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.A ground-breaking book, The Magic of Vajrayana opens new doors to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of Vajrayana, one of the most vibrant traditions of mystical practice in the world today. Ken McLeod deftly deploys his considerable skills in translation, teaching, and writing to weave a rich tapestry of the core practices of this tradition and his experience with them. In simple clear English he immerses the reader in the practice of Vajrayana, bridging the gap between classical instruction and idealized descriptions of insights and understandings.
For each of the three pillars of Vajrayana practice -- teacher, deity, and protector, Ken McLeod shows the reader how to bring a traditional practice text to life. In the teacher or guru section, the reader steps into a world of faith, devotion, prayer, and meditation and learns how these elements work together to open a door to mahamudra and dzogchen, the principal direct awareness practices in the Tibetan tradition. In the deity or yidam section, the reader enters a realm of magic and mystery, an enchanted world that radically shifts his or her understanding of life and self. And in the protector section, the reader comes face to face with the power of the protectors and how that power guides a practitioner through the many traps and pitfalls of spiritual practice.
Not for the faint-hearted, this intimate portrait of Vajrayana practice is in effect an empowerment. It plants seeds in the reader which, if nurtured, uncover direct awareness, non-referential compassion, and a profoundly different relationship with life. Along with two of his previous books, Reflections on Silver River and A Trackless Path, The Magic of Vajrayana completes a trilogy of experiential instruction and guidance in the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism.
Magic of Vajrayana, Ken McLeod, Unfettered Mind Media, Paperback, 2023, 262 Pages, $24.95
One of the more innovative teachers of Buddhism today, Ken McLeod is known for his ability to explain deep and subtle teachings in clear and simple language. "He distills the nature and purpose of Buddhism to make it accessible for any newcomer without dumbing it down," writes Phil Catalfo, Yoga Journal, July 2001, in his review of Ken's first book Wake Up to Your Life. Born in England in 1948, Ken grew up in Canada and journeyed overland to India (in large part by bicycle) in 1969-70. There he met his principal teacher, Kalu Rinpoche and served as his interpreter on Kalu Rinpoche's first two teaching tours in North America. After Ken completed two three-year retreats, he was appointed to teach in Los Angeles. In 1990, Ken established Unfettered Mind where he continues to teach today. In 1996, Ken roiled the Buddhist world with his model of one-on-one consultations on Buddhist practice. His approach is now regarded as a viable model for Buddhist teachers in the West. Ken also conducts teacher training programs and mentors a growing number of newer teachers. In 1999, Ken established a consulting practice focusing on executive coaching, team building and personal and organizational effectiveness. His particular focus is on the use of systems thinking to create organizational dynamics that naturally generate productive interactions within the organization. Ken has a graduate degree in mathematics from University of British Columbia (Canada), more than twenty years intensive training in Eastern disciplines (including Buddhism, tai chi and other martial arts), and over twenty years teaching and consulting experience. He is currently exploring the use of the internet for live interaction with students all over the globe, both in course settings and one-on-one meetings.
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