The Life and Visions of Yeshé Tsogyal : The Autobiography of the Great Wisdom Queen

**A new biography of Yeshé Tsogyal, the mother of Buddhism in Tibet, who is considered an enlightened being by millions throughout the Himalayan region as well as the West and remains a powerful female role model of spiritual accomplishment and perfection.**The many layers of the heroic life of Yeshé Tsogyal, Tibet’s best-known __dakini__ and female master, are revealed in this inspiring work. Translated here for the first time, this __terma__, or “hidden treasure,” presents an outer narrative of her birth, family, and struggles in a traditional male-dominated society; an inner account of her meetings with the great master Padmasambhava; and a secret chronicle of her retreat at Chimpu and her visionary journey to Oddiyana. This accomplished translation is enriched by the refreshing insights of six contemporary scholars and teachers of Tibetan Buddhism, making this invaluable guide to the life of Yeshé Tsogyal a treasure for practitioners, scholars, and anyone intent on the possibility of awakening. A New Biography Of Yeshe Tsogyal, The Mother Of Buddhism In Tibet, Who Is Considered An Enlightened Being By Millions Throughout The Himalayan Region As Well As The West And Remains A Powerful Female Role Model Of Spiritual Accomplishment And Perfection. This Secret Life Story Of Yeshe Tsogyal Presents A Valuable And Unique Perspective That Is Quite A Departure From Any Other Account Of This Remarkable Woman. Described As A 'secret Life Story', Its Many Layers Include An Outer Account--detailing Her Birth, Family, And Societal Constraints--an Inner Account That Begins As She Meets And Escapes Captivity With Guru Rinpoche, And A Secret Account As She Enters Twelve Years Of Retreat At Chimpu Only To Miraculously Journey To Oddiyana. The Role Of Women And Womanhood Is Notable Throughout Her Life Story. Her Desire For Independence Is At Odds With Her Desirability As A Woman, Leading To Numerous Tragic Incidents Early In Life.^ Finally Meeting Guru Rinpoche, She Decries Her Status As A Woman. This Sort Of Gendered Humility, A Recurring Theme, Is Juxtaposed With Her Assertion That Despite Being A Woman, And Low-born (skye Ba Dman), She Has A High Regard For Herself Anyway. It Is A Magical Woman Who Guides Her To Oddiyana, And Her Travels There Are Filled With Primarily Female Companions. In The End, She Remains Guru Rinpoche's Primary Disciple And Doctrinal Custodian. Her Experiences, While Perhaps Intense And Fantastical, Include The Same Elements Of Challenge, Learning, And Progress That All Practitioners Must Experience. During Her Adventures In Oddiyana, Yeshe Tsogyal Receives The Same Core Teachings On Faith, Impermanence, And Fortitude That Are Essential For Anyone Following This Spiritual Path. The Story Concludes With Lists Of Teachings Received And Guru Rinpoche's Prophecies For Her And Other Disciples.^ Among His Disciples, Yeshe Tsogyal Recounted This Life Story To Ben-de Sangye Yeshe, Who Is Later Reincarnated As Treasure-revealer Drime Kunga, Who Revealed This Text-- A Treasure Text Discovered By Drimé Kunga ; Translated By Chönyi Drolma ; Foreword By Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse. Translted From Tibetan. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "A new biography of Yeshe Tsogyal, the mother of Buddhism in Tibet, who is considered an enlightened being by millions throughout the Himalayan region as well as the West and remains a powerful female role model of spiritual accomplishment and perfection. This secret life story of Yeshe Tsogyal presents a valuable and unique perspective that is quite a departure from any other account of this remarkable woman. Described as a 'secret life story', its many layers include an outer account--detailing her birth, family, and societal constraints--an inner account that begins as she meets and escapes captivity with Guru Rinpoche, and a secret account as she enters twelve years of retreat at Chimpu only to miraculously journey to Oddiyana. The role of women and womanhood is notable throughout her life story. Her desire for independence is at odds with her desirability as a woman, leading to numerous tragic incidents early in life. Finally meeting Guru Rinpoche, she decries her status as a woman. This sort of gendered humility, a recurring theme, is juxtaposed with her assertion that despite being a woman, and low-born (skye ba dman), she has a high regard for herself anyway. It is a magical woman who guides her to Oddiyana, and her travels there are filled with primarily female companions. In the end, she remains Guru Rinpoche's primary disciple and doctrinal custodian. Her experiences, while perhaps intense and fantastical, include the same elements of challenge, learning, and progress that all practitioners must experience. During her adventures in Oddiyana, Yeshe Tsogyal receives the same core teachings on faith, impermanence, and fortitude that are essential for anyone following this spiritual path. The story concludes with lists of teachings