Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism

This is the most comprehensive and authoritative introduction to Tibetan Buddhism available to date, covering a wide range of topics including history, doctrines, meditation practices, schools, religious festivals, and major figures. The revised edition contains expanded discussions of recent Tibetan history and tantra, and incorporates important new publications in the field. Beginning with a summary of the Indian origins of Tibetan Buddhism and how it was eventually brought to Tibet, it explores Tibetan Mahayana philosophy and tantric methods for personal transformation. The four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism as well as Bon are exploded in depth from a nonsectarian point of view. This new and expanded edition is a systematic and wonderfully clear presentation of Tibetan Buddhist views and practices. Book jacket.

John Powers teaches at the Center for Asian Societies and Histories at the Australian National University