The Sacred Life of Tibet

by Keith Dowman

The sacred life of Tibet takes place in the sacred space of Tibetan Buddhism. This is a transformed landscape, inhabited by gods and demons, Buddhas and bodhisattvas, yogis and magicians. It is a space quite separate from the profane political and social space of Communist Tibet and, perhaps, from our ordinary consciousness. Part One of this book describes various visionary perspectives on this sacred realm and the manner in which those visions transform the Tibetan landscape. Part Two introduces the Tibetan Buddhist orders and gives a historical view, presenting the chief human players in the mystical drama of the centuries. Part Three introduces some of the divine players as they are represented in art and describes the art forms and where great Tibetan art can be found today. Part Four describes pilgrimage as a devotional exercise and the motivation and practices of pilgrims. Part Five describes the different types of power place, particularly the great sacred mountains, from the pilgrim's perspective.

About the Author:

KEITH DOWMAN is a leading world expert on Tibetan religions. He has lived in India and Nepal for 30 years, studying, translating and teaching Tibetan Buddhism. He also leads pilgrimage tours in Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan, and is the author of 11 books, including The Power Places of Central Tibet.