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Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines or Seven Books of Wisdom of the Great Path According to the Late Lama Kazi Dawa-Samdup's English Rendering
Seven authentic Tibetan yoga texts, almost unknown to the West
until their 1st publication in English in 1935, are available in this Galaxy Book edition. A companion to the unique Tibetan Book of the Dead (GB 39), which the late Dr Evans-Wentz also edited, this volume, illustrated with photographs & reproductions of yoga paintings & manuscripts, contains some of the principal meditations used by Hindu & Tibetan philosophers & gurus thru the ages in attaining Right Knowledge & Enlightenment. The editor, whose inquiry & research extended over 15 years in the East, spent much time as a pupil of Hindu sages & Buddhist lamas. He's included a body of orally transmitted tradition & teachings received at 1st hand. These will be of interest to anthropologists, psychologists & students of comparative religion & practically applied Mahayana Yoga. Special commentaries precede each carefully rendered text. A preface contrasts the tenets of Buddhism with European concepts of religion, philosophy & science.
Yoga, a taproot of Hinduism, Jainism, Zen Buddhism & Taoism, has also influenced the development of Judaism, Islam & Xianity. These seven distinct but related books, arranged in orderly sequence, afford a comprehensive view of the teachings which have shaped the culture of the East, & which now increasingly enrich the West's appreciation of the depths of the psyche.
Evans-Wentz, formerly of Jesus College, Oxford, is also the editor of The Tibetan Book of the Dead (GB 39), The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation (GB 260) & Tibet's Great Yogi, Milarepa (GB 294). His substantial tetralogy of works on yoga, based on translations from the Tibetan, offers an "interpretation from within" rarely found in the works of Western scholars. During the early years of this century Evans-Wentz lived in India & in Sikkim, at the invitation at the Maharaja Sidkyong Tulku, where he studied occult doctrines.
until their 1st publication in English in 1935, are available in this Galaxy Book edition. A companion to the unique Tibetan Book of the Dead (GB 39), which the late Dr Evans-Wentz also edited, this volume, illustrated with photographs & reproductions of yoga paintings & manuscripts, contains some of the principal meditations used by Hindu & Tibetan philosophers & gurus thru the ages in attaining Right Knowledge & Enlightenment. The editor, whose inquiry & research extended over 15 years in the East, spent much time as a pupil of Hindu sages & Buddhist lamas. He's included a body of orally transmitted tradition & teachings received at 1st hand. These will be of interest to anthropologists, psychologists & students of comparative religion & practically applied Mahayana Yoga. Special commentaries precede each carefully rendered text. A preface contrasts the tenets of Buddhism with European concepts of religion, philosophy & science.
Yoga, a taproot of Hinduism, Jainism, Zen Buddhism & Taoism, has also influenced the development of Judaism, Islam & Xianity. These seven distinct but related books, arranged in orderly sequence, afford a comprehensive view of the teachings which have shaped the culture of the East, & which now increasingly enrich the West's appreciation of the depths of the psyche.
Evans-Wentz, formerly of Jesus College, Oxford, is also the editor of The Tibetan Book of the Dead (GB 39), The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation (GB 260) & Tibet's Great Yogi, Milarepa (GB 294). His substantial tetralogy of works on yoga, based on translations from the Tibetan, offers an "interpretation from within" rarely found in the works of Western scholars. During the early years of this century Evans-Wentz lived in India & in Sikkim, at the invitation at the Maharaja Sidkyong Tulku, where he studied occult doctrines.
389 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1935
42 people are currently reading
587 people want to read
About the author
W.Y. Evans-Wentz
38 books84 followersWalter Yeeling Evans-Wentz (M.A., Stanford University) was an anthropologist and writer who was a pioneer in the study of Tibetan Buddhism.
As a teenager, he read Madame Blavatsky's Isis Unveiled and The Secret Doctrine and became interested in the teachings of Theosophy. At Stanford he studied with William James and William Butler Yeats. He then studied Celtic mythology and folklore at Jesus College, Oxford (1907); there he adopted the form Evans-Wentz for his name. He traveled extensively, spending time in Mexico, Europe, and the Far East. He spent the years of the First World War in Egypt. He later traveled to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) and India, reaching Darjeeling in 1919; there he encountered Tibetan religious texts firsthand.
As a teenager, he read Madame Blavatsky's Isis Unveiled and The Secret Doctrine and became interested in the teachings of Theosophy. At Stanford he studied with William James and William Butler Yeats. He then studied Celtic mythology and folklore at Jesus College, Oxford (1907); there he adopted the form Evans-Wentz for his name. He traveled extensively, spending time in Mexico, Europe, and the Far East. He spent the years of the First World War in Egypt. He later traveled to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) and India, reaching Darjeeling in 1919; there he encountered Tibetan religious texts firsthand.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 3, 2021
This book, studied in my teens, transformed me into a practicing Buddhist. There have been good-better translations since, but this was the 1st to enter my horizon.
September 28, 2018
If ever you feel satisfied with your progress in yoga, a read-through of this book will set you straight. The techniques described here are, at present, quite thoroughly beyond my ability, and I am grateful for the reminder of how much of a novice I really am.
February 17, 2021
There are probably newer translations that get a better sense of the Tibetan text. Nonetheless, the editor did a fine job 100 years ago in engaging a lama and enabling the westerner in reading some of the Tibetan Buddhist canon, much of it for the first time. One must remind oneself that much of the text in quite figurative, and the guidance of an instructor is most useful in deciphering the text and pesonalizing the content for the practitioner.
September 1, 2016
Mind expanding information about the Chod/Aghora/short path. Read in conjunction with "Aghora I" by Svoboda. Great and terrifying.
