Elucidating Tathagatagarbha

<p>The teaching of Tathagatagarbha may appear simple on the surface but in reality it is woven into many aspects of Buddha’s teaching making it difficult to grasp.</p><p>"Elucidating Tathagatagarbha" is divided into three parts.</p><p>Part I is on the “profoundly secret Tathagatagarbha.” It is written for lay readers. Beginners and non-Buddhists can make use of it as a guide to understand worldly affairs from the Vajrayana perspective.</p><p>In Part II Tam discusses Buddhism against a backdrop of Western philosophy. Philosophy offers a number of examples illustrating practical applications of the Tathagatagarbha teaching. Many consider Buddhism as a way to retreat from the world when in fact there is an interplay of our everyday affairs and their transcendence making them inseparable. In this way Tathagatagarbha is like a “great philosophy.” Through its application one cultivates the practical (worldly) and wisdom ( transcendent) merits.</p><p>Part III is The White Conch Pearl a poem of praise following the Buddhist scriptural tradition Tam wrote years ago together with an in-depth commentary by the author.</p><p>In praise of fourfold dependent origination it is the author’s hope that this book will create new awareness of the Tathagatagarbha teachings and dispel any misunderstandings about their true meaning.</p>