The Ecstasy of Enlightenment is an inside look at the spiritual
world of Tantra -- one of the most sophisticated, alluring, and
controversial forms of Buddhism. Cleary unlocks the mysteries of
the Carya-Giti, a collection of teachings by more than twenty
famous Siddhas, or Tantric adepts, who lived during the illustrious
Pala dynasty of old Bengal. These teachings emanate from one of the
most dynamic sources of international Buddhism, at the height of
its religious development, and as such, they are completely
nonsectarian. The original Bengali texts, and, accordingly, the
modern English translations, have been written for popular
audiences.
Tantrism is often represented as somehow disconnected from
mainstream Buddhist traditions, sometimes even considered
non-Buddhistic, often called "decadent" or worse. Cleary's
commentary is exceptional in the clarity with which he documents
the spiritual connection of Tantric Buddhism with Theravada and
Mahayana Buddhism. Partic-ularly noteworthy is his demonstration of
the parallels between original Tantric Buddhism in Bengal and the
original Zen Buddhism of China. The treatment of sensuality in the
Tantric context, often a subject of distortion and controversy, is
noteworthy for its exceptional subtlety and dignity. Symbolic,
psychological, and physical aspects of the Tantric teachings are
illuminated on a continuum coinciding with the spiritual
development of Buddhism.
Cleary's introduction also includes little-known information
about the history of world Buddhism and the spiritual continuity of
the succession of the main phases of its development. He gives a
panoramic view of the network of Buddhism linking Bengal,
Indonesia, India, Afghanistan, Tibet, China, and Japan, and
illustrates the concrete historical transcendence of pan-Buddhism
over political and cultural borders. This global vision is
particularly important today for the effective integration of
traditional values into modern consciousness.
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