Introduction to Tantra : The Transformation of Desire

Tibetan Buddhism is a very complex and difficult topic to explain to anyone, especially people from the West. Lama Yeshe had a rare gift to take difficult concepts, present them logically and concisely, in a way that brings the essence of tantra to life. What this book is not about, is "tantric sexual practices" as they are so often presented out of contex in the West. Rather, it is about the tantrayana (resultant) path of harnessing all of your energies and realizing your true nature in the present moment, which is love, compassion and wisdom. This is in contrast to the sutrayana (causal) path, which is the more gradual path of cleansing the mind and replacing conditioned responses in a slow and systematic way with more beneficial responses characterized by love and wisdom. In a nutshell, tantrayana is the fast path. This book explains this complicated system very well in approximately 168 pages. For people looking for more in-depth explanations and lots of history, try "Secret of the Vajra World" by Reginald Ray. However, I would still get Lama Yeshe's book as a roadmap or excellent short summary presented in a different style. Lastly, Lama Yeshe has a gift for words. While the many of the concepts of tantra are presented in other reputable works, there is something about Lama Yeshe's presentation that carries a combination of depth and simplicity that sinks in deeply and touches the heart.

Tantra is a very complex and difficult subject to understand, and this book may be one the best short introductions to the theory and practice of tantra. Note that it is written for practitioners, not scholars, as is common with books by Lama Yeshe. Not that a scholar might not be quite interested in what Lama Yeshe has to say. Although there are many books on tantra and Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Yeshe's stand out as unique due to his ability to speak in a language easily accessible to Westerners. He is so direct and has such a good sense of humor that very few people who are genuinely interested will not find special gems in this book. Although compiled from many of Lama Yeshe's oral teachings by his students, it reads as a seemless whole. They have done a brilliant job in this respect. If you have just begun tantric practice, or even if you are practicing anuttarayoga tantra, this book could be very beneficial to you. Lama Yeshe goes through the essential aspects of tantra, such as dissolution, meditation on emptiness, arising as the deity, etc., explaining the purpose and feel of each of these parts. This is something that is often not explained, at least not as clearly as here, so I think this is valuable information for those practicing these kinds of meditations. For those interested in the transformations that tantric meditation can bring about, "The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra" might also be interesting, by Rob Preece.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a clear, concise, non-technical introduction to vajrayana buddhism according to the tibetan tradition. It is easy to read but it actually contains a lot of information so at the same time it's very condensed and you may find it useful reading some chapters again. Those looking for books dealing with 'sacred sex' or that kind of stuff will be disappointed, ..., but this book presents a refreshing, radical view that CAN change our lives in profound ways.

All of Lama Thupten Yeshe's books are well worth reading, and this is one of his best. Tantra is a very commonly misunderstood subject in the West, so an introduction like this by a genuine tantric master is particularly valuable. Anyone interested in penetrating the true meaning of Buddhist tantric practice would do well to start with this highly readable and authoritative guide. Lama Yeshe's wisdom, experience and clarity shine through on every page.

When I read this book I was taken aback: it was so beautifully written and so clear in its explaination, that I found myself staring at the picture of Lama Yeshe on the back cover, thanking him for this wonderful gift. It is very rare, in my experience, to find a book which combines such authoritative lucidity, based very much on personal experience, with heart-warming humility. Unlike many books which focus merely on the techniques of "surface" Tantra, this book explores its very essence. Thank you Lama Yeshe for your beautiful book.