Tibetan Yoga - Garma C.C. Chang

The author and translator of this book was born in China into an aristocratic family and, in his youth, became a disciple of a Buddhist guru in a region near Tibet. Following his teacher’s instructions, he travelled to Tibet, where he spent eight years training in Tibetan monasteries, including six years under the guidance of one guru. He later studied animal husbandry in the West with the intention of returning his knowledge to Tibet, but the Communist victory in China and the invasion of Tibet prevented his return. His lifelong dedication to Tibetan Buddhism is reflected in his translations of teachings that were previously unknown to English-speaking readers.

This book offers a concentrated introduction to the mental, physical, and spiritual practices of Tibetan Buddhism, with particular emphasis on yogic exercises. Central to the teachings is Dumo, the practice of generating internal heat within the body. The discussion explores the distinctive philosophy of Tantric Buddhism, which rejects rigid asceticism and pessimism and instead emphasizes the unity of apparent opposites. Within this tradition, the body and mind can become vehicles for spiritual transformation, while physical and sexual experience may be understood as pathways toward divine bliss.

Combining Buddhist philosophy with practical yogic teachings, the book introduces readers to the discipline and tranquility of Tibetan Yoga while also exploring the more esoteric dimensions of Tantric practice. It offers an unusual perspective on the relationship between body, mind, spirituality, and erotic mysticism. The book is richly illustrated throughout and provides an introduction to a tradition that brings together meditation, yoga, transformation, and mystical experience.