Life and Revelations of Pema Lingpa

Pema Lingpa (1450-1521) was the greatest terton, or treasure-revealer, of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. This pithy collection offers both quintessential meditation instructions and a revealing look at the court of Tibet's great king (and student of Padmasambhava) Trisong Detsen. Uniquely, the questions posed by Princess Pemasel and the ladies of court help weave intriguing issues of gender into the fabric of Pema Lingpa's teachings. The women's doubts and hesitations are masterfully resolved in this impassioned exchange. Pema Lingpa's life story rounds out a beautifully realized and translated masterpiece of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

Sarah Harding, translator of Machik's Complete Explanation, teaches at Naropa University and lives in Boulder, CO.