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Summary: backward-foreword
Review: Having returned to this marvelous work recently after an incident in my life required it, I was shocked to be reminded of the disturbing foreword, which detracts from the majesty of the actual work and Evans-Wentz's accompanying interpretations.Without dwelling too long on the foreword, written by Donald S. Lopez, Jr., let me say that it strikes me as one of the most long-winded, derogatory and self-serving forewords I have ever seen in a book; not to mention the fact that the foreword is advertised on the cover of this edition. Donald Lopez insults Evans-Wentz on every page and goes on to tear down Jung, as well. There are genuine reasons for why marvelous works by men such as W.Y. Evans-Wentz stay in print, and they go far beyond the bruised egos of stoic/pedantic academics like Lopez. When so-called Buddhist scholars, such as Lopez and Thurman, project themselves as arrogant intellectuals, it contradicts everything that Evans-Wentz stood for. Oxford University Press should be ashamed for pulling in a voice so anti-thetical to the spirit of this work. The work, itself, is awesome and is hindered only by the hypercritical Lopez touch.
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Summary: Ian Myles Slater on: Still Worth It, But Check Competition
Review: The title text of this collection of translations has recently appeared in a significantly clearer and better-annotated translation, as "Self-Liberation Through Seeing With Naked Awareness." Like the other three books in W.Y. Evans-Wentz's "Oxford Tibetan Series," it suffers from a dependence on Tibetan translators working at time when few clear guidelines for translating technical terms had been developed, and from Evans-Wentz's own lack of familiarity with Mahayana Buddhism and its various schools. (Which apparently has not prevented it from achieving its own canonical status with some readers; a process not unknown in the history of translations, from the Christian adoption of the Septuagint in place of its Hebrew original, to some Chinese -- and Tibetan -- renderings of Buddhist Sanskrit texts.)
As Lopez points out in his introduction to this new edition (part of an end-of-the-century reissue of the series, in which the publisher formally acknowledges over a half-century of additional scholarship), Theosophy and Hinduism are the real points of departure. There is a commentary to the translation offered by C.G. Jung, which is of great importance to students -- but of Jung, not of Tibetan Buddhism. The historical significance, and sometimes impressive literary quality, of the translation series is enduring; its value as a set of primary sources is not.
However, a large section of the book is given over to an (abridged) translation of one of the traditional biographies of the *Lotus-Born Guru*, the "Apostle to the Tibetans." In western terms, it is a mix of popular hagiography (like "The Golden Legend"), heroic romance, and supernatural thriller. So far as I have been able to determine, it is the only English-language version of this particular text (there are other Tibetan treatments of the subject, a number of which have been translated), and it makes fascinating reading, simply as a piece of story-telling.
The translation of the story has extensive, and sometimes obsolete, annotations which attempt to tie down the places and times mentioned, but which also recognize that portions, at least, are intended to be symbolic or allegorical (which does not mean that the original audience would not have regarded them as literally true, as well). Padma-Sambhava, besides introducing advanced forms of Buddhist Yoga, is supposed to have written, and concealed for future generations, a number of important texts, including, besides the one translated as "The Great Liberation," the so-called "Tibetan Book of the Dead" (Evans-Wentz's catchy, but potentially misleading, title). He also appears as a major character in some versions of the Tibetan "Gesar" epic.
The presence of this fascinating piece of Tibetan literature may account for the interesting fact that Snow Lion, the publisher of the competing "Self-Liberation Through Seeing With Naked Awareness," offers this book in its catalogue as well (as of Summer 2003).
Those who find this portion of the book interesting will probably also enjoy the traditional "biography" of a Tibetan holy man, in "Tibet's Great Yogi Milarepa," another volume edited by Evans-Wentz. (It is a companion volume in the Oxford Tibetan series). It presents itself as its hero's own account of his progression from black magician (to avenge his family) to Enlightenment. (There are several editions of the translation available; the 1999 Oxford paperback reprinting, uniform with the present volume, including a new introduction, should be in print at this writing.)
