Keith Dowman is a longtime initiate of Dzogchen and a teacher of radical Dzogchen around the world. He is the author of several Dzogchen translations, most recently Natural Perfection and Dzogchen. He lives in Kathmandu.

Robert Beer began studying and practicing Tibetan thangka painting in 1970 while living in India and Nepal and still continues this research from his home in Oxford. He is the author and illustrator of The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs and The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols.

Autobiographical Note by the Illustrator

Introduction

The Mahasiddhas

Minapa, The Bengali Jonah

Luipa, The Fish-Gut Eater

Virupa, Master of Dakinis

Dombipa, The Tiger Rider

Saraha, The Great Brahmin

Lilapa, The Royal Hedonist

Savaripa, The Hunter

Goraksa, The Immortal Cowherd

Tantipa, The Senile Weaver

Khadgapa, The Master Thief

Caurangipa, The Limbless One

Kankaripa, The Lovelorn Widower

Aryadeva, The Lotus-Born

Nagarjuna, Philosopher and Alchemist

Vinapa, The Music Lover

Thaganapa, Master of the Lie

Camaripa, The Divine Cobbler

Syalipa, The Jackal Yogin

Naropa, The Dauntless Disciple

Tilopa, The Great Renunciate

Santipa, The Academic

Mekopa, The Wild-Eyed Guru

Kambala, The Yogin of the Black Blanket

Vyalipa, The Courtesan's Alchemist

Tantepa, The Gambler

Kukkuripa, The Dog Lover

Kanhapa, The Dark-Skinned One

Acinta, The Avaricious Hermit

Bhadrapa, The Snob

Kalapa, The Handsome Madman

Bhusuku (Santideva), The Lazy Monk

Kotalipa, The Peasant Guru

Indrabhuti, The Enlightened King

Jalandhara, The Chosen One

Bhiksanapa, Siddha Two-Teeth

Ghantapa, The Celibate Monk

Campaka, The Flower King

Kumbharipa, The Potter

Godhuripa, The Bird Catcher

Vinapa, The Music Lover

Thaganapa, Master of the Lie

Camaripa, The Divine Cobbler

Syalipa, The Jackal Yogin

Naropa, The Dauntless Disciple

Tilopa, The Great Renunciate

Santipa, The Academic

Mekopa, The Wild-Eyed Guru

Kambala, The Yogin of the Black Blanket

Vyalipa, The Courtesan's Alchemist

Tantepa, The Gambler

Kukkuripa, The Dog Lover

Kanhapa, The Dark-Skinned One

Acinta, The Avaricious Hermit

Bhadrapa, The Snob

Kalapa, The Handsome Madman

Bhusuku (Santideva), The Lazy Monk

Kotalipa, The Peasant Guru

Indrabhuti, The Enlightened King

Jalandhara, The Chosen One

Bhiksanapa, Siddha Two-Teeth

Ghantapa, The Celibate Monk

Campaka, The Flower King

Kumbharipa , The Potter

Godhuripa, The Bird Catcher

Kapalapa, The Skull Bearer

Carbaripa (Carpati), The Siddha Who Turned People to Stone

Kantalipa, The Rag Picker

Jayananda, The Crow Master

Dhilipa, The Epicure

Darikapa, Slave-King of the Temple Whore

Udhilipa, The Flying Siddha

Laksminkara, The Mad Princess

Nirgunapa, The Enlightened Moron

Mekhala and Kanakhala, The Headless Sisters

Kirapalapa (Kilapa), The Repentant Conqueror

Nagabodhi, The Red-Horned Thief

Sarvabhaksa, The Empty-Bellied Siddha

Manibhadra, The Model Wife

Saroruha, The Lotus Child

Publisher's Note