received and Guru Rinpoche's prophecies for her and other disciples. Among his disciples, Yeshe Tsogyal recounted this life story to Ben-de Sangye Yeshe, who is later reincarnated as Treasure-Revealer Drime Kunga, who revealed this text"-- Provided by publisher This stunning biography reveals the heroic life of Yeshé Tsogyal—the mother of Buddhism in Tibet and a powerful female role model for spiritual accomplishment and perfection This secret life story of Yeshé Tsogyal presents a valuable and unique perspective that is quite a departure from any other account of this remarkable woman. Described as a'secret life story,'its many layers include an outer account—detailing her birth, family, and societal constraints—an inner account that begins as she meets and escapes captivity with Guru Rinpoché, and a secret account as she enters twelve years of retreat at Chimpu only to miraculously journey to Oddiyana. The role of women and womanhood is notable throughout her life story. Her desire for independence is at odds with her desirability as a woman, leading to numerous tragic incidents early in life. Finally meeting Guru Rinpoché, she decries her status as a woman. This sort of gendered humility, a recurring theme, is juxtaposed with her assertion that despite being a woman, and low-born (skye ba dman), she has a high regard for herself anyway. It is a magical woman who guides her to Oddiyana, and her travels there are filled with primarily female companions. In the end, she remains Guru Rinpoché's primary disciple and doctrinal custodian. Her experiences, while perhaps intense and fantastical, include the same elements of challenge, learning, and progress that all practitioners must experience. During her adventures in Oddiyana, Yeshé Tsogyal receives the same core teachings on faith, impermanence, and fortitude that are essential for anyone following this spiritual path. This accomplished translation is enriched by the refreshing insights of six contemporary scholars and teachers of Tibetan Buddhism, making this invaluable guide to the life of Yeshé Tsogyal a treasure for practitioners, scholars, and anyone intent on the possibility of awakening. This stunning biography reveals the heroic life of Yesh Tsogyalthe mother of Buddhism in Tibet and a powerful female role model for spiritual accomplishment and perfection This secret life story of Yesh Tsogyal presents a valuable and unique perspective that is quite a departure from any other account of this remarkable woman. Described as a "secret life story," its many layers include an outer accountdetailing her birth, family, and societal constraintsan inner account that begins as she meets and escapes captivity with Guru Rinpoch, and a secret account as she enters twelve years of retreat at Chimpu only to miraculously journey to Oddiyana. The role of women and womanhood is notable throughout her life story. Her desire for independence is at odds with her desirability as a woman, leading to numerous tragic incidents early in life. Finally meeting Guru Rinpoch, she decries her status as a woman. This sort of gendered humility, a recurring theme, is juxtaposed with her assertion that despite being a woman, and low-born ( skye ba dman ), she has a high regard for herself anyway. It is a magical woman who guides her to Oddiyana, and her travels there are filled with primarily female companions. In the end, she remains Guru Rinpoch's primary disciple and doctrinal custodian. Her experiences, while perhaps intense and fantastical, include the same elements of challenge, learning, and progress that all practitioners must experience. During her adventures in Oddiyana, Yesh Tsogyal receives the same core teachings on faith, impermanence, and fortitude that are essential for anyone following this spiritual path.This accomplished translation is enriched by the refreshing insights of six contemporary scholars and teachers of Tibetan Buddhism, making this invaluable guide to the life of Yesh Tsogyal a treasure for practitioners, scholars, and anyone intent on the possibility of awakening. A new biography of Yeshé Tsogyal, the mother of Buddhism in Tibet, who is considered an enlightened being by millions throughout the Himalayan region as well as the West and remains a powerful female role model of spiritual accomplishment and perfection. The many layers of the heroic life of Yeshé Tsogyal, Tibet’s best-known dakini and female master, are revealed in this inspiring work. Translated here for the first time, this terma , or “hidden treasure,” presents an outer narrative of her birth, family, and struggles in a traditional male-dominated society; an inner account of her meetings with the great master Padmasambhava; and a secret chronicle of her retreat at Chimpu and her visionary journey to Oddiyana. This accomplished translation is enriched by the refreshing insights of six contemporary scholars and teachers of Tibetan Buddhism, making this invaluable guide to the life of Yeshé Tsogyal a treasure for practitioners, scholars, and anyone intent on the possibility of awakening.