Tantra in Practice

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In the introduction, David White outlines Tantra as an Asian body of beliefs and practices aimed at channeling divine energy in creative, liberating ways. The book showcases a wide geographical and temporal range by examining thirty-six texts from China, India, Japan, Nepal, and Tibet, spanning from the seventh century to the present. These texts represent diverse Tantric experiences, including Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and Islamic traditions. Each text is chosen and translated, often for the first time, by an international expert who provides detailed background material, making it rich and informative for students of Asian religions and general readers alike. The collection features an array of formats, including plays, interviews, poetry, parodies, inscriptions, instructional texts, scriptures, philosophical reflections, dreams, and astronomical speculations. For example, a nineteenth-century Indian Buddhist song warns against the illusion of appearance, while fourteenth-century Chinese manuscripts describe rituals for prosperity through the Seven Stars. A modern Hindu priest shares insights on serving the black Goddess Kali, and a seventeenth-century Nepalese praise-poem seeks the goddess's forgiveness. Each text is accompanied by an introduction that contextualizes its period, genre, history, and significance. This groundbreaking compilation expands our understanding of Tantric practices and continues the Princeton Readings