Lady of the Lotus-Born

by Gyalwa Changchub, Namkhai Nyingpo, Padmakara Translation Group (Translator)

The first Tibetan ever to attain enlightenment was in all probability a Yeshe Tsogyal, closest disciple of Padmasambhava, the master who introduced the Buddhist teachings to Tibet in the eighth century. This book is not only her biography; it is a colorful and intriguing picture of Tibet at the beginning of the Buddhist era—a time of upheaval, when royal patronage was striving to foster the new teachings in the face of powerful opposition. It gives a kaleidoscopic picture of a vanished world, the heart of which is still alive today. It also presents an archetypal description of the teacher-disciple relationship, showing how Yeshe Tsogyal attained enlightenment in following the complete Buddhist path, including the Dzogchen teachings. Passages of profound teachings are offset by episodes of exploit and adventure, spiritual endeavor, court intrigue, and personal encounters. The dramatic story, full of beauty and song, is narrated largely in the first person and offers an intimate glimpse of Tsogyal's feelings, aspirations, hardships, and triumphs. Lady of the Lotus-Born is a terma, a Dharma treasure written and concealed for future generations by the accomplished masters Gyalwa Changchub and Namkhai Nyingpo, disciples of Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal.

Genres: Buddhism, Biography

254 pages, Hardcover

First published June 22, 1999

Reviews

[Stephy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of the first Tibetan to reach Enlightenment. This book is biography, history, cultural change, and personal change, all packed very closely together. There is too much here to speed read. This is a book one reads a bit of, and goes on with life until it settles in, and then reads more. It took me an incredibly long time to absorb as much as I have, and I expect to re-read this next year to pick up som of what I missed. I love Tibetan history. I am fascinated by the women in Buddhism and Buddhist history. I am completely immersed in what I have learned.