Secret of the Vajra World

<b>An entr&#233;e into the world of&#160;Tantric&#160;Buddhism&#151;a unique collection of texts concepts and meditation practices presented by Tibetan masters teaching in the West<br></b><br>The &#147;Vajra&#160;World&#148; (vajradhatu&#160;in Sanskrit) is a realm of indestructibility the level of reality beyond all thought and imagination all impermanence and change which a fully realized person knows and inhabits. Used metaphorically &#147;Vajra&#160;World&#148; refers to the traditional culture of Tibet and the unique spirituality that is its secret strength.<br><br><i>Secret of the&#160;Vajra&#160;World</i> is the companion volume to the author&#146;s earlier book <i>Indestructible Truth: The Living Spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism</i>. While that book focuses on the history cosmology philosophy and practice of the more public&#160;exoteric&#160;side of Tibetan Buddhism this work treats its more hidden and esoteric aspects as they take shape in&#160;Vajrayana. Together the two volumes provide a broad introduction to the major traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.<br><br>Topics include:<br><br>&#149;&#160;The&#160;tantric&#160;view of human nature and the external world<br>&#149;&#160;The special role of the guru or&#160;tantric&#160;mentor<br>&#149;&#160;The preliminary practices that prepare the student for full initiation<br>&#149;&#160;The major dimensions of&#160;Vajrayana&#160;practice including visualizations liturgies and inner&#160;yogas<br>&#149;&#160;The tradition of the&#160;tulku or incarnate lama<br>&#149;&#160;The lore surrounding the death of ordinary people and of saints<br>&#149;&#160;The practice of solitary retreat the epitome of traditional Tibetan Buddhism