The real history of man is the history of religion. The truth of the famous dictum of Max Muller, the father of the History of Religions, is nowhere so obvious as in Tibet. Western students have observed that religion and magic pervade not only the forms of Tibetan art, politics, and society, but also every detail of ordinary human existence. And what is the all-pervading religion of Tibet? The Buddhism of that country has been described to us, of course, but that does not mean the question has been answered. The unique importance of Stephan Beyeris work is that it presents the vital material ignored or slighted by others: the living ritual of Tibetan Buddhists. The reader is made a witness to cultic proceedings through which the author guides him carefully. He does not force one to accept easy explanations nor does he direct one's attention only to aspects that can be counted on to please. He leads one step by step, without omitting anything, through entire rituals, and interprets whenever necessary without being unduly obtrusive. Oftentimes, as in the case of the many hymns to the goddess Tara, the superb translations speak directly to the reader, and it is indeed as if the reader himself were present at the ritual.
Product Identifiers
Publisher
University of California Press
ISBN-13
9780520036352
eBay Product ID (ePID)
95189773
Product Key Features
Book Title
The Cult of Tara: Magic and Ritual in Tibet
Author
Stephan V. Beyer
Format
Paperback
Language
English
Topic
Religious History
Publication Year
1978
Number of Pages
572 Pages
Dimensions
Item Height
229mm
Item Width
152mm
Volume
2
Item Weight
771g
Additional Product Features
Title_Author
Stephan V. Beyer
Series Title
Hermeneutics: Studies in the History of Religions
Country/Region of Manufacture
United States
Best Selling in Books
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Books