The Generation Stage in Buddhist Tantra

This book is the perfect companion to "Creation and Completion; Essential Points of Tantric Meditation" by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye (ISBN 0861713125). I you compare these two books, then "Creation and Completion" is more concerned with explanations of the principles of Tantric meditation; while this book, "Generating the Deity", provides thorough explanations of the practical details of the general practice itself. Both books are very worthwhile to study, if you are interested in the "creation (generating) stage" and "completion stage" of deity practice in the Buddhist Tantrayana (also called: Vajrayana, or Mantrayana).

Gyatrul Rinpoche is one of a handful of Tibetan masters who have decided to publish certain material usually reserved for "personal transmission." Anyone practicing visualization (so-called "kye rim") according to the nyingma school of buddhism will find this book invaluable help for remembering the many detailed aspects of symbolism involved in this level of practice. The beginner may get bored. Even so, I would recommend you buy it, and wait. You'll need it sooner or later.