Sky Dancer: The Secret Life and Songs of Lady Yeshe Tsogyel

by Yeshe Tsogyel, Taksham Nuden Dorje (Contributor), Thinley Norbu (Contributor)

Yeshe Tsogyel, consort of Guru Padmasambhava, is the most famous of the enlightened women of Tibet. Women have a special place in tantra, but except for Sky Dancer there are few writings that present the spiritual practices and evolution of female aspirants. Here women are in an eminent position, and a path of practice is given for present-day initiates to emulate. Keith Dowman has added a commentary on the path of inner tantra, woman and the dakini, and the Nyingma lineages.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Historical, Occult, Religion

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Paul Hoehn]

This was my first Tibetan Buddhist primary source I have encountered, and I really enjoyed it! A mix of epic, hagiography, and spiritual primer. Nice to get away from academic discourse about these topics and experience some of the aesthetic qualities of Tibetan texts. I can’t say I was gripped the whole time. There are many, many, lists in here—sometimes I was into the groaning table of some of these sentences, other times my eyes glazed over. And this life is certainly not immune to the smugness that often turns me off in Buddhist literature. But there was always something interesting around every corner. I will definitely carry the idea of having a vajra in every pore with me into the future. The back literature had some interesting perspectives. I especially enjoyed the chapter on woman and dakini in Tibetan Buddhist spirituality — a franker discussion of the topic than I have encountered elsewhere.

[Emily O.]

As is typical of Tantric texts, this book was laden with difficult-to-understand imagery and symbolism. Nonetheless, the footnotes were extremely helpful, and by setting aside the time to understand the details, layers of meaning were illuminated and I was able to understand the book. There were portions of this book which were troublesome from an ethical standpoint, but the overarching narratives of compassion and physical and spiritual transformation were vivid and inspiring. I ended up writing an essay on the imagery of the "rainbow body," or one that transcends dualisms and stretches into various corners of suffering and is thereby better equipped to extend compassion in a wider range of circumstances.
Overall not something I would suggest for someone only slightly interested in Tantra or Buddhism; I would suggest other things first.

[Scott Rennie]

I have read parts of this book for a few years now but this is the first time I've read it from cover to cover. The main part of this book is moderately difficult to access, being Yeshe Tsogyal's own account of her life, however there is some juice in there so it is worthwhile to read. My favourite part though was Keith Dowman's commentary which is wonderful in explaining some aspects of the Tantra of Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal. Thoroughly recommended but best appreciated with several years of study and meditation experience within Tibetan Buddhism.

[Marzi]

a bit sensationalized view of the life of the leading female teacher of tibetan buddhism, yeshe tsogyal.

[Ludmirska]

"so be composed, tsogyelma! you and i will never part. but on the relative plane, farewell! and through my compassionate prayer, may tibet be happy."

[Tserim Om]

It all about how Khandro Yeshey Tshogyel benefited sentients, the journey to Ja-Lus body!!!
One must read, no summary worth for you.

[Linus]

Excellent hagiography of Lady Yeshe Tsogyal, one of the greatest teachers in Tibetan history.

[Noelle]

So far, like nothing I ever read, and it's suppossed to be a true story.
It's fancy, Update: It's really kinda wild, a keeper. Has some beautiful illustrations too.