The Turquoise Bee: The Tantric Lovesongs of the Sixth Dalai Lama

by Tsangyang Gyatso, Rick Fields (Translator), Brian Cutillo (Translator)

Known to have courted both prostitutes and nobelwomen and to have delivered his teachings in public parks instead of monasteries, the sixth Dalai Lama remains a controversial figure in Tibetan history. Presented here are 523 poems accompanied by introductions, commentary and illustrations.

Genres: Poetry, Buddhism

128 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1993

About the author

Tsangyang Gyatso (Tibetan: ཚངས་དབྱངས་རྒྱ་མཚོ། Wylie: tshangs dbyangs rgya mtsho) was the sixth Dalai Lama, te first and only Dalai Lama to live as a layman rather than a monk. He was a Monpa by ethnicity and was born at Urgelling Monastery, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Tawang Town, India and not far from the large Tawang Monastery in the northwestern part of present-day Arunachal Pradesh (claimed by China as South Tibet).

He had grown up a youth of high intelligence, liberal to a fault, fond of pleasure, of wine and of women and later led a playboy lifestyle. He disappeared near Qinghai, probably murdered, on his way to Beijing in 1706. The 6th Dalai Lama composed poems and songs that are not only still immensely popular in modern day Tibet but have also gained significant popularity all across China.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I expected when I bought this book of poetry. I guess I was intrigued by the idea. Anyway, I put it in a bookcase and forgot about it for several years. Now I'm culling through my books, and found it.

It is an intriguing book. The history of the Sixth Dalai Lama is found in the opening pages, and could in itself make an interesting film. The poetry itself was charged with energy and sensuality, and the very last poem was heartbreaking.

[Marzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

from the only dalai lama who was never took on the position as the temporal head of the tibetan people. he lived a more secular life than the other dalai lamas and was rumored to be kidnapped. beautiful poetry, charming illustrations.

[a · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poetry with equally beautiful illustrations !!! Learning about the Dalai Lama himself makes you appreciate the poems a lot more