Lucid and economical, the Concise Introduction delivers a brisk, fast-moving survey. For many years, Powers' nearly six hundred-page Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism has served as the field's most authoritative and comprehensive introductory text on Tibet's distinctive Buddhist tradition. Now Powers has responded to requests to provide an introductory text in compact form. This slimmed-down reference explains the core Buddhist doctrines and the practices of meditation and tantra in an engaging manner. A survey of the four main sects of Tibetan Buddhism and a succinct history of the Tibetan cultural region complete this work.
Dr. John Powers [B.A. (HolyCross); M.A. (McMaster); Ph.D. (Virg.); The Australian National University Faculty with the Centre for Asian Societies and Histories] is a specialist in Asian religions with a specific focus on Buddhism, India and Tibet. His teaching program includes the courses 'Mysticism'; 'Modern Hindu Thought'; 'India: Emerging Giant'; and 'Buddhism'.
His latest publication is History As Propaganda: Tibetan Exiles versus the People's Republic of China. Amongst his publications are An Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism (Snow Lion Publications, 1995); (with J. Hopkins) Tibetan-Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Charlottesville, VA, 1990); The Yogacara School of Buddhism: a Bibliography (Metuchen, NJ, 1991); and, (with J. Fieser) Scriptures of the World's Religions (1997).
He is a member of the American Academy of Religion; the American Philosophical Association; the Association of Asian Studies; the International Association for Ladakh Studies; the International Association of Tibetan Studies; the Asian Studies Association of Australia; and the International Association of Buddhist Studies.
