Lady of the Lotus-Born: The Life and Enlightenment of Yeshe Tsogyal

by Gyalwa Changchub, Namkhai Nyingpo, Padmakara Translation Group (Translator)

The first Tibetan to attain complete enlightenment was in all probability the woman Yeshe Tsogyal, the closest disciple of Padmasambhava, the master who brought Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century. This classical text is not only a biography but also an inspiring example of how the Buddha's teaching can be put into practice. Lady of the Lotus-Born interweaves profound Buddhist teachings with a colorful narrative that includes episodes of adventure, court intrigue, and personal searching. The book will appeal to students of Tibetan Buddhism and readers interested in the role of women in Buddhism and world religions.

Genres: Buddhism

296 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 2002

Reviews

[Brian Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was written about 1,000 years ago in one of the world's most isolated regions, but it's an epic spiritual adventure with one of the greatest female heroes in world literature. This is a woman of incredible intelligence and drive, who inspires a whole nation. It's a tale mixing medieval-style myths and miracles with surprisingly modern-style personal honesty. At first, Tsogyal's precocious girlhood abilities make the Buddhist path look dramatically easy. But gigantic trials will come, including rape and all other abuses commonly suffered by traditional women. The privations she endures rival those of St. Antony (but hers are colder). Her deeds of compassion surpass those of St. Francis. Her humiliations rival those of St. Augustine. In the end, Tsogyal's insight transforms it all. The strangest thing to most Western readers is the role of sex in spiritual practice. With Tsogyal's path, we can speak of "right sex" as a means of enlightenment. This story should be one of the planet's spiritual classics, and even the notes and glossary are full of good stories.

[Marsha Altman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess you can only rate a translated ancient text as a "book" by its introduction, which is thorough and adds a lot to the reading.