Luminous Lives: The Story of the Early Masters of the Lam 'bras in Tibet

by Cyrus Stearns

The tantric Buddhist tradition of the Lam 'bras, the "Path with the Result," has been practiced in Tibet for almost a thousand years, most prominently within the Sakya lineage. Luminous Lives is the first in-depth study of the literature and history of the Lam 'bras in Tibet. The central focus of the work is a rare Tibetan history that brings alive the story of the earliest men and women practitioners of the Lam 'bras. This text, recording the words of the great Sakya Pandita (1182 - 1251), was a major source for all later histories of the tradition. Recently rediscovered, it has been reproduced here along with Cyrus Stearns' excellent translation, introduction, and annotations. Luminous Lives opens a window into the world of one of the great traditions of tantric Buddhism in Tibet.

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 1996

Reviews

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, and at times hilarious, sketch of the transmission of the Sakya Lamdre teachings among the early masters of the tradition. Good stuff!