussions via PM (which is what Tantra Talk is intended for)

[Danny]

Hi guys,

What are some good general books on Tantra? By that an historical overview of tantra in India, Tibet and the Himalayan regions....

Sometimes i think I jump too quickly into a certain practice without having a good foundation. I know I have an interest in Vajrayana but I think it would be good to have a general understanding of where tantra came from etc....

Thanks!

Hi, I think if you make one invested good book purchase it would be “systems of Buddhist tantra” .
Here’s why it’s a evergreen purchase.
You probably won’t understand it first read, second or third even
Or maybe you will in first encounter?
Who knows people’s capacity to understand? Not me.

But over time it becomes a source that you will return too again and again.
In that regard, we can begin to understand why that group put so much effort into translation for us.

For me or should be NY times best seller..
Lol
A to Z

Tantra is path of transformation.



The thing for me is I’m always finding new things of interest.

Bless the effort of the translators, it’s beyond caring and into the sublime.

Also Natural Liberation by Padmasambhava



Strongly recommend these two publications.
These are two publications that need to be on ones book shelf.

Also anything by loppon Malcom Smith.
His translations and works are gold. A little pricey, but actually value for money.
In terms of Tantra! These are my picks.

[Kjigme]

But does this book cover tantra from a historical perspective? From its beginnings and onward into Buddhist dharma. Sorry I might have misunderstood you.

[Danny]

What these will give you is the intent, the craft behind liberation,
what they don’t give is the why? The why only comes from a master, or guru.

So to know the why? One must follow a master or guru, a spiritual friend who can guide.

Years ago, in my youth, we had to collect wrappers from Bazoka Joes chewing gum to collect enough “credit” to purchase the “x ray specs”....

Tantra is the “x ray specs”
The chewing is the practice.


Keep chewing...send away and wait 10 weeks for the fruit, to come by mail.

[Kjigme]

[

Years ago, in my youth, we had to collect wrappers from Bazoka Joes chewing gum to collect enough “credit” to purchase the “x ray specs”....

Tantra is the “x ray specs”
The chewing is the practice.


Keep chewing...send away and wait 10 weeks for the fruit, to come by mail.

I remember the Bazoka!

Thanks Danny!

[Danny]

But does this book cover tantra from a historical perspective? From its beginnings and onward into Buddhist dharma. Sorry I might have misunderstood you.

History of Tantra is sketchy.
Even PHD’s (public Highschool Diploma) folks can’t give a flow chart.

Your dealing with things that emerge from epistemology.
Vague.

[Danny]

[

Years ago, in my youth, we had to collect wrappers from Bazoka Joes chewing gum to collect enough “credit” to purchase the “x ray specs”....

Tantra is the “x ray specs”
The chewing is the practice.


Keep chewing...send away and wait 10 weeks for the fruit, to come by mail.

I remember the Bazoka!

Thanks Danny!

Just keep going.
One day no one wil kick sand in our faces...
The whimpy beach karma will be exhausted and we will have transformed ourselves into a confident person, attractive to others.
Lol

[Kjigme]

Just keep going.
One day no one wil kick sand in our faces...
The whimpy beach karma will be exhausted and we will have transformed ourselves into a confident person, attractive to others.
Lol

Bless you Danny!
Thanks for your kind words!

[lelopa]

[

Years ago, in my youth, we had to collect wrappers from Bazoka Joes chewing gum to collect enough “credit” to purchase the “x ray specs”....

Tantra is the “x ray specs”
The chewing is the practice.


Keep chewing...send away and wait 10 weeks for the fruit, to come by mail.

I remember the Bazoka!

Thanks Danny!

But not very well... it is Bazooka Joe
( and his GANG )

[passel]

Geoffrey Samuel’s Origins of Yoga and Tantra is exquisite, as are Davidson’s Indian Esoteric Buddhism and Tibetan Renaissance. If you want something more accessible, Reggie Ray’s Indestructible Truth and Secrets of the Vajra World are good.



http://cup.columbia.edu/book/indian-eso ... 0231126182

I think there are PDFs of all of these floating around.

[Kjigme]

Geoffrey Samuel’s Origins of Yoga and Tantra is exquisite, as are Davidson’s Indian Esoteric Buddhism and Tibetan Renaissance. If you want something more accessible, Reggie Ray’s Indestructible Truth and Secrets of the Vajra World are good.



http://cup.columbia.edu/book/indian-eso ... 0231126182

I think there are PDFs of all of these floating around.

That's what I am looking for! I will check these out.
Thanks passel!!!

[passel]

Enjoy