Indestructible Truth: The Living Spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism (World of Tibetan Buddhism, Vol. 1)

Studying Tibetan Buddhism can be like entering a maelstrom of deities, rituals, and scriptures. In a new introduction to the history, the religion, and the philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism, Reginald Ray calms the storm and provides a compass for exploration. A professor and seasoned practitioner, Ray walks the line between objective historian and caring adviser. With spare precision and rich detail, he tells the story of Buddhism in Tibet, from its great progenitors in India to the larger than life transmitters to the series of schools that developed over the centuries. Ray makes no pretense at secularizing Tibetan Buddhism or diminishing its magical elements. He begins with the multifarious Tibetan cosmos but also covers the major tenets of Buddhism, emphasizing the living practices and their results. Capping the book, Ray devotes a section to the development of Buddhist philosophy, again displaying a knack for putting complex issues debated over centuries into just a few easy-to-understand paragraphs. It would be no exaggeration to say that indestructible truth is the best all-around introduction to Tibetan Buddhism you're likely to find. --Brian Bruya