The Epic of Gesar of Ling Gesar's Magical Birth, Early Years, and Coronation as King

The Gesar of Ling epic is like the Tibetan equivalent of The Arabian Nights. For hundreds of years, versions of it have been sung by bards in Tibet, China, Central Asia, and across the eastern Silk Route. King Gesar, renowned throughout these areas, represents the ideal warrior. As a leader with his people's loyalty and trust, he conquers all their enemies and protects the peace. The example of King Gesar is also understood as a spiritual teaching. The "enemies" in the story represent the emotional and psychological challendes that turn people toward greed, aggression and envy, and away from the true teachings of Buddhism. This volume tells of Gesar's birth, his mischievious childhood, his youth spent in exile, and his rivalry for the throne with his treacherous uncle.

ROBIN KORNMAN (1947-2007) is best known for his work as a Tibetan Buddhist scholar, as well as for being a founding member of the Nalanda Translation Committee. Up until his death, he spent many years working on this translation of the epic of Gesar. A longtime student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, he earned his PhD from Princeton University and was a professor of comparative literature at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. SANGYE KHANDRO has translated many important Tibetan Buddhist texts. She is a cofounder of Light of Berotsana, a nonprofit organization for translators of Tibetan texts. LAMA CHÖNAM is a Tibetan teacher who received twenty years of traditional training as a monk in Tibet. He is a translator and adviser to the Nalanda Translation Committee and a cofounder of Light of Berotsana.