The Dalai Lama's Secret Temple: Tantric Wall Paintings from Tibet

by Ian A. Baker, Thomas Laird, Dalai Lama XIV (Introduction)

Presents photographs of the Lukhang temple and its murals and a description of the works within their historical, cultural, and artistic context.

Genres: Buddhism, Art, Spirituality

216 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2000

Reviews

[Mahmoud Awad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pros:
+ Annotations provided, in English and their original Tibetan!
+ Bodhisattvas of the Eastern mural listed, numbered, and extremely well-organized in the text.
+ Surprisingly interesting commentary on the peculiarities of the 5th Dalai Lama and pre-Buddhist Bon religion.
+ Concise, simple English assessment of the esoteric traditions. Would make a very serviceable supplement for Intro to Buddhism course-load.

Cons:
- Plates detailing North and Western murals are challenging to follow sequentially. A legend in the character of the Eastern mural would be useful - but given the exquisite attention to detail in the mural-maps after each chapter heading, this may a trivial concern.

[Lindsay Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reveals the secret wall paintings inside the Dalai Lama's secret meditation chamber in Tibet's Potala Palace - paintings never before seen outside of inner Tibetan Buddhist practice. Long kept secret, the Dalai Lama indicates that he believes it is now time to release these images to the world with the hope that they will speed the enlightenment of all serious practitioners. The paintings printed and explained in the book are no less than revelatory to anyone who has studied the Tibetan Buddhist tradition deeply.

[Nigel_s · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like the Caves of Elephanta, Ian Baker decodes one of the worlds most enchanting places. A place where only the most enlightened of Tibetan Buddhist monks would be allowed to visit.