Synopses & Reviews
The Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso (1683-1706), refused to take full monastic vows, returned the vows that he had already taken, and loved alcohol, archery, and women with a passion that perhaps suggests he had a premonition of his early death at the age of twenty-four. He also wrote a remarkable collection of love poetry. In this book, the author offers a completely new translation of the erotic poems attributed to the Sixth Dalai Lama. With hints on how to read the verses, as well as explanations of obscure points or allusions, the author makes this extraordinary Dalai Lama and his verses accessible to those with no background in the study of Buddhism or Tibet. This first translation to be based on the latest critical edition will be of great interest to those eager to learn more about Eastern religion and spirituality.
Review
"[This is] a veritable gem for those who continue to find Tibetan Buddhism, and in particular the figure of the Dalai Lama, a source of fascination."--Thupten Jinpa, principal English-language translator to H.H. the Dalai Lama
About the Author
Paul Williams is the author of five previous books and is Professor of Indian and Tibetan Philosophy at the University of Bristol. He lives in the United Kingdom.