Introduction to Tantra: The Transformation of Desire
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-09-17 08:53:16
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Thubten Yeshe
- ISBN：1614291551
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Summary
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。
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。
Reviews
Taylor
，
A great book with a lot of food for thought。 I think some people might’ve been expecting something else， but it literally is an introduction to the practice of tantra。 It’s a great prerequisite to the practice as it explains the ideals and philosophy of tantra。 Therefore， it is not showing you the step by step of some of the practices the book mentions。 However， this is a GREAT book for getting a good understanding of what tantra is， the different levels and history and how to transform yourself A great book with a lot of food for thought。 I think some people might’ve been expecting something else， but it literally is an introduction to the practice of tantra。 It’s a great prerequisite to the practice as it explains the ideals and philosophy of tantra。 Therefore， it is not showing you the step by step of some of the practices the book mentions。 However， this is a GREAT book for getting a good understanding of what tantra is， the different levels and history and how to transform yourself。 A lot of the philosophies/ideas you can implement into your life。 I got a few good laughs too。 My only slight issue was the redundancy。 After contemplating how repetitive the book felt to me， I came to the conclusion that because of the negative ideas we hold on to， the book is constantly reminding us we have the ability to go beyond our limiting beliefs。 The book does have a lot of more abstract ideas that aren’t common in the west so it’s something to keep in mind if something is going over your head。 。。。more
Janani
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3。5
Luka
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A great way to get introduced to tantra。
Aelia
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 The book is about Buddhist Tantra （Vajrayana） and will be extremely helpful for those who are practicing Yidam/ guru yoga， visualisations or simply serious about tantra。
Maria Hrickova
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3。9
Justin Oliver
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Started off really well but got into more esoteric concepts the further along one went。 Recommend having basic knowledge of Vajrayana concepts before reading。 Book discusses the "theology" behind the faith， not a how-to guide。 Started off really well but got into more esoteric concepts the further along one went。 Recommend having basic knowledge of Vajrayana concepts before reading。 Book discusses the "theology" behind the faith， not a how-to guide。 。。。more
Thubten Palmo
，
This book really is a perfect introduction to tantra。 It doesn't require initiation and covers the key concepts in tantra thoroughly。 I'd recommend it to anyone considering taking their first empowerment， or anyone interested in Vajrayana at all This book really is a perfect introduction to tantra。 It doesn't require initiation and covers the key concepts in tantra thoroughly。 I'd recommend it to anyone considering taking their first empowerment， or anyone interested in Vajrayana at all 。。。more
Shagun
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I absolutely loved the book。 It is open and broad。 If you have a basic understanding of Buddhism， there is hardly any chance that this goes unappreciated。 Lama Yeshe himself is a renowned practioner。 The meditations explained are powerful and whole content is very authentic and profound。
Josué Gonzalez
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El tantra es un modo de vivir， se obtiene claridad para la conciencia， este libro al igual nos invita a continuar creciendo con la enseñanza del tantra。 El final es fantástico。
Xavier
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Once again I am grateful for the opportunity to receive a fresh philosophical perspective of existence。 The concepts written here are so obviously true in hindsight， it's a wonder they aren't intuited by most people on their own。 For example， the concept that all experiences filtered through individual perception are transitory and non-permanent。 It is natural for human being to want to latch onto what gives them bliss but it is this latching that causes suffering。 Instead we should recognize th Once again I am grateful for the opportunity to receive a fresh philosophical perspective of existence。 The concepts written here are so obviously true in hindsight， it's a wonder they aren't intuited by most people on their own。 For example， the concept that all experiences filtered through individual perception are transitory and non-permanent。 It is natural for human being to want to latch onto what gives them bliss but it is this latching that causes suffering。 Instead we should recognize that we are floating through a series of moments and enjoy each one as mindfully and aware as possible。 We should not deny ourselves or each other our human nature but instead develop our understanding and experiences to achieve the highest bliss。 It must be practiced and maintained just like a muscle or a skill。 It is achievable for anyone seeking to understand themselves and their place。