The Tantric Buddhist tradition of the Lam 'bras, the "Path with the Result," has been practiced in Tibet for almost a thousand years, most prominently within the Sa skya lineage. "Luminous Lives" is the first in depth study of the literature and history of the Lam 'bras in Tibet. The central focus of the work is a rare Tibetan history that brings alive the story of the earliest men and women practitioners of the Lam 'bras. This text, recording the words of the great Sa skya Pandita (1182-1251), was a major source for all later histories of the tradition. Recently rediscovered, it has been reproduced here along with Cyrus Stearns' excellent translation, introduction, and annotations.

"Luminous Lives" opens a window into the world of one of the great traditions of tantric Buddhism in Tibet.


Luminous Lives, Cyrus Stearns, Wisdom Publications, Paperback, 305 pages, $34.95

CYRUS STEARNS first began to study Buddhism with Dezhung Rinpoche (1906-87) in 1973. Since that time he has studied with and translated for many Tibetan teachers, especially Dezhung Rinpoche and Chogye Trichen Rinpoche. Cyrus has a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from the University of Washington and lived for about eight years in Nepal, India, and Southeast Asia. Among his other publications are The Buddha from Dolpo, Hermit of Go Cliffs, and Luminous Lives. Cyrus has three daughters and lives on Whidbey Island, Washington.

	Illustrations			ix
	Preface			xi
Part 1	The Early History of the Lam 'bras			1
	Introduction			3
Chapter 1	The Literary Tradition			9
	Sa chen's Eleven Commentaries on the Rdo rje tshig rkang			16
	Different Opinions about Sa chen's Eleven Commentaries			24
	Commentaries on the Rdo rje tshig rkang by Sa chen's Disciples			25
	The Works of Phag mo gru pa			26
	The Pod ser			32
	The Writings of Sa skya Pandita and His Disciples			35
	The Pod nag			36
	The Pusti dmar chung			38
	The Glegs bam phra mo			39
	Unveiling the Slob bshad			39
Chapter 2	The Early Masters in Tibet			47
		1.	The Mystery of Lord Gayadhara	47
		2.	The Tibetan Masters	55
Chapter 3	Dmar ston and the Zhib mo rdo rje			69
		1.	The Author	69
		2.	The Work	72
Part 2	Translation The Tibetan Story of the Excellent Masters			79
	Prologue			81
	1.	The Life of 'Brog mi Lo tsa ba		83
	Travels in Nepal and India			83
	Return to Tibet			89
	Lord Gayadhara's First Trip to Tibet			91
	Lord Gayadhara's Return to Tibet with 'Gos Lo tsa ba			93
	Lord Gayadhara's Third Trip to Tibet, and His Death			97
	'Brog mi Lo tsa ba's Special Qualities, and His Death			99
	2.	The Disciples of 'Brog mi Lo tsa ba		103
	The Three Male Disciples Who Reached Attainment			103
	The Four Female Disciples Who Reached Attainment			105
		1.	Rtod mo Rdo rje mtsho'	105
		2.	Dbrad sgom Dkon ne	105
		3.	Shab pa mo Lcam gcig	107
		4.	'Phyad mo Nam mkha'	107
	The Disciples Who Fully Received the Scriptures			109
		1.	'Khon Dkon mchog rgyal po	109
		2.	Gsal ba'i snying po	111
	The Disciples Who Fully Received the Oral Instructions			113
		1.	Lha btsun Ka li	113
		2.	'Brom De pa ston chung	113
		3.	Se ston Kun rig	117
	3.	The Disciples of Se ston Kun rig		125
		1.	The Zhang ston Brothers	125
		2.	Lady Zha ma and Her Brother	125
		3.	Ze sgom Byang seng	131
	4.	The Life of Sa chen Kun dga' snying po		133
	Early Studies			135
	Meeting Se ston Kun rig			137
	Zhang ston Chos 'bar and the Lam 'bras			143
	Sa chen's Three Disciples Who Reached Attainment Without Discarding the Body			149
		1.	The Ceylonese Mendicant	149
		2.	Sgom pa Kyi 'bar	149
		3.	Byang chub sems dpa' Stag	151
	The Seven Who Reached the Stage of Forbearance			151
	Sa chen's Bestowal of the Lam 'bras			153
	Sa chen's Special Qualities, and His Death			155
	Rje btsun Grags pa rgyal mtshan			157
	5.	The Life of Sa skya Pandita		159
	Early Studies			161
	Meeting Mahapandita Sakyasri			163
	Taking Ordination			165
	Sa skya Pandita's Special Qualities			167
	Colophon			169
	Notes to Part One			171
	Notes to Part Two			203
	Bibliography			263
	Index			283