The Brilliance of Naked Mind tells of the secret visions of the legendary warrior, Gesar, King of Ling. It is a collection of stories and invocations that are the ground for Gesar, King of Lings pursuit of enlightened society. The texts include vivid biographies of Tilopa, embodiment of lineage; Kukkuripa, embodiment of compassion; the sisters Mehkhala and Kanhala, essence of unified devotion and prajna; and King Indrabhuti, exemplar of enlightened sovereignty. These are followed by an extensive account of all the rulers of the Kingdom of Shambhala which concludes: Shambhala opens, In the unchanging now of heart-light. To which you always return. The texts are loosely bound together in a retelling of Gesars conquest of the Demon Lord, Satham, King of Jang. They are aspects of the myriad worlds he passes through. Each world contains its own wakefulness for Gesar and for us to discover.
Douglas J. Penick was born in 1944, graduated from Princeton University, and has studied with the Vidyadhara, the Venerable Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche since 1971. He lives in Boulder, Colorado.
He is the author of several novels, plays, and many short stories and poems. His work has appeared in periodicals in the U.S., Canada, and France. He also wrote the English language version of the National Film Board of Canada/NHK documentary, The Tibetan Book of the Dead.
Mr. Penick's work in collaboration with the composer Peter Lieberson include Five Songs; King Gesar, whose text is derived from this book and which will be released on Sony CD this fall; and Ashoka's Dream, which will premier at the Santa Fe Opera in the summer of 1997.
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Contents: THE WARRIOR SONG OF KING GESAR |
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Acknowledgments |
vii |
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Foreword by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche |
ix |
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Introduction by Tulku Thondup |
xi |
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Calling on the Power of Goodness in Our Hearts |
1 |
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Part I |
3 |
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Part II |
15 |
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Part III |
43 |
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Part IV |
77 |
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Part V |
105 |
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Part VI |
115 |
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Part VII |
125 |
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Textual Acknowledgments |
139 |
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Notes to the Introduction |
141 |
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Glossary |
147 |
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About the Author |
149 |
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