The Magic of Vajrayana

A ground-breaking book, The Magic of Vajrayana opens new doors to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of Vajrayana, one of the most vibrant traditions of mystical practice in the world today. In simple clear English, McLeod deploys his considerable skills as a writer, translator, and teacher to immerse the listener in the practice of Vajrayana. He bridges the gap between classical instruction and idealized descriptions of understandings, as well as the cultural gap between medieval Tibet and modern Western society.For each of the three pillars of Vajrayana practice--teacher, deity, and protector, Ken McLeod shows the listener how to bring a traditional practice text to life. In the teacher or guru section, the listener steps into a world of faith, devotion, prayer, and meditation and learns how these elements work together to open a door to mahamudra and dzogchen. In the deity or yidam section, the listener enters a realm of magic and mystery, an enchanted world that radically shifts his or her understanding of life and self. And in the protector section, the listener comes face to face with the power of the protectors and how that power guides a practitioner through the many traps and pitfalls of spiritual practice.Not for the faint-hearted, this intimate portrait of Vajrayana practice is in effect an empowerment. It plants seeds in the listener which, if nurtured, uncover direct awareness, non-referential compassion, and a profoundly different relationship with life. Along with two of his previous books, Reflections on Silver River and A Trackless Path, the Magic of Vajrayana completes a trilogy of experiential instruction and guidance in the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism.