Grundlagen Tibetischer Mystikeines Der Grossen Quellenwerke Zum Verständnis Östlicher Weisheit ; Nach Den Esoterischen Lehren Des Grossen Mantra Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ
Il Tibet, grazie al suo naturale isolamento e alla sua inaccessibilità, è riuscito non solo a conservare ma a mantenere in vita le tradizioni del remotissimo passato, la conoscenza delle forze nascoste dell'anima umana e le somme conquiste e gli insegnamenti esoterici dei santi e dei saggi indiani. In questo libro, il più importante che sia mai stato scritto sul misticismo tibetano, l'autore intende trasmettere agli altri e al mondo in genere tutte le cognizioni e tutte le esperienze da lui acquistate negli oltre vent'anni trascorsi ai piedi dei grandi maestri nei monasteri tibetani.
I have the original version of this book with a price sticker for .35, which I must have picked up at a used bookstore long ago. It sat on my shelf for years. I think I tried to read it when I was a bit younger but it didn't resonate. I've had a few mystical experiences over the past couple of years. This book helps me put them into (a) perspective, which seems rooted in a long tradition rather than New Agism and spiritual materialism. So grateful that this book has endured so many moves and found its way back to me when I'm in need. If the book doesn't resonate with you at first, keep it on your shelf. Someday it might be just what you need. Thank you Lama Anagarika Govinda.
This provided more clarity into some difficult topics, many of the aspects of the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, the bodies of the Buddha, meditation's effects on the chakras, a very lucid explanation of the Wheel of Life and our travels in samsara, relative and absolute reality, and so much more. A lot of it was beyond me at this time, but it afforded me insights that I hadn't experienced before, and it is a wonderful book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Mantras may be interpreted by practitioners in many ways, or even as mere sequences of sound whose effects lie beyond strict semantic meaning.
The book Foundations of Tibetan Mysticism by Lama Anagarika Govinda, gives a classic example of how such a mantra can contain many levels of symbolic meaning.
The book is something for those who already have some background in Buddhism, Tibetan culture, and the importance of mantra in India from whence most of the important Buddhist teachers came from as they spread their way of life to Southeast Asia, Tibet, and Far East. I found it a big help that the author puts a lot of the more technical terms in Tibetan, Pali, and Sanskrit. I would recommend that the reader consult a translation of the Bardö Thödol (not necessarily the Lama Samdup & Evans-Wentz translation) for a good description of the five wisdoms as it comprises much of the subject matter of this book.
One of the best introductions to the esoteric Buddhist philosophy and the actual practices of Tibetan Mysticism. Llama Govinda's way of expressing deep truths and beliefs in Tibetan Buddhism are very approachable, though beautifully poetic and heady and technical enough when they need to be. Wonderful diagrams, pictures and illustrations throughout. He brings about as much logical rigor as one possibly can to esotericism. For anyone at any level of understanding of Buddhism, this is a great book to learn a LOT.
As a beginner to Buddhism this book is incredibly difficult to read. It’s written as a research book with many references to Sanskrit words and holy people/places that meant little to me. Parts were wonderful! Especially the section on HUM and the last 100 or so pages. Other parts were a pain to get through. The only way I could recommend this book is if you have a pretty thorough background in Buddhism.