224 pp.
# TAETEX - $ 16.95

TANTRIC ETHICS: An Explanation of the Precepts for Buddhist Vajrayana Practice

by Tsongkhapa, trans. by Gareth Sparham, fore. by Jeffrey Hopkins.

Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), one of Tibet's greatest philosophers, here explains the highest sets of vows required for tantra to be successfully practiced. This is the first English translation of this valuable work.

Tantra, or Vajrayana, Buddhism is a set of esoteric practices that involve mantra recitation and complex visualizations. Tantra constitutes the fabric of a Tibetan Buddhist's daily practice, but no practice of tantra can be successful without adherence to the tantric precepts, the highest of three complementary sets of vows. Tsongkhapa is perhaps the greatest philosopher ever produced by Tibet's Buddhist culture, and this book is a translation of his explanation of the tantric precepts.

"Only a scholar with his long familiarity with Tibetan religious life and Buddhist doctrine could be a reliable guide to this treasure. I highly recommend it for practitioner and scholar alike."--Jeffrey Hopkins, author of Cultivating Compassion, Death, Intermediate State and Rebirth in Tibetan Buddhism, and Absorption in No External World

"Another masterpiece by Tsongkhapa has just appeared in print: Tantric Ethics: An Explanation of the Precepts for Buddhist Vajrayana Practice. In this work, Tsongkhapa carefully lays out the precepts for tantric practitioners and addresses dilemmas such as those faced by Tibetan monks who vow to uphold the fundamental monastic precepts against violence and simultaneously take the tantric vow not to refrain from violence when it's called for. Questions like this were of vital importance throughout Tibetan Buddhist history and generated an enormous body of specialized literature. Translator Gareth Sparham labored for twenty-five years in his attempt to unravel and explain the complexity of Tsongkhapa's account. His introduction orients the reader with a thorough grounding in the issues at stake and the terms in which they were debated. Tantric Ethics offers a glimpse into one of the most important debates in Tibetan Buddhist thought, and provides fertile ground for reflection on ways to define a Buddhist morality."--Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Journal

"A wonderful book that contains a masterly translation of Je Tsongkhapa's explanation of the tantric vows, providing a clear explanation of each vow and the criteria for determining when a downfall has occurred. A must-read for practitioners and scholars alike."--Mandala