Tantric Treasures: Three Collections of Mystical Verse from Buddhist India

Rating:
Summary: A Gem of Book
Review: Perhaps this book will appeal most directly to yoga practitioners (such as this reviewer) looking to learn more about the tradition of yoga extending beyond any mat or studio into all aspects of life. But there is much more to be found here: because these collections date from the last stage of Buddhism's maturation within India, anyone with an interest in the development of Buddhist doctrine and practice will find this book to be a gem. The translator provides the historical and cultural context in a crisply written introduction and in short comments to the verses, striking a balance (appropriately enough considering the yoga theme) between too much and too little detail. The reader seeking more is offered many gateways, from the cover art, the credit for which links one to a website with a wealth of images of Buddhist art, to the bibliography, which is a treasure by itself, listing a wide range of contemporary English language scholarship on, and translations of, Buddhist works. The book is tastefully designed: the generous amount of space on each page of verse invites the contemplation these verses deserve and the intelligent use of various fonts facilitates reading.