PATH OF THE SWAN

A moment of intense silence followed and then the Rigden spoke up his voice even: 'Lama Nyima Ozer Prince Narasimha Miyi Senge Prince A-Karo the Golden One Yeshe Nam Lha and last but not least young Tashi Thendup! You have all been called today before the sacred court and from now in every breath in every heartbeat in the shadow of every moment in the intensity of the thoughtless state in life and in not-life in physical or subtle form we declare you our emissaries our sacred envoys to the world of men. Shambhala has a task for you. For you will be Shambhala's hand in the age that is now upon men...'Part 1 of the surreally beautiful Tibetan-Buddhist fantasy series The Maitreya Chronicles follows the travels of Lama Ozer and his novitiate Tashi as they leave the hidden monastery where they have lived all their lives in answer to a call received by the lama while deep in trance from the legendary kingdom of Shambala. Battling the freezing cold and snow of high mist-laden mountain passes and the many dark forces that thwart their progress they trek through Sikkim and Tibet to arrive at the legendary Silver Fortress in a remote part of western Tibet. Shedding their corporeal forms they meet a host of divine and dark celestial beings including the golden dakini Yeshe Nam Lah daughter of the Goddess Tara; Prince A-KarO heir to the Lah Empire; and Prince Narasimha - heir to the Rigdens and the Shambala legacy. Both the princes are Yeshi's guardians and suitors and she must travel with them to Earth. Once here it is decreed she will choose one of them and her child Maitreya the saviour will be born. Tashi's role is that of confidant and friend and Ozer's mission is to be the liaison between Shambala and Earth. But before that happens they must combat the Asur forces and the dark prince Arden who holds Yeshe captive bewitched by his brooding menace trapped in his thrall...Drawing richly from the vast pantheon of otherworldly beings that populate the myths of the Mahayan school of Buddhism Part 1 of The Maitreya Chronicles is a surreal and mesmerizing account of the battle between the dark forces and the celestials and the descent of the celestials to Earth.