Overview

A richly illustrated collection of stories about the mahasiddhas, spiritual adventurers who attained enlightenment and magical powers by disregarding convention • A modern translation of ancient legends that reveals the human qualities of the rebellious saints known as siddhas and the vital elements of their philosophy • Recounts stories of enlightened masters from all walks of life, including a washerman, a thief, a conman, a gambler, and a whore, and the magical and “crazy” deeds of each, such as walking through walls, flying, talking with birds, and turning people to stone • Richly illustrated with paintings of the tantric saints by artist Robert Beer Offering a modern translation of “The Legends of the Eighty-four Mahasiddhas,” a 12th-century Tibetan text, translator Keith Dowman shares stories of the spiritual adventurers, rebellious saints, and enlightened tantric masters of ancient India known as “siddhas.” He shows how the mahasiddhas arose from the grassroots of society and represented an entire spectrum of human experience. Counted among the greatest of the siddhas are a washerman, a cowboy, a thief, a conman, a gambler, and a whore, all extraordinary men and women who attained the goal of their meditations, as well as enlightenment and magical powers, by disregarding convention and penetrating to the core of life. Recounting the magical and “crazy” deeds of the mahasiddhas, such as walking through walls, flying, talking with birds, and turning people to stone, Dowman reveals the human qualities of the tantric masters and the vital elements of the siddhas’ philosophy of nonduality and emptiness. Richly illustrated with paintings of the tantric saints by artist Robert Beer, these stories of the mahasiddhas show us a way through human suffering into a spontaneous and free state of oneness with the divine.

Full Product Details

Author:   Keith Dowman ,  Robert Beer
Publisher:   Inner Traditions Bear and Company
Imprint:   Inner Traditions Bear and Company
Edition:   3rd Edition, New Edition of Buddhist Masters of Enchantment
Dimensions:   Width: 17.80cm , Height: 1.80cm , Length: 25.40cm
Weight:   0.617kg
ISBN:  

9781620553657

ISBN 10:   1620553651
Pages:   256
Publication Date:   09 October 2014
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Autobiographical Note by the Illustrator Introduction The Mahasiddhas Minapa, The Bengali Jonah Luipa, The Fish-Gut Eater Virupa, Master of Dakinis Dombipa, The Tiger Rider Saraha, The Great Brahmin Lilapa, The Royal Hedonist Savaripa, The Hunter Goraksa, The Immortal Cowherd Tantipa, The Senile Weaver Khadgapa, The Master Thief Caurangipa, The Limbless One Kankaripa, The Lovelorn Widower Aryadeva, The Lotus-Born Nagarjuna, Philosopher and Alchemist Vinapa, The Music Lover Thaganapa, Master of the Lie Camaripa, The Divine Cobbler Syalipa, The Jackal Yogin Naropa, The Dauntless Disciple Tilopa, The Great Renunciate Santipa, The Academic Mekopa, The Wild-Eyed Guru Kambala, The Yogin of the Black Blanket Vyalipa, The Courtesan’s Alchemist Tantepa, The Gambler Kukkuripa, The Dog Lover Kanhapa, The Dark-Skinned One Acinta, The Avaricious Hermit Bhadrapa, The Snob Kalapa, The Handsome Madman Bhusuku (Santideva), The Lazy Monk Kotalipa, The Peasant Guru Indrabhuti, The Enlightened King Jalandhara, The Chosen One Bhiksanapa, Siddha Two-Teeth Ghantapa, The Celibate Monk Campaka, The Flower King Kumbharipa, The Potter Godhuripa, The Bird Catcher Vinapa, The Music Lover Thaganapa, Master of the Lie Camaripa, The Divine Cobbler Syalipa, The Jackal Yogin Naropa, The Dauntless Disciple Tilopa, The Great Renunciate Santipa, The Academic Mekopa, The Wild-Eyed Guru Kambala, The Yogin of the Black Blanket Vyalipa, The Courtesan’s Alchemist Tantepa, The Gambler Kukkuripa, The Dog Lover Kanhapa, The Dark-Skinned One Acinta, The Avaricious Hermit Bhadrapa, The Snob Kalapa, The Handsome Madman Bhusuku (Santideva), The Lazy Monk Kotalipa, The Peasant Guru Indrabhuti, The Enlightened King Jalandhara, The Chosen One Bhiksanapa, Siddha Two-Teeth Ghantapa, The Celibate Monk Campaka, The Flower King Kumbharipa, The Potter Godhuripa, The Bird Catcher Kapalapa, The Skull Bearer Carbaripa (Carpati), The Siddha Who Turned People to Stone Kantalipa, The Rag Picker Jayananda, The Crow Master Dhilipa, The Epicure Darikapa, Slave-King of the Temple Whore Udhilipa, The Flying Siddha Laksminkara, The Mad Princess Nirgunapa, The Enlightened Moron Mekhala and Kanakhala, The Headless Sisters Kirapalapa (Kilapa), The Repentant Conqueror Nagabodhi, The Red-Horned Thief Sarvabhaksa, The Empty-Bellied Siddha Manibhadra, The Model Wife Saroruha, The Lotus Child Publisher’s Note

Reviews

These are extraordinary, riveting tales. . . a book of high merit and high adventure, a marvel of inspired creation. . . stories through whose cosmic transparency shines the illimitable Buddha-nature.

Robert Beer is a master. His own story of being rescued by Tibetan art is almost as amazing as the stories of the Mahasiddhas. Frank Olinsky, Tricycle Magazine A powerful enticement to Eastern thought. Mensa Bulletin These are extraordinary, riveting tales... a book of high merit and high adventure, a marvel of inspired creation... stories through whose cosmic transparency shines the illimitable Buddha-nature. Small Press

These are extraordinary, riveting tales. . . a book of high merit and high adventure, a marvel of inspired creation. . . stories through whose cosmic transparency shines the illimitable Buddha-nature. * Small Press * A powerful enticement to Eastern thought. * Mensa Bulletin * Robert Beer is a master. His own story of being rescued by Tibetan art is almost as amazing as the stories of the Mahasiddhas. * Frank Olinsky, Tricycle Magazine *

Author Information

Keith Dowman is a longtime initiate of Dzogchen and a teacher of radical Dzogchen around the world. He is the author of several Dzogchen translations, most recently Natural Perfection and Dzogchen. He lives in Kathmandu. Robert Beer began studying and practicing Tibetan thangka painting in 1970 while living in India and Nepal and still continues this research from his home in Oxford. He is the author and illustrator of The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs and The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols.

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