David Snellgrove Bücher

This volume provides a comprehensive survey of Indian Buddhism and its subsequent establishment in Tibet. It concentrates on the tantric period of Buddhist theory and practice, from the eighth to the thirteenth centuries, when the Tibetans were actively engaged in absorbing all they could find of Buddhist culture and religion into their own country. Snellgrove emphasizes the significant role played by the Central Asian kingdoms along the ancient Silk Route in the gradual process of Tibetan conversion. He draws convincingly upon documents of the time to illustrate the cultural changes that swept Tibet as a result of its rule over an extensive empire from the seventh to the ninth centuries?a period of history largely forgotten by the Tibetans themselves when they later embarked upon the wholesale importation of Buddhism directly from Northern India. Throughout, the author quotes extensively from numerous original sources, many of which have never before been translated into English. The illustrations include iconographic art as well as photographs of historical interest.

The civilization of the Tibetan people is disappearing, and while some gentle protests arise, the world largely observes in silence. This revised edition of a classic work explores the evolution of Tibetan culture from its origins to the 1959 fall to Chinese Communists and the subsequent relocation of Tibetan culture and people. The authors highlight various aspects of Tibetan life, including geography, religion, artistic and literary development, and contemporary politics. They draw parallels with historical developments in Western Europe and detail the cultural influences from India and China. The text is enriched with rare photographs showcasing Tibet's art, architecture, and both secular and sacred objects. David Snellgrove, a prominent scholar in Tibetan Studies, has contributed significantly to the field and has spent time in Italy and Cambodia since 1995. Hugh Richardson, the last British/Indian Representative in Tibet until 1950, taught Tibetan history and language in the US and Europe, and his legacy is honored in the preface of this edition. This work serves as a crucial record of a rich civilization facing profound change.

The author offers a comprehensive translation and commentary on the Hevajra tantra, emphasizing its significance as a vital tantric Buddhist text. Rather than viewing it as a decline of faith, the work argues for its legitimacy as an evolved expression of esoteric practice within the madhyamika tradition. Drawing from Nepalese manuscripts and Tibetan translations, the book is structured with an introductory analysis and annotated translation in the first half, followed by the original Sanskrit and Tibetan texts and an extensive glossary in the second half.

The narrative chronicles a seven-month trek through the remote Tibetan regions of Western Nepal in 1956, undertaken by the author and his Nepalese companion, Pasang Khambache Sherpa. Covering over a thousand miles and crossing numerous high passes, the journey aimed to explore the diverse cultures and Tibetan religious practices of these secluded areas. Notably, the region of Dolpo stands out, as it remains largely untouched by foreign visitors, offering unique insights into its spiritual traditions and local life.