Introduction to Tantra : The Transformation of Desire

Rating:
Summary: A real pleasure to read and explore...
Review: << Lama Yeshe >>
I feel that one of the primary gifts Lama Yeshe brought to the "western" world as a Tibetan Buddhist, was his ability to explore and describe Tantra in great depth and detail, yet from a culturally independent perspective.
Much of the really authentic, un-Americanized, non-newage etc info and teachings on Tantra is, in my experience, essentially coming from various Tibetan Lamas, practitioners, and scholars. Many of them, in my experience, maintain a perspective on Tantra that is nearly always heavily over toned by a great deal of cultural (Tibetan) views, beliefs, history, and dogma that are in actual fact quite independent from Tantra itself. These cultural elements have value and appeal, but they have little or nothing to do with Tantra. Which, in it's essence, is free from all cultural and social thought-forms.
Lama Yeshe has beautifully stepped right through all that; going directly into the essence of Tantra itself. Not Tibetan Tantra and not American tantra... but, for the most part, just the essence of Tantra itself.
<< Introduction to Tantra >>
As an introduction to Tantra this book touches on a broad array of issues and elements of the world and spirituality that are all key aspects of Tantra and the Tantric perspective. For many in the "Western" world the word Tantra primarily invokes the notion of sex put into a spiritual context. This is, however, only one aspect of Tantra, and by no means the most important nor most significant in its spiritual implications. Hence if you are not familiar with the other subtleties of what Tantra is really about then I feel wholeheartedly that this book will give you something you'll treasure for many years to come, and perhaps for the rest of your life.
In my experience Introduction to Tantra was a pleasure to read, and highly recommendable to those interested in this topic and spirituality in general.

I wish you well on your path,

Jonathan Evatt

Rating:
Summary: A real pleasure to read and explore...
Review: I feel that one of the primary gifts Lama Yeshe has brought to the "western" world as a Tibetian, is his ability to explore and describe Tantra in great depth but from a culturally independant perspective. Much of the really authentic, un-americanized, non-newage etc info and teachings on Tantra is essentially coming from various Tibetian Lamas and practitioners, but their perspective on Tantra is usualy always heavily overtoned by a great deal of cultural (Tibetian) views, beliefs etc that are quite independant from Tantra which is free from all cultural and social dynamics. Lama Yeshe has stepped right through all that, and goes into the essence of Tantra itself. Not Tibetian Tantra and not American tantra... but for the most part, just the essence. As an introduction to Tantra this book touches on a broad array of issues and aspects that are all key aspects of Tantra and the Tantric perspective. It was a pleasure to read, and higher recommendable.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written for the seeker in all of us
Review: I read Introduction to Tantra soon after its first publication. I was very
fortunate to see some video tapes of Lama Yeshe's teachings. He
had a very warm engaging style. I am in agreement with the thought that someone who is happy has learned their lessons well.
Anyway, the book and me parted ways. I was thrilled to see this new edition. I expect to discover and recover those insights
which help me daily. I will continue to highly recommend
this book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction.
Review: I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a clear, concise, non-technical introduction to vajrayana buddhism according to the tibetan tradition. It is easy to read but it actually contains a lot of information so at the same time it's very condensed and you may find it useful reading some chapters again.

Those looking for books dealing with 'sacred sex' or that kind of stuff will be disappointed, ..., but this book presents a refreshing, radical view that CAN change our lives in profound ways.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction.
Review: Let me preface this review by saying that spirituality is not something I take lightly, and those who profess to be spiritual teachers should be held to the highest standard of spiritual integrity, that is the ideology I held while reviewing this book. So if this review seems unnecessarily harsh cut me some slack.
Well the beginning of the book put me slightly on edge in the preface, where the guy says 'this book is probably a pale reflection of XYZ dead Buddhist gurus teachings'. You know if you lack the confidence of your convictions so deeply that you say you don't know what you're talking about in the preface of the book, maybe you should trust your instincts and just not do it!
Ok moving on the author then starts to sound like a used car salesman. With tantra you can have as much pleasure as you can handle and still be a good little Buddhist! Go have your tantra orgy guilt free because Buddha said its ok. Kind of reminded me of those infomercials that say: Eat all you want and still lose weight!