I have to say I'm not convinced that a person absolutely needs a guide in order to achieve this understanding。 Sure， we need an introduction to the concepts， and maybe it's much easier with a guide and less hazardous falling into a cycle of suffering if we become stuck。 However， the originators of these ideas were people just as we are。 Reinventing this spiritual wheel， while difficult， could also be extemely rewarding。 I don't believe one's spiritual journey needs to be authenticated or qualified by some sort of official person。Another concept that I have difficulty with is the desire for tantric coupling。 If the male and female energies exist in every human being， why the need for coupling？ I see the appeal immediately of course but it seems like experiencing bliss in every moment is more about appreciation of existence， good or bad， rather than attempting to make oneself whole by engaging with another half。 Maybe more reading will answer this question 。。。more
Rhiannon
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Legit: required reading if you want to become an actual Jedi。
Evelyn Amaral Garcia
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I expected a lot of sex， love&rock&roll but the book was all about banal quotes on meditations and preachings on loving your neighbor and abandoning your ego。
Cody
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A clear and pragmatic introduction to the foundational elements of Vajrayana。
AL
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Always interested in how others think 。 Personally， I see contradictions and presumptions throughout but can appreciate some of what’s here。
Carl leonhard
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First half of the book is too basic compared to the second half， while the second half is to advanced to serve as an introduction。 However， if you are already quite familiar with Buddhism， the second half is indeed worth a read。
Richard
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A detailed introduction of the generation and completion stages of the Tantric Buddhist path。 A great introduction for newcomers and good overview for experienced practitioners。
Iwan Darmadi
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My second source of Tantra practice。 Lama Yeshe cleverly composed the book so it is easy to understand for beginner。
Chuck
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For people already slightly familiar with Tibetan Buddhist concepts this book will really help go a little deeper into the path of Vajryana。 If you are open minded enough to let the contents of this book to seep into your consciousness you will feel more at home in your skin。 If the reader is looking for a book on a Tantric practice that focuses on sexual energetics then this book will be a disappointment。
Nici
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Stoped reading it lol
Marlon Sánchez Gálvez
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Ni tan introductorio ni tan digerible 😕
Silvio
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Transformation & Embodiment， Expansion & Empowerment， inherent Wholeness & Purity & Wisdom & Bliss & Freedom & Enlightenment。If these words resonate with you， then Tantra is for you。Tantra in 3 concepts: #1: Transformation rather than transcendence。Everything is already here （freedom， wholeness， peace， joy， wisdom， enlightenment）， we just have to transform our perception （expand our awareness） in order to experience it。 Tantra uses the most potent tool responsible for both our suffering and our Transformation & Embodiment， Expansion & Empowerment， inherent Wholeness & Purity & Wisdom & Bliss & Freedom & Enlightenment。If these words resonate with you， then Tantra is for you。Tantra in 3 concepts: #1: Transformation rather than transcendence。Everything is already here （freedom， wholeness， peace， joy， wisdom， enlightenment）， we just have to transform our perception （expand our awareness） in order to experience it。 Tantra uses the most potent tool responsible for both our suffering and our liberation: desire。 "The function of Tantra is to transform all pleasures into the transcendental experience of deep penetrating awareness。" This deep Awareness has two aspects: Wisdom and Bliss。 Tantra is about the merging （sex） of Wisdom （feminine） and Bliss （masculine）。 Uniting the feminine and masculine energies， all polarities come into completion， into wholeness。#2: It's all in the mind （intention & imagination） - fake it till you make it。It's all in the mind， our problems and our liberation。 The way is in the mind， the "primary shaper of our experience"。 There's no difference between what we see and what we imagine - both are projections。 Finding Truth is about what we identify with - it's about Self-Recognition。 Instead of identifying with our usual misery， we identify with the enlightened qualities of a deity - and eventually we become that， which means we realize that we are that。 Usually， though， we limit our self-conception because of our belief in ordinary appearances: that is called ignorance。 Through the transformation of desire and the resultant blissful Wisdom， this ignorance is uprooted。 "The key， during both life and death， is to recognize illusions as illusions， projections as projections， and fantasies as fantasies。 In this way we become free。"#3: Empowerment。