Author: Michele Martin
Publisher: New Age Books
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 352
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8178221934
Description
Like the Dalai Lama, the Karmapa is regarded as an emodiment of compassion, represented by the deity Chenrezik. The sole purpose of the Karmapa's incarnation is to lead living beings from the suffering of smsara into freedom - the realization of mind's deepest, pure nature.
Music in the Sky offers a series of the Karmapa’s profound teachings, an extensive selection of his poetry, and a detailed account of his life and flight from his homeland. The amazing teaching and writing skills evident in this work-particularly in light of the fact that the Karmapa is still only 17 years old-will captivate readers. Music in the Sky presents a definitive portrait of the Seventeenth Karmapa, strengthened and illuminated by an authoritative depiction of his place in one of the world’s most revered lines of spiritual teachers.
The readers will gain a clearer sense of Buddhism, of Tibet, and of who the seventeenth Karmpa is through reading his life story and teachings, enjoying his poetry and art, and looking at the rich history of his lineage.
REVIEWS
An emanation of the Buddha of compassion, the Gyalwa Karmapa engages in all the enlightened activities of the Buddha. The present Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, is the seventeenth in the line of the Karmapa's incarnations. Even at his young age, he is benefiting living beings through the variety of his skillful means. I believe all readers of this book will enjoy it and, further, find valuable knowledge that will lead them to the awakening of their own wisdom.
-The Twelfth Tai Situpa
Music in the Sky is a profoundly moving story of one of Tibet's greatest teachers. His Holiness the Karmapa is alive and very well in India, and shares with us his teachings, poetry and spiritual insights in this delightful book.
-Richard Gere
A book for anyone who seeks to know more about the 17th Karmapa and ancient tradition of Buddhism he embodies.
-Dr Gulshan Gidwani
The bright sun of the Gyalwa Karmapa shines throughout this book. It illuminates his young life from his discovery in eastern Tibet through his difficult journey to India. The text also reveals the breadth of his teachings and the beauty of his poetry and art. Anyone wishing to know more about him and the ancient wisdom of Buddhism he emodies would do well to read this book.
- Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
PART I: THE LIFE STORY OF THE SEVENTEENTH KARMAPA
One: The Discovery
Two: Return to Tsurphu
Three: Visions and Rainbows
Four: It’s Now or Never
Five: Escape from Tsurphu
Six: Over the Highest Mountains
Seven: Times of Uncertainty
Eight: Life Unfolds in India
PART II: THE TEACHINGS OF THE SEVENTEENTH KARMAPA
PART III: THE POETRY OF THE SEVENTEENTH KARMAPA
PART IV: THE HISTORY OF THE KARMAPAS
Introduction to the History of the Karmapas
A Traditional Narrative of the Karmapas
Brief Histories of the Sixteen Karmapas
Songs of the Sixteenth Karmapas
Appendix: Tibetan Names
Notes
Glossary
Bibliography