Lady of the Lotus-Born [Hardcover]

Gyalwa Changchub (Author), Namkhai Nyingpo (Author), Padmakara Translation Group (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 22, 1999

The first Tibetan ever to attain enlightenment was in all probability a woman: Yeshe Tsogyal, closest disciple of Padmasambhava, the master who introduced the Buddhist teachings to Tibet in the eighth century. This book is not only her biography; it is a colorful and intriguing picture of Tibet at the beginning of the Buddhist era—a time of upheaval, when royal patronage was striving to foster the new teachings in the face of powerful opposition. It gives a kaleidoscopic picture of a vanished world, the heart of which is still alive today. It also presents an archetypal description of the teacher-disciple relationship, showing how Yeshe Tsogyal attained enlightenment in following the complete Buddhist path, including the Dzogchen teachings. Passages of profound teachings are offset by episodes of exploit and adventure, spiritual endeavor, court intrigue, and personal encounters. The dramatic story, full of beauty and song, is narrated largely in the first person and offers an intimate glimpse of Tsogyal's feelings, aspirations, hardships, and triumphs. Lady of the Lotus-Born is a terma, a Dharma treasure written and concealed for future generations by the accomplished masters Gyalwa Changchub and Namkhai Nyingpo, disciples of Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In the eighth century, the Indian master Padmasambhava (known as the "Lotus-Born" Guru) introduced Buddhism into Tibet. One of his first disciples, and the closest to him personally, was Yeshe Tsogyal, greatly revered by Tibetans as a NirmanakayaAan enlightened soul who returns to human life to lead others in the way of enlightenment. This is her biography, written by two of her disciples, an ancient text in a genre called namthar, a "tale of liberation." The most similar genre in the West is early hagiographyAChristian saints' lives as written by their disciples, full of effusive praise, virtuous deeds, and miracles. The Padmakara Translation Group specializes in translating important Tibetan texts into European languages. They have included an informative introduction, notes, and glossary. Though the translation is clear and readable, Lady of the Lotus-Born will reward students and scholars rather than the casual browser. Recommended for academic libraries.AJames F. DeRoche, Alexandria, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Clear and readable, Lady of the Lotus-Born will reward students and scholars."— Library Journal --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 254 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1st edition (June 22, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570623848
• ISBN-13: 978-1570623844
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,074,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fascinating life story, poetic authoritative translation, September 8, 2008

By 

applewood (everywhere and nowhere) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Lady of the Lotus-Born: The Life and Enlightenment of Yeshe Tsogyal (Paperback)

Once again the Padmakara Translation Group does an exemplary job of translating this fascinating life story of Tibet's most famous and influential master (yes, she was a female from Tibet born over 1200 years ago, who was renowned as the great Indian yogi Padmasambhava's main Tibetan disciple/consort, and responsible for spreading his teachings through the planting of termas or "hidden treasures").

This tale is a traditional "namthar" or spiritual biography which is meant to teach on many levels. Sometimes these kinds of stories are a bit too fantastic for the modern (literal-minded) reader, but this translation does a good job of presenting Yeshe Tsogyal as both humane (intimate and familiar) and fantastic (divine consort of Padmasambhva and mother of Buddhism in Tibet). It is a fun, lively story (full of joys and sorrows, intrigue, struggle and liberation), and not a dry retelling of an old tale.

As good as the story is, my favorite part is the introductory chapter where the translators put the Lady's life and tradition into perspective. They give one of the clearest explainations of how our Buddha Nature (ever present and unchanging in all beings) is obscured by ignorance and revealed through the accumulation of merit and pointing out instructions of a genuine master (Padmasambhava and then Yeshe Tsogyal in this case).

This is a remarkably complete and complex story of personal liberation, Tibetan history, direct and symbolic spiritual instructions and some might say, an early feminist statement, but I tend to disregard her gender, and even her nationality-cultural identity. What matters is how she served her master, and what she accomplished and disseminated... a practice legacy we are still directly benefiting from today.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the world's great spiritual adventures, August 28, 2010

By 

Brian Griffith (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lady of the Lotus-Born: The Life and Enlightenment of Yeshe Tsogyal (Paperback)

This story was written about 1,000 years ago in one of the world's most isolated regions. But it's an epic spiritual adventure, with one of the greatest female heroes in world literature. This is a woman of almost unbelievable intelligence and drive, who inspires a whole nation. It's a tale mixing medieval-style myths and miracles with surprisingly modern-style personal honesty. At first, Tsogyal's precocious girlhood abilities make the Buddhist path look dramatically easy. But gigantic trials will come, including rape and all other abuses commonly suffered by traditional women. The privations she endures rival those of St. Antony (but hers are colder); her deeds of compassion surpass those of St. Francis; her humiliations rival those of St. Augustine. In the end, Tsogyal's insight transforms it all. The strangest thing to most Western readers is the role of sex in spiritual practice. With Tsogyal's path, we can speak of "right sex" as one of the means of enlightenment.

This is a book where even the notes and glossary are full of good stories. The story should be one of the planet's spiritual classics.

15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life of a Female Living Buddha, August 14, 2000

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"beverlya" (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lady of the Lotus-Born (Hardcover)

Yeshe Tsogyal, or White Tara, was a rare example of a female buddha. She has walked the earth many times but her 200+ years here with Padmasambhava left a legacy for all mankind that we are still learning from. She left behind many treasures and teachings for us to use as we grow. Some treasures are still to be found.

To understand Yeshe Tsogyal is to understand the true meaning of compassion and detached giving. These are lessons for all time.