Both from the outside （initiation） and from the inside （fruits of the practices: increasing freedom， wholeness， peace， joy， wisdom， etc）。 Both initiation and practices expand our momentum on this journey。 Enlightenment is a spectrum - the more we open， the more light comes in。The three prerequisites for tantric practice:#1: Renunciation - emerging from dissatisfaction through （inner） detachment from worldly pleasures （& pains）#2: The dedicated heart of bodhicitta - opening the heart into selfless compassion#3: The correct view of emptiness - the "middle way" （see Nagarjuna）， dissolving self-created limitationsThe four qualities for tantric practice:#1: Indestructible devotion#2: Freedom from doubt#3: One-pointed concentration#4: Secrecy concerning our practices"True practice is something we do from moment to moment， from day to day。 We do whatever we can， with whatever wisdom we have， and dedicate it all to the benefit of others。 （。。。） We don't need to wait until we are buddhas before we can begin to act。" 。。。more
DropOfOcean
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3。5 stars。 Very clearly written book which is rather fast read even if you spend some time contemplating。 Some very nice writings about the self and God and what keeps us down。 As for criticism there could have been more content， especially practical content even though I am well aware that putting such stuff in book is very difficult。
Brittany Lee
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Audiobook Rating: 1 starThis was a bit confusing， a tad repetitive， and not nearly compassionate enough at times， for my own personal liking。I had a really hard time absorbing this info in the audiobook format。 It felt repetitive then scattered， it didn't flow well in a way that was helpful to me。 I may have had an easier time with the print edition but I don't think I'll be finding out。 Here's why:I like teachers that can speak about diversity （East vs West） without a belittling tone， such as w Audiobook Rating: 1 starThis was a bit confusing， a tad repetitive， and not nearly compassionate enough at times， for my own personal liking。I had a really hard time absorbing this info in the audiobook format。 It felt repetitive then scattered， it didn't flow well in a way that was helpful to me。 I may have had an easier time with the print edition but I don't think I'll be finding out。 Here's why:I like teachers that can speak about diversity （East vs West） without a belittling tone， such as what I felt from this tantra book。 Maybe it was just the way the narrator said the words， but something felt off to me， as in aren't we supposed to be past judgment， instead of passing it off as passive-aggressive humor？ This teacher is not the one for me and that's ok！ I like Pantanjali's works better and think I'll go back to those。 This is a matter of personal opinion。This should in no way discourage others from checking this title out！ （I'm extremely picky with my mentors， what works for me may differ from what works for you and that's completely alright！ We are all at different stages in life。）The one thing that did stand out to me， a great reminder， was that we should be acting as if we are God（s） and Goddess（es） now。 Compassionate， Open， Calm， At One， Enlightened。This title is available on Amazon's Audible Plus Catalog。 I was under no obligation to write a review my honest opinion is freely given。 。。。more
Erin Matson
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I enjoyed Introduction to Tantra， and reading it has helped me expand my perceptions。 However， I found myself getting lost on a few occasions。 Perhaps this is a defect of my own mind， but regardless， with a name like “introduction” I was expecting a little more hand-holding for newbies。
Paññādhammika Bhikkhu
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Really sounds almost like Theravada。 I suspect it's a lot of repackaging the same spiritual stuffs。 Really sounds almost like Theravada。 I suspect it's a lot of repackaging the same spiritual stuffs。 。。。more
Anna Yang
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Full comprehensive review of tantric philosophy and main concepts。 Good starting point to explore tantra
Shyam Bodhisattva
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It is a pretty good introduction to Tantra， especially to someone who already has a basic understanding of the overall nature of the non-dual approach to Self-realization。It is so refreshing and inspiring to read a book that is explaining the approach from a personal， contemplative position instead of exploring it in a 'popular'， reductive way of carnality which could be essentially manipulative。 It is a pretty good introduction to Tantra， especially to someone who already has a basic understanding of the overall nature of the non-dual approach to Self-realization。It is so refreshing and inspiring to read a book that is explaining the approach from a personal， contemplative position instead of exploring it in a 'popular'， reductive way of carnality which could be essentially manipulative。 。。。more
Aceso Under Glass
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"Step 1: Renunciation" is not tantra "Step 1: Renunciation" is not tantra 。。。more
Daniel
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Pretty shallow。 Probably only useful to someone who has no idea what buddhist tantra is。
Joseph
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