The premiere volume of Thupten Jinpa"s thirty-volume LIBRARY OF TIBETAN CLASSICS, to be inaugurated to coincide with the Dalai Lama"s conferral of the initiation rite of Kalachakra in Toronto in April 2004. The Kalachakra (literally, "Wheel of Time") tantra, a core practice of Tibetan Buddhism, is a method for transforming the universe by working with the body and mind. This first volume of the LIBRARY OF TIBETAN CLASSICS Series was hand-picked by the Dalai Lama - who recognized it as the finest possible explication of this practice - and overseen by Thupten Jinpa, whose work has been indispensable to Tibetan Buddhism, both in the West and on the whole.

"An excellent introduction to the more advanced forms of Indian-Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism in general. Kilty's translation is accurate and faithful to the original. Being a translation rather than an interpretation, the book presupposes that the reader has a solid foundation in basic Buddhism and the Mahayana, and some acquaintance with the Vajrayana. This book is required reading for advanced students of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism; it belongs in any library seeking thorough coverage of the Buddhist tradition."--John Newman, New College of Florida
"A radiant gem drawn from the vast ocean of Tibetan literature on the Kalackra tantra. It provides a clear, comprehensive summary of the basic structure and essential features of this important system of mysticism. Also, Khedrup Norsang Gyatso's interpretations of controversial issues in the Kalackra contribute to our understanding of the evolution of Tibetan theories of mysticism. Gavin Kilty's faithful translation makes this work easily accessible--it is a fitting inaugural volume for The Library of Tibetan Classics."--John Newman, MacArthur Professor of Asian Religions, New College of Florida
"Spectacular."--E. Gene Smith, Founder, Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center

Ornament of stainless light : an exposition of the outer, inner, and other Kalacakra
Compilation of the Root and Condensed tantra	p. 25
The primordial mind and body	p. 53
The three themes of Kalacakra tantra	p. 75
The formation of the external world and its dimensions	p. 79
The inhabitants of this world	p. 91
The stars and the planets	p. 105
Resolving contradictions between Kalacakra and Abhidharma cosmology	p. 145
The development of the body	p. 161
Channels, winds, and drops	p. 177
Discrepancies between Kalacakra and other tantras	p. 195
Qualifications of master and disciple	p. 211
Description of the mandala	p. 225
The initiations	p. 231
The seven childhood initiations	p. 243
The four higher initiations	p. 247
The higher-than-high initiations	p. 257
The two stages	p. 271
The generation stage	p. 277
The two accumulations	p. 281
The body vajra	p. 285
Analysis of the colors of the lunar-day deities	p. 303
Resolving doubts concerning the process of generation	p. 317
The speech vajra	p. 341
The mind vajra	p. 369
The gnosis vajra	p. 375
The six-branched yoga	p. 391
Withdrawal : night yoga	p. 411
Withdrawal : day yoga	p. 439
The yoga of meditative absorption	p. 461
Pranayama : the yoga of the winds	p. 475
Vajra recitation	p. 483
Vase yoga	p. 495
The yoga of retention	p. 513
The yoga of recollection	p. 523
The yoga of meditative concentration	p. 553
The fruits of the two stages	p. 585
Table of Tibetan translation	p. 595
Enumerations mentioned in the text	p. 598
Time measurement	p. 602
Linear measurement	p. 604
Kalacakra word-numerals	p. 605
Approximation and accomplishment in the six-branched yoga	p. 610
The six elements and the inner world	p. 611
Kalacakra-related chronology	p. 612
Diagram : the Kalacakra world realm	p. 615
Diagram : the sun's path over the earth and water mandalas	p. 616
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

ISBN: 9780861714520
ISBN-10: 0861714520
Series: Library of Tibetan Classics
Audience: General
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 672
Published: 1st August 2001
Publisher: Wisdom Publications,U.S.
Country of Publication: US
Dimensions (cm): 22.8 x 15.2 x 5.41
Weight (kg): 1.24