October 3, 2024
Difficult to read and to understand, but wonderful for encouragement for spiritual growth and spiritual practice. Reading these collection of books, some of which were written by well-known names in the Buddhist world, brings a calmness that does not come with other books - especially with the fact that the last book is the Heart Sutra of Great Wisdom. Of course, much of the practices suggested are way advanced and need 'n spiritual teacher as guide, but it is still wonderful to understand where some contemporary books on meditation get their ideas or teachings from.
January 26, 2023
Great book, although most of it is for those who have a guru as much of the practices are left without certain details which require one.
Interesting read nonetheless.
For me it was a bit of a challenge to understand and I do not claim to understand much of it. I did however feel I got some new insight and felt it will help me on my path if not in this life then the next (hopefully).
Interesting read nonetheless.
For me it was a bit of a challenge to understand and I do not claim to understand much of it. I did however feel I got some new insight and felt it will help me on my path if not in this life then the next (hopefully).
Currently reading
April 24, 2016« L'esprit est le grand assassin du réel. Que le disciple tue l'assassin.
La compassion parle et dit : Peut-il y avoir de la joie quand toute vie doit souffrir? Serez-vous sauvé en entendant le monde entier pleurer?
Que le fier soleil ne sèche pas une larme de souffrance avant que vous-même ne l'ayez essuyée de l'œil de celui qui souffre.
L'élève doit retrouver l'état d'enfant qu'il a perdu avant que le premier son puisse vibrer à son oreille.
Détruis en toi le souvenir des expériences passées.
Ne regarde pas en arrière ou tu es perdu.
Hélas, hélas, que tout homme possédant Ālaya (L'Impérissable) et n'étant qu'un avec la grande âme, cette possession d'Ālaya soit de si peu de poids pour lui.
L'action et l'inaction peuvent trouver place en toi; ton corps agité, ton esprit tranquille, ton âme aussi claire qu'un lac de montagne.
Vivre pour être bienfaisant pour l'humanité est le premier pas. Pratiquer les six vertus glorieuses est le second.
Si tu ne peux être le soleil, alors sois l'humble planète.
Le sentier est unique pour tous, les moyens d'atteindre le but varient avec chaque pèlerin.
Ne laisse pas tes sens faire de ton esprit un terrain de jeux.
As-tu mis ton être au diapason de la grande souffrance de l'humanité, ô candidat à la lumière?
Et sache que l'Éternel ne connaît pas le changement. »
La compassion parle et dit : Peut-il y avoir de la joie quand toute vie doit souffrir? Serez-vous sauvé en entendant le monde entier pleurer?
Que le fier soleil ne sèche pas une larme de souffrance avant que vous-même ne l'ayez essuyée de l'œil de celui qui souffre.
L'élève doit retrouver l'état d'enfant qu'il a perdu avant que le premier son puisse vibrer à son oreille.
Détruis en toi le souvenir des expériences passées.
Ne regarde pas en arrière ou tu es perdu.
Hélas, hélas, que tout homme possédant Ālaya (L'Impérissable) et n'étant qu'un avec la grande âme, cette possession d'Ālaya soit de si peu de poids pour lui.
L'action et l'inaction peuvent trouver place en toi; ton corps agité, ton esprit tranquille, ton âme aussi claire qu'un lac de montagne.
Vivre pour être bienfaisant pour l'humanité est le premier pas. Pratiquer les six vertus glorieuses est le second.
Si tu ne peux être le soleil, alors sois l'humble planète.
Le sentier est unique pour tous, les moyens d'atteindre le but varient avec chaque pèlerin.
Ne laisse pas tes sens faire de ton esprit un terrain de jeux.
As-tu mis ton être au diapason de la grande souffrance de l'humanité, ô candidat à la lumière?
Et sache que l'Éternel ne connaît pas le changement. »
February 27, 2008
Secret doctrines in this case means "oral tradition". Things that were not traditionally written down, but were passed on from teacher to student verbally.
This is a collection of some of the most insightful writings that I have ever come across. It draws heavily from pre-buddhist bon tradition and contains extensive ad explicit instructions and details on techniques of lucid dreaming among other things. This is the real deal. I would say about half of it is translations of true, but run of the mill type stuff. The rest though, is some of the most densly packed pearls of philosophical insight one is likely to come across.
This is a collection of some of the most insightful writings that I have ever come across. It draws heavily from pre-buddhist bon tradition and contains extensive ad explicit instructions and details on techniques of lucid dreaming among other things. This is the real deal. I would say about half of it is translations of true, but run of the mill type stuff. The rest though, is some of the most densly packed pearls of philosophical insight one is likely to come across.
April 29, 2018
This book is excellent. A little confusing if you don't have background knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism (which I had little) so I plan on re-reading this one in the future so I may better understand what they are talking about.
The review above was written ten years ago according to goodreads date! WOW! In ten years, I will say, that this book has been a companion of mine. I take it everywhere I go and review it. It has lead me to many other questions, books, people, and states of mind I never anticipated. Keep it near.
The review above was written ten years ago according to goodreads date! WOW! In ten years, I will say, that this book has been a companion of mine. I take it everywhere I go and review it. It has lead me to many other questions, books, people, and states of mind I never anticipated. Keep it near.
October 13, 2012
This is a classic translation and part of a series of translations of Tibetan Buddhist texts published by W.Y. Evans-Wentz. The selection of texts present a coherent body of theoretical and practical aspects of religious praxis, especially the last third of the book which collects a number of tantric ritual texts.
September 12, 2012
Very engrossing and well written. A must for anyone interested in the more esoteric side of yoga-consciousness.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews