The Dawn of Tantra [Paperback]

Herbert V. Guenther (Author), Chogyam Trungpa (Author), Michael Kohn (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1975

Westerners wanting to know about tantra—particularly the Buddhist tantra of Tibet—often find only speculation and fancy. Tibet has been shrouded in mystery, and "tantra" has been called upon to name every kind of esoteric fantasy. In The Dawn of Tantra the reader meets a Tibetan meditation master and a Western scholar, each of whose grasp of Buddhist tantra is real and unquestionable. This collaboration is both true to the intent of the ancient Tibetan teachings and relevant to contemporary Western life.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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About the Author

Chögyam Trungpa (1940–1987) was a meditation master, teacher, and artist who founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 108 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala Publications (December 1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570626391
• ISBN-13: 978-1570626395
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,838,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Dawn, October 19, 2010

By 

K. Medrano (Gdl, Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dawn of Tantra (Paperback)

Definitely the best book in Tantra I have ever read. Before reading this book I didn't know much about Chogyam Trungpa, or even about Tantra I now realize. Even though this is a very small book it took me several months to finish. One of the reasons being that Tantra is so charged with symbolism, so far from western understanding.

Chongyam starts talking about the misconception westerns have about Tantra and tantric practices. He also very quickly mentions how Tantra have other meanings and connotations within Hinduism. And instead of giving a definition, he sort of waves together the characteristics of tantra within his tradition. Then he goes on just barely touching some of the main features of tibetan tantric buddhism, a great introductory book.

It's really worth mentioning that he does an exceptionally good job at describing terms such as Samatha, Vipassana, Prana and Shunyata, within Vajrayana.
There is a chapter on Mandalas, explained in a way I have never heard before, but I didn't know much about mandalas. And the chapter dedicated to the Guru-disciple relationship was also very, very insightful.

He also does an incredibly job at describing the cognitive process from within.

Thorough the book I had this sense of me missing out something really big for being brought up as a westerner and specially for not having a teacher or guru. But towards the end of the book he does an amazing job at reminding us how all gurus are within, and how this life, this time here and now is all the guru we need, if we are open to it.

There are a lot of concepts on this book, which again are just barely talked about, but it makes a great beginning.

He also really made me question my own standing within Buddhism. I have always been attracted to Mahayana, but after reading the chapter about visualizations, and a few personal experiences I had while reading it, I realized how as a westerner, I need to get closer to Theravada, before going anywhere else.

I feel he showed a glimpse of what Tantrayana is, and then wrap everything up reminding us how the ultimate truth, as we all know, lies within the nonexistent self.