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Summary: This is the final book in the Tibetan Series by Evans-Wentz
Review: These books where written in the following order by the same author. All the books contain a vast use of the English grammar because the books themselves are based on a vast grammar. That vast grammar is the grammar of mind which is vast. This vast use of grammar is used to help the student expand their own mind. Get a dictionary ready. Put the work in. Attain the goal. Then use the goal. It is not worth just attaining it. Nourish it by using it and encouraging it. It is all a lot easier than it looks. (1)The Tibetan Book of the Dead or the After-Death Experiences on the Bardo Plane: Or, the After-Death Experiences on the Bardo Plane, According to Lama Kazi Dawa-Samdup's English Rendering. This book sets up the basic questions for attaining the goal of 'supreme wisdom'. 'Supreme wisdom' is universal and all knowing. It explains everything - past, present, future among all beings everywhere including man, gods, aliens and ghosts etc. You will be able to attain perfect mental health through it. It will also help you to become a perfect person. You can be whatever you want to be. You do this by letting go of some things that prevent you from understanding the truth. This first book sets up the basic questions for attaining these goals by explaining a Tibetan method of thinking that is scientific/psychological/occult/philosophical through understanding the life/death connecting force which will explain all other forces both positive and negative and transitory. It mainly teaches what the transitory is and where you can find the transitory. The goal of the student is to transcend the transitory. Do that and attain the goal. (2) Tibet's Great Yogi Milarepa: A Biography from the Tibetan ; Being the Jetsun-Kahbum or Biographical History of Jetsun-Milarepa, According to the Late Lama Kazi Dawa-Samdup's. This book expands on the first book, which is all you need to attain the goal. This book is a 'story' about a bad person who becomes a good person through learning various 'yogi' practices and studying various Tibetan 'Holy' teachings. It is Milerepa's life story - a great liberator. If you need to learn more about a person who goes through some of the teachings outlined in the first book then this book is an essential companion read to the first. (3)Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines. This book expands on some of the exercises outlined in the second book, which can also be used to achieve the goal outlined in the first book. Although this book may be considered a bit dangerous if used incorrectly because certain yogi practices require flexing the body and sitting still for long periods time - it is certainly one of the supreme books on practical yoga because of its age, authenticity and results. Get advice from someone who has done yoga first if are going ahead with this one. This book is a companion to the second book and the first. There are no yoga illustrations. It is all just described. Get another book on illustrations if you are looking for pictures or even better - get advice from someone who has done it. There is lots of text here that answer many questions that the yogi may have about the yoga. (4)The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation: Or, the Method of Realizing Nirvana Through Knowing the Mind. This is the final book in the series and expands on the concepts of the first, second and third books by using a type of 'instant enlightenment' mental yoga. Although the goals of the first, second and third books can be achieved by using this final book in the series the first, second and third books are 'instant companions' if you enjoy the results of this one. As the writers set forth in the four books the goal of 'Super Wisdom' can be achieved by using these four books. The most important aspects of all four books in the series is the use of oneself alone to achieve the goals without any recourse to physical or mental aids. This is important. These books will "teach yourself everything you will ever need to know". Purely pure through the simply mundane. It is a wise choice to buy these books. It is the opinion of the reviewer that it is one time that money is truly well spent in the quest for the wisdom of all wisdoms.
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Summary: One of the best
Review: This is one of the earliest and still one of the best volumes to come out of the still-intact Tibetan region into the English language. Lots of Voltage.
It's interesting to see in these reviews how many people want to show off what they know. Best Wishes
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Summary: The 4th book in the Tibetan Series by W.Y.Evans-Wentz
Review: This is the forth and final book in the Tibetan series from W.Y.Evans-Wentz. Although this book can be used as a stand-alone book it is certainly not best read that way. Basically this is part of a developing series. The first book in the Tibetan series - The Tibetan Book of the Dead, is the fundamental book of the series which describes Buddhist philosophy, psychology and metaphysics. It is the best translation out there and the original! The second book in the series is called Tibets Greatest Yogi Milarepa and is the story of a great yogi who puts into practice most of what we learn from The Tibetan Book of the Dead. It is through the story of Milarepa that we learn more about The Tibetan Book of the Dead. In the story of Milarepa the yogi studies the Seven Books of Wisdom of the Great Path as taught to him by his gurus. Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines, the third book in the series, is an expansion that explains those wisdoms and describes the yoga that is used to achieve them. The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation is a three act book which ties together everything learned from the other three books. Essentially the start of the book develops a clearer understanding of the metaphysics associated with the first three books in the form of a general introduction. The book then lays out the premise for a type of yoga practice called the Supreme Path or Mahayana, that was created to serve as an INSTANT ENLIGHTENMENT yoga. It is mostly psychological. The middle section of the book is devoted to the guru Padma-Sambhava who brought this yoga to Buddhists in the eighth century. The latter part of the book expounds on that yoga in a full translation. Make no mistake about it. This is the ORIGINAL and best work because this was the man who brought the work to the occident! These texts are ancient and old but have served millions since their inception. The work that Evans-Wentz has done here is substantial if not some of the most important Tibetan Buddhist concepts ever seen by the occident - all directly translated by master gurus whom which Dr. W.Y.Evans-Wentz was a student for years. There is nothing wrong with the translation. Forget those who seek to play down the originals so that they can sell their new version. This book has stood the test of time. It was first published in 1954! The original book in the series was published in 1921! Evans-Wentz was in Tibet at the turn of the century learning under these gurus! He is held is highest esteem by Oxford University for his endeavors! *** The other books in the series are - The Tibetan Book of the dead - Tibets Greatest Yogi Milarepa - Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines - all before this one, the final book in the Tibetan Series. ***
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Summary: A mistaken interpretation of Dzogchen and Tibetan Buddhism
Review: This text has now been published as "Self-Liberation Through Seeing With Naked Awareness" translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds and published by Snow Lion. This edition by Evans-Wentz is basically a misinterpretation of Tibetan Buddhism in general and of Dzogchen in particular. In the book "Self-Liberation Through Seeing With Naked Awareness" over forty pages are given to a detailed discussion of Evans-Wentz and Jung's basic misunderstandings. This alone is well worth reading so you can make up your own mind before (if) you decide to get the Evans-Wentz version. I have found the translation by John Myrdhin Reynolds to be far superior and truly inspirational.
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