Highest yoga tantra : an introduction to the esoteric Buddhism of Tibet

From the Back Cover This extraordinary book clearly outlines and discusses the methods for transforming both body and mind through the highest forms of tantric practice. Highest Yoga Tantra is the pinnacle of tantric systems found in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Part One discusses the practices common to sutra and tantra. Part Two presents the generation stage of Highest Yoga Tantra. Part Three covers the entirety of the completion stage yogas (i.e., physical isolation, verbal isolation, mental isolation, illusory body, clear light, and union). Part Four compares the Kalachakra and Guhyasamaja stages of completion. Remarkable for its definitive clarity, this exposition of the stages of Highest Yoga Tantra is the first of its kind in the English language and a must for anyone interested in these highest tantras. "This book is an extremely lucid overview of the generation and completion stages of Highest Yoga Tantra."--The Middle Way "This book deserves to be a most popular book on Tantra. It captures both the essence and detail that bring these esoteric topics to life."--Jeffrey Hopkins, University of Virginia "...the best introduction to the subject, well written and authoritative."--John Powers, Australian National University "Although the Kalachakra Tantra contains unique qualities not found elsewhere in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, it is essential to understand that it also exemplifies the category of practices referred to as Anuttara Yoga tantra (highest yoga tantra). Cozort's now-classic text is peerless as an introduction to the theoretical and practical underpinnings of highest yoga tantra, and to the relationship of this level of practice to sutra traditions and the Buddhist path as a whole. A special section comparing the completion stage in the Kalachakra to that of Guhyasamaja will be especially informative and helpful for the aspiring student and practitioner."--Mandala: A Tibetan Buddhist Journal Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of Charts......Page 9 1 Wisdom and Method......Page 25 2 Bodies of a Buddha......Page 26 3 Initiations......Page 37 4 General System of Highest Yoga Tantra......Page 63 5 Signs Accompanying Dissolutions......Page 75 The Four Empties and the Four Joys......Page 93 7 The Coarse, the Subtle, and the Very Subtle......Page 98 8 The Illusory Body and the Dream Body......Page 103 9 Correlations to the Bodies of the Buddha......Page 106 10 Meanings of Clear Light......Page 111 11 Transformation of the Ordinary State in the Path......Page 115 12 Drops in the Kalachakra System......Page 123 Individual Withdrawal......Page 125 14 Achievement of a Buddha's Body, Speech, and Mind......Page 129 Technical Note......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Preface......Page 13 Part One: Highest Yoga Tantra in the Context of Great Vehicle Buddhism......Page 20 1 The Superiority of Secret Mantra......Page 22 2 Paths Common to Sutra and Tantra......Page 30 The Need for Compassion......Page 31 The Need for Wisdom......Page 32 3 Initiation......Page 35 4 Pledges and Vows......Page 38 Part Two: The Stage of Generation of Highest Yoga Tantra......Page 40 1 Features of the Stage of Generation......Page 42 Winds......Page 43 Channels......Page 45 Dissolution of Winds......Page 46 Death, Intermediate State, and Rebirth......Page 47 Coarse and Subtle Yogas......Page 49 Three Meditative Stabilizations......Page 52 Four Levels of Achievement......Page 53 3 Calm Abiding and Special Insight......Page 56 4 Divine Pride......Page 58 5 Distinguishing Persons from Paths......Page 60 Part Three: The Stage of Completion of Highest Yoga Tantra......Page 64 The Six Levels of the Satage of Completion......Page 66 1 Physical Isolation......Page 69 Etymology of Physical Isolation......Page 70 Divisions of Physical Isolation......Page 71 Fierce Woman......Page 72 The White and Red Drops......Page 73 The Four Empties......Page 74 The Four Joys......Page 77 Viewing Appearances As Bliss and Emptiness......Page 79 Deities......Page 81 Returning to Meditation on Emptiness......Page 84 Etymology of Verbal Isolation......Page 85 Meditation of a Mantra Drop......Page 87 Meditation on a Light Drop......Page 88 Meditation on a Substance Drop......Page 89 3 Mental Isolation......Page 90 Two Conditions for Attaining Mental Isolation......Page 91 4 Impure Illusory Body......Page 95 The Coarse, the Subtle, and the Very Subtle......Page 96 The Four Empties and the Illusory Body......Page 100 Exemplification of the Illusory Body......Page 101 5 Clear Light......Page 107 Attaining Clear Light After Sutra Paths......Page 108 Types of Clear Light......Page 110 6 Learner's Union......Page 112 Bringing Death to the Path......Page 114 Part Four: A Comparion of the Kalachakra and Guhyasamaja Stages of Completion......Page 116 1 Systems of Highest Yoga Tantra......Page 118 2 Channels, Winds, and Drops......Page 120 3 Levels of the Kalachakra Stage of Completion......Page 124 Subsequent Mindfulness......Page 127 Meditative Stabilization......Page 128 3 Summary of Differences with Repect to Practice......Page 130 4 The Five Paths and Ten Grounds......Page 133 Glossary, Bibliography, Notes, Index......Page 136 Glossary......Page 138 2. Sanskrit and Tibetan Texts Cited in This Book......Page 146 3. Other Works......Page 150 Notes......Page 157 Index......Page 186

This extraordinary book clearly outlines and discusses the methods for transforming both body and mind through the highest forms of tantric practice. Highest Yoga Tantra is the pinnacle of tantric systems found in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Part One discusses the practices common to sutra and tantra. Part Two presents the generation stage of Highest Yoga Tantra. Part Three covers the entirety of the completion stage yogas (i.e., physical isolation, verbal isolation, mental isolation, illusory body, clear light, and union). Part Four compares the Kalachakra and Guhyasamaja stages of completion. Remarkable for its definitive clarity, this exposition of the stages of Highest Yoga Tantra is the first of its kind in the English language and a must for anyone interested in these highest tantras.