The book then soon moves on from this to the more traditional approach in Buddhist books of being an old nag. Don't grasp! Don't hold onto pleasure! Don't do this and don't do that. You know most people who read this are going to go out into the world tense and nervous wrecks if they try to do what this guy says. If you want to make people feel relaxed and un-attached why not write in a way that accomplishes that instead of being dogmatic and sounding like a mean old biddy? Just a thought.

This is supposed to be an introduction to Tantra but by page 28 the author is talking about 'Seeing Oneself as a Diety'. Diety? I'm sure many new-age types can convince themselves of this type of bunk, but here on planet earth most of us would like to figure out tantra from a human perspective first.

This switching from the most basic precepts of Buddhism to outrageous out of this world things like being a divine diety, are excruciatingly common in this book. I have to believe most of this outrageousness stems from poor translations and poor word use by Eastern Buddhists which are epidemic in Buddhist books. But thats no excuse, this book just shows the authors complete lack of understanding of basic spirituality. At best this book is confused, at worst it will lead people astray and stunt their spiritual growth. Shame on this author!
Personally for anyone with a desire to learn the foundation of tantra I heartily recommend books by: Lee Lozowick, he's down to earth, entertaining and utterly truthful(sometimes brutally :).

Rating:
Summary: Comforting and Informative for the Beginner
Review: Tantra is a very complex and difficult subject to understand. This book is like a cooling drink after suffering under the heatlamp of one's own neuroses in trying to understand and incorporate this sublime spiritual teaching into one's own life. Actually, tantra is not so difficult, but it is our own delusions that cloud us from penetrating its inner core. Thus, guidance from a teacher as insightful and compassionate as Lama Yese is invaluable!

Although there are many books on tantra and Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Yeshe's stand out as unique due to his ability to speak in a language easily accessible to Westerners. He is so direct, kind, and perceptive, that very few people who are genuinely interested will not find special gems in this book. Note that this book is not an academic or exhaustive introduction to tantra -- it is written for beginning practitioners, as a helpful guide, and it serves this purpose brilliantly. Although compiled from many of Lama Yeshe's oral teachings by his students, it reads as a seemless whole. They have done a brilliant job in this respect.

If you have just begun tantric practice, or even if you are practicing anuttarayoga tantra, this book could be very beneficial to you -- in part, because it is informative, but moreso because it is so inspiring and uplifting. We all get hit with bouts of self-doubt and depression. Lama Yeshe's voice has been most effective in helping me and others pull ourselves up from that, get back on our feet, and start practicing again with joy, love, compassion and equanimity. May all beings be happy. Mangalam.

Rating:
Summary: The best book on Tantra I have read to date
Review: Tantra is often mis-understood and Lama Yeshe has explained Tantra so beautifully and so clearly, I never tire re-reading this gem of a book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book On Tantra!
Review: This book was truly wonderful! The way it explains Tantra and the understanding you get from this everybody should read it.
It was very soothing and hit right to the core. A job very well done!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Introduction to Buddhist Tantra
Review: This is an excellent introduction to Buddhist Tantra, Vajrayana. Lama Yeshe was one of the greatest teachers of the 20th century. Lama really understands the mind and especially the mind of the modern westerner making his teachings very accessible. I recommend this book to anyone interested in vajrayana or buddhism in general. My father loved the wisdom of this book so much he gave a copy to his mother!

Rating:
Summary: The best introduction to Tantra available.
Review: When I read this book I was taken aback: it was so beautifully written and so clear in its explaination, that I found myself staring at the picture of Lama Yeshe on the back cover, thanking him for this wonderful gift. It is very rare, in my experience, to find a book which combines such authoritative lucidity, based very much on personal experience, with heart-warming humility. Unlike many books which focus merely on the techniques of "surface" Tantra, this book explores its very essence.

Thank you Lama Yeshe for your beautiful book.