Lady of the Lotus-Born

Lady of the Lotus-Born by Gyalwa Changchub. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781570623844.

The first Tibetan ever to attain enlightenment was in all probability a woman: Yeshe Tsogyal, closest disciple of Padmasambhava, the master who introduced the Buddhist teachings to Tibet in the eighth century. This book is not only her biography; it is a colorful and intriguing picture of Tibet at the beginning of the Buddhist era—a time of upheaval, when royal patronage was striving to foster the new teachings in the face of powerful opposition. It gives a kaleidoscopic picture of a vanished world, the heart of which is still alive today. It also presents an archetypal description of the teacher-disciple relationship, showing how Yeshe Tsogyal attained enlightenment in following the complete Buddhist path, including the Dzogchen teachings. Passages of profound teachings are offset by episodes of exploit and adventure, spiritual endeavor, court intrigue, and personal encounters. The dramatic story, full of beauty and song, is narrated largely in the first person and offers an intimate glimpse of Tsogyals feelings, aspirations, hardships, and triumphs. Lady of the Lotus-Born is a terma, a Dharma treasure written and concealed for future generations by the accomplished masters Gyalwa Changchub and Namkhai Nyingpo, disciples of Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal.