The Tantric Mysticism of Tibet

John Blofeld

The vajrayana or vehicle of tantra is the school of mahayana Buddhism prevalent in Tibet and Mongolia.  A highly practical form of mysticism, it affords precise techniques for attaining the wisdom of nonduality.  Mr. Blofeld, well known for his clear and accessible writings on Buddhism and Taoism, details the fruitful methods of meditation of the Tibetan Buddhists. 

Divided into chapters on background and theory and those on practice, the author elucidates basic Buddhist doctrines along with the various techniques and prerequisites for tantra.  He begins by explaining the setting of mahayana teachings and carefully shows the transition to tantric practice.  Refuge, bodhisattva vow, relationship to the guru, the preliminaries of vajrayana, initiation, sadhana practice and the importance of the yidam are some of the many topics skillfully presented.