Images of enlightenment : Tibetan art in practice

Description: One of the most striking aspects of Tibetan Buddhism is its wealth of visual imagery. Ranging from the tranquility of a serenely poised meditator to the dynamic energy of apparently wrathful figures, this vivid and diverse imagery often leaves Western observers as puzzled as they are fascinated. Who are these figures, and what do they mean? Images of Enlightenment answers the need for a clear and straightforward guide to the inner world of Tibetan Buddhist sacred art. Focusing on some of its most important and representative images, this richly illustrated book introduces the reader to the tradition of spiritual self-transformation embodied by these depictions of enlightened energy through clear iconographic representations and descriptions. -- from publisher

Table of Contents: THE FOUNDER AND HIS TEACHINGS
Shakyamuni Buddha
The Wheel of Life
The Arhat Lam-chung
Stupa of Enlightenment
THE BODHISATTVA PATH
Prajnaparamita
Avalokiteshvara
Manjushri
Vajrapani
THE FIVE BUDDHA FAMILIES
Sambhogakaya Aspects of the Buddhas of the Five Families
Amitabha
ENLIGHTENED ACTIVITY
Green Tara
White Tara
Ushnisha Vijaya
Amitayus
Medicine Buddha
Vaishravana
THE PATH OF BLISS AND EMPTINESS
Vajradhara
Vajrasattva
Guhyasamaja
Yamantaka and Dharmaraja
Heruka Chakrasamvara
Vajrayogini
Buddha Vajradharma
Mahakala
A LIVING TRADITION
Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava
Atisha
Sakya Pandita
Marpa the Translator and Jetsun Milarepa
Je Tsong Khapa
MAITREYA, THE FUTURE BUDDHA
LIST OF COLOR PLATES
Plate 1 Shakyamuni Buddha
Plate 2 Wheel of Life Plate 3 Stupa of Enlightenment
Plate 4 Prajnaparamita
Plate 5 Four-armed Avalokiteshvara
Plate 6 Thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara
Plate 7 Manjushri
Plate 8 Vajrapani
Plate 9 Sambhogakaya aspects of the buddhas of the five families
Plate 10 Amitabha
Plate 11 Green Tara
Plate 12 White Tara
Plate 13 Amitayus
Plate 14 Medicine Buddha
Plate 15 Vaishravana
Plate 16 Vajradhara
Plate 17 Vajrasattva
Plate 18 Vajrasattva with Consort
Plate 19 Guhyasamaja
Plate 20 Yamantaka
Plate 21 Dharmaraja
Plate 22 Two-armed Heruka Chakrasamvara
Plate 23 Twelve-armed Heruka Chakrasamvara
Plate 24 Vajrayogini
Plate 25 Vajradharma
Plate 26 Mahakala
Plate 27 Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava
Plate 28 Sakya Pandita
Plate 29 Marpa the Translator
Plate 30 Jetsun Milarepa
Plate 31 Je Tsong Khapa
Plate 32 Maitreya
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 Grid pattern for the face of Shakyamuni Buddha
Figure 2 Grid pattern for the unadorned body of Shakyamuni Buddha
Figure 3 Grid pattern for the robed body of Shakyamuni Buddha
Figure 4 The Arhat Lam-chung
Figure 5 The abstract form of a stupa and corresponding buddha image
Figure 6 The Tibetan yogini Machig Labdron
Figure 7 Nirmanakaya aspects of the buddhas of the five families
Figure 8 Ushnisha Vijaya
Figure 9 Atisha
Figure 10 The mahasiddha Tilopa
Figure 11 Je Tsong Khapa with Gyaltsab Je (left) and Khedrub Je (right)
Figure 12 Khedrub Je's vision of Je Tsong Khapa
Figure 13 The eyes of Boudhanath Stupa
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Attributes of the five buddha families
Table 2 Transformation and the five buddhas
Table 3 Symbolism of the yab-yum embrace
Table 4 Guhyasamaja and the buddha families
Table 5 Stages in the death process,
Table 6 Correspondences between death, sleep and the three buddha bodies,

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