Timeless Rapture

Throughout history awakened ones have celebrated the rapture of mystical states with inspired verse sung extemporaneously. This book offers a rare glimpse into the mysticism of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage a tradition based mainly on the profound teaching of two women. This compendium of spontaneous verse sung by tantric Buddhist masters from the 10th century to the present includes translations as well as short descriptions of each poet's life and a historical overview of the lineage."Only a fraction of Tibet's vast literature of mystical poetry has yet been translated into other languages. Now with the gift of Ngawang Zangpo's inspired English translations the exquisite expressions of inner experience sung by the greatest men and women of the Shangpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism are available to the world."—Cyrus Stearns, author of The Buddha from Dolpo, Hermit of Go Gliffs, and Luminous Lives

"Our lineage's past spiritual masters used songs to express their manifest experience and realization of the spiritual path's vital subjects such as the trio of basis path and result; or view meditation and conduct; as well as dispelling hindrances and enriching meditative experience. The blessings of the lineage enter our heart the very best technique to realize our mind's abiding nature Great Seal. I pray that all who see hear or read this book be blessed."— Bokar Rinpoche

"Highly commendable volume....flows beautifully and [is] rendered by a skilled and experienced translator..."— Journal of Asian StudiesJamgön Kongtrül (1813–1899) was a versatile and prolific scholar. He has been characterized as a "Tibetan Leonardo" because of his significant contributions to religion, education, medicine, and politics.