Philosophy or religion, way of life or way of being, Buddhism never ceases to intrigue. The renewed interest in Buddhism led by its spiritual and temporal guide, the Dalai Lama, has made it possible to approach the meaning and origins of his teaching.

Symbols of Tibetan Buddhism, Claude Levenson, Laziz Hamani, Assouline, Hardcover, 2004, 128 Pages, $25.00

Born in Paris on the sixth day of the seventh lunar month in the year of the Earth Tiger, Claude B. Levenson specializes in Slavic and Oriental studies at Lomonossov University, Moscow. She has made frequent trips to India, South East Asia and to both sides of the Himalayas, journeys which have inspired her in her writing. She is the author of several titles on Tibetan culture and its leader, including Dalai Lama, a Biography (OUP/India 1989), and Ainsi parle le Dalai-Lama (Balland 1993, Le Livre de Poche 1992). A polyglot, she has translated the teachings of the Dalai Lama, and the works of Russian writers including Mandelstam, Zamyatin and Eliad. She contributes regularly to various newspapers such as Le Monde and Le Nouvel Observateur.

Born in 1959 in Paris, where he currently lives, Laziz Hamani has been taking photographs since the age of twelve. Beside his work for magazines and the media, he also pursues his own projects, which have led to a series of personal exhibitions in France and Italy since 1976. He has contributed to several art books published by Assouline: Panama, a Legendary Hat (1995), and all titles in this series, including Symbols of Catholicism, Symbols of Islam, Symbols of Freemasonry.

	Contents: Symbols of TIBETAN BUDDHISM
	FOREWORD
	INTRODUCTION
1.	THE WHEEL OF TIME
	Temporal cycles cadencing the timeless gestures of everyday life
2.	THE WHEEL OF LIFE
	Each individual is attuned to his own spiritual awareness
3.	THE WHEEL OF THE LAW
	Help others, do not harm them
4.	RED HATS AND YELLOW HATS
	Under the protective wing of the Three Jewels
5.	THE STUPA
	A materialization of the interior quest
6.	THE PRAYER WHEEL
	Prayer for the benefit of all beings
7.	SACRED MANTRA
	om mani peme hung
8.	THE ROSARY
	The mala
9.	THE ALTAR
	Nothing is too beautiful for the Enlightened One
10.	MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
	At the service of the gods for the benefit of beings
11.	THE SACRED SCARF
	The khata
12.	THUNDERBOLT SCEPTER AND BELL
	Dorje and drilbu: Means and Wisdom
13.	RITUAL BOWL AND DAGGER
	Triumph over interior enemies
14.	THE AUSPICIOUS SYMBOLS
	Eight emblems to bring good luck and secure protection
15.	OFFERINGS
	Sacred and profane, a homage to the Deity
16.	THE SCRIPTURE AND THE TEXTS
	Treasures to preserve the memory
17.	MUDRAS
	Signs for the expression of indescribable forces
18.	THE GREAT PRAYER
	Monlam Chenmo The annual invocation for the well-being of beings
19.	THE MASTERS OF KNOWLEDGE
	From magic to philosophy, the middle way from science to knowledge
20.	MASTER AND DISCIPLE
	An unshakable trust
21.	THE PROTECTOR OF TIBET
	Chenresig-Avalokiteshvara
22.	TARA DROLMA
	Guardian, Protectress and Savior
23.	THE GREAT PROTECTORS
	Masters of time, death and negative forces
24.	THE FIRE RITUAL
	The great puirification
25.	MONKS AND LAITY
	A densely woven social fabric
26.	THE MEDITATOR
	Memory of the centuries
27.	PILGRIMAGE
	Signposts in the territory of the sacred
28.	THE PASSAGE OF DEATH
	There is neither beginning nor end
29.	THE DALAI LAMA
	Incarnation of the Divine
30.	THE LOTUS
	Darkness and light