Snow Lion Publications

ABOUT SNOW LION PUBLICATIONS

"I have consistently run into the name Snow Lion in my research on Tibetan Buddhism and have come to greatly appreciate the fantastic library of texts that your company continues to amass for all of us in the West who do not have access or ability to read the myriad of Tibetan and Sanskrit works which embody the teachings and ideals of such a wonderful culture."—a customer from Hampshire College

Snow Lion Publications was established in 1980 in Ithaca, New York. Inspired by a meeting with the Dalai Lama, the three individuals who began Snow Lion vowed to create a press devoted to the preservation of Tibetan Buddhism and culture. The original idea was to present translations from all the schools of Tibetan Buddhism and to publish academic as well as popular titles. The editors were particularly interested in publishing monastic textbooks from the various traditions. The first manuscripts offered were primarily from Glenn Mullin, Jeffrey Hopkins, and his students at the University of Virginia, the foremost academic program in the West for Tibetan Buddhist studies. Despite initial financial hardship, Snow Lion has gone on to become the largest press devoted to Tibetan Buddhism, having published over 200 titles on Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism (printing over one million copies) and distributing over 650 titles published by other presses. Read more about us by visiting Snow Lion's Story, and also read a Mandala Magazine article about Snow Lion's early founding days with the Dalai Lama: Twenty-Five Years of Kindness, Clarity & Insight.

Prayer banners over entrance to main office building and store

Snow Lion distributes hundreds of Dharma products, including video and audio tapes of teachings by Tibetan lamas, thangkas and other wall hangings, statues of buddhas, ritual items, prayer beads, T-shirts, meditation cushions, prayer flags, posters, and postcards connected to Tibetan religious practice and culture.

Dharma items on display in our store

Snow Lion has been particularly committed to publishing works by the Dalai Lama such as Kindness, Clarity, and Insight (1984), which has sold over 70,000 copies. It also published an introduction to the Dalai Lama's life through The Dalai Lama: A Policy of Kindness (1990), which has sold over 70,000 copies. Despite its relatively small market, Snow Lion has also been committed to publishing important academic works on Tibetan Buddhism. Snow Lion has sought a balance of works by all of the lineages of Tibetan Buddhsim and publishes translations of important works from all the various sects. Most of the translators of these works are Westerners (often scholars working closely with a Tibetan lama). Its periodical newsletter is a major forum for news, new books and products as well as advertisements for meditation retreats and appeals for aid by a number of Tibetan refugees and religious groups. Snow Lion, as a confluence of the scholarly and the popular, founded to serve the growing popular interest in Buddhism in Europe and America, has published much of the North American scholarship on Tibetan Buddhism produced during the last two decades.

When you choose to purchase books and other products from Snow Lion directly, you support all of our activities: publishing new books on Tibetan Buddhism and culture, keeping our older books in print, the publication of our free Snow Lion: The Buddhist Magazine & Catalog newsletter, and our extensive on-line services—we exist to help Tibet and Tibetans, and we greatly appreciate your business.

Entrance to editorial offices

Snow Lion has published a major Library of Tibetan Buddhism and Culture, which includes topics such as Tibetan Buddhism, art and photography, biographies, cookbooks, travel and adventure, language, health, meditation, history and politics, women's studies, death and dying, Buddhism and science, and children's books. This library represents the breadth and depth of Tibetan Buddhism and culture and offers bookstores a comprehensive source for major works in all areas.

Recognizing the success of the Snow Lion, other publishers, both academic (such as SUNY and the University of California Press) and commercial (such as HarperColins and Riverside) have increased their titles in Tibetan Buddhism. Snow Lion Publications has remained at the forefront for the past twenty-five years in the movement of increased popularity of all things Tibetan.

What scholars and books have to say about Snow Lion:

Richard Seager says in Buddhism in America (Columbia University Press): "The premiere English-language publisher of scholarly and trade books about Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism is Snow Lion Publications."

Professor Jeffrey Hopkins of the University of Virginia said in a newspaper interview: "Snow Lion is seminal—they are crucial in the development of the field of Tibetan studies and to furthering the public's interest in Tibet. By making texts of various levels of difficulty available to the public in English, Snow Lion is the pioneer house in this field."

The results of a survey of Buddhists published by Professor Charles Prebish of Pennsylvania State University ranked Snow Lion Publications first among commercial publishers of books on Buddhism.

The Concise Encyclopedia of Buddhism (Oneworld Publications) refers to Snow Lion
Donald S. Lopez, professor of Buddhist and Tibetan Studies at the University of Michigan, said "the current renaissance in the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism around the world is due in large part to Snow Lion's vision."

The Tsadra Foundation Series
The Tsadra Foundation is a US-based non-profit organization. The Foundation was established in order to support the activities of advanced Western students of Tibetan Buddhism as Buddhism takes root in the Western world. The Foundation takes its inspiration from the nineteenth-century non-sectarian Tibetan scholar and meditation master, Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, and is named after his hermitage in eastern Tibet, Tsadra Rinchen Drak. The Foundation's programs reflect his values of excellence in both scholarship and contemplative practice, and the recognition of their mutual complementarity. Tsadra Foundation is delighted to ally with Snow Lion Publications in making these important texts available in the English language.

The name "Snow Lion Publications"originates from a mystical animal that has great significance in Tibetan culture as the national symbol of Tibet. Two lively snow lions appear on the Tibetan National Flag. They are fearless and valiant and indicate the complete victory over all obstacles. They represent the strong vitality of the Tibetan people who revere the Three Precious Gems—the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.

Tibetan flag and wood carving at entrance to main office and store

In other artistic works and renderings, the lions appear supporting the thrones of various deities and symbolize the strength and fearlessness of those who have perfect wisdom and compassion. As for the Snow Lion Publications logo, the snow lion represents our dedication to supporting Tibetan Buddhism and Culture as it moves to the West—the lion�s roar proclaims the dharma.

Snow Lion books are available to retailers through our distributors.

If you are an author and would like to submit a manuscript (related to Tibetan Buddhism & Culture only!) to Snow Lion, email sidneypiburn@snowlionpub.com with your name and telephone number. We will contact you with more information.

We have many books forthcoming. View our list for more information and updates as we set our publishing schedule!