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Introduction to Tantra

The Transformation of Desire

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Introduction to Tantra

By: Lama Thubten Yeshe, Jonathan Landaw - editor
Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi
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About this listen

A new edition of this perennial classic. "The best introductory work on Tibetan Buddhist tantra available today." - Janet Gyatso, Harvard University.

What is tantra? Who is qualified to practice it? How should it be practiced? What are the results? According to Buddhism, every human being has the potential to achieve profound and lasting happiness. And according to the tantric teachings of Buddhism, this remarkable transformation can be realized very quickly if we utilize all aspects of our human energy - especially the energy of our desires. Introduction to Tantra is the best available clarification of a subject that is often misunderstood. Tantra recognizes that the powerful energy aroused by our desire is an indispensable resource for the spiritual path. It is precisely because our lives are so inseparably linked with desire that we must make use of desire's tremendous energy not just for pleasure, but to transform our lives. Lama Yeshe presents tantra as a practice leading to joy and self-discovery, with a vision of reality that is simple, clear, and relevant to 21st-century life.

©2014 Lama Zopa Rinpoche (P)2016 Audible, Inc. Buddhism Eastern Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts Philosophy Meditation Physical Exercise Yoga
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I’ve been practicing Tibetan Buddhism through books for a few years now. I didn’t understand that I’d accidentally stumbled into Tantra as I began practicing Mahamudra and many things in those teachings didn’t make sense. This book puts the big picture together in such a clear what that I now feel I know what I don’t know and where to begin. Thank you Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa for this incredible teaching

What a great overview

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I absolutely loved this book, however I feel they could have used a different Narrator. Still very enjoyable though..

Narrator

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Such clean clear teaching from Lama Yeshe, in words I understand & relate to.

excellent Introduction to Buddhist Tantra

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While many “neo” tantric practitioners may not appreciate the clear light of wisdom that Lama Thubten Yeshe presents in his teachings, those who have sought to understand this profound eastern wisdom and subtle ancient technology, will adore the clarity from this concise and direct presentation as a true introduction to tantra.

Clean and clear

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While the content of this book may be ok, the way it is read is so unsympathetic to its subject matter as to render it unlistenable. I can't understand what was going on in the mind of the producer to choose such a narrator with no feeling at all for the subject. He might be ok reading crime thrillers.

Impossible to listen to

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The title says it all, but it appears to me that Tantra ushers in the opportunity for hierarchical exploitation of those seeking a way out of suffering.

Its no wonder that there are so many stories about sociopathic gurus who take advantage of those attempting find a more authentic way of life trough and free themselves from desire.

If the story of the buddha councelling a king about a less ascetic way of reaching enlightenment are true, it may have been a hilarious joke.

But, jokes aside, if we have learned one thing with regard to religion in modernity, it is that consequences matter, and while using desire to drive non attachment to desire and love for all beings seems like a worthwhile goal, it would surely emotionally and spiritually damage many families (and buddhisittas seeking this path) just by enabling charismatic, perpertrator gurus.

Given that seeking a guru is the endorsed/mandated approach, the consequences will be that some significant subset of devotees will become damaged due to these predators. Additionally, Tantra seems to offer tools to keep victims silent by suggesting you should keep the teachings quiet, which is another mechnism which can be used by an adept guru with the wrong intention.

So there are just too many scenarios where this religious structure can be used to harm for it to be a true good in my interpretation and would be dangerous to follow this without very critical analysis of the guru in question.

Having said this, and for what its worth, the book is well written and narrated and is worth a read.

Tantra - Buddhism for the greedy and exploitative.

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There are some useful pieces in here, but it feels like there is a lot of noise or misleading concepts too. Something feels a bit off.

A limited overview

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