Bücher von Donald S. Lopez

Rare paintings set aside life stories of each of the eighty-four wild Buddhist saints of ancient India.This exquisite full-color presentation of the lives of the eighty-four mahasiddhas, or "great accomplished ones," offers a fresh glimpse into the world of the famous tantric yogis of medieval India. The stories of these tantric saints have captured the imagination of Buddhists across Asia for nearly a millennium. Unlike monks and nuns who renounce the world, these saints sought the sacred in the midst of samsara. Some were simple peasants who meditated while doing manual labor. Others were kings and queens who traded the comfort and riches of the palace for the danger and transgression of the charnel ground. Still others were sinners-pimps, drunkards, gamblers, and hunters-who transformed their sins into sanctity.This book includes striking depictions of each of the mahasiddhas by a master Tibetan painter, whose work has been preserved in pristine condition. Published here for the first time in its entirety, this collection includes details of the painting elements along with the life stories of the tantric saints, making this one of the most comprehensive works available on the eighty-four mahasiddhas.

Illustrates the vast scope of Buddhist practice in Asia. This work presents a selection of thirty-five translated texts - each preceded by a substantial introduction by its translator. It demonstrates the many continuities among the practices of Buddhist cultures widely separated by both history and geography.

"The Heart Sutra" is perhaps the most famous Buddhist text, traditionally regarded as a potent expression of emptiness and of the Buddha's perfect wisdom. This work explores the elaborate philosophical and ritual uses of the "Heart Sutra" in India, Tibet, and the West. It also includes full translations of the eight extant Indian commentaries.