The legendary Buddhist master Tangtong Gyalpo (1361?-1485), "King of the Empty Plain," is familiar to every Tibetan, yet nearly unknown in the rest of the world. His incredible lifespan, profound teachings, unprecedented engineering feats, eccentric deeds, and creation of Tibetan opera have earned this fascinating figure a unique status in Tibetan culture. Believed to be the great Indian master Padmasambhava appearing again in the world to benefit living beings, Tangtong Gyalpo discovered techniques for achieving longevity that are still held in highest esteem and frequently taught six hundred years later. His construction of fifty-eight iron suspension bridges, sixty wooden bridges, 118 ferries, 111 stupa monuments, and countless temples and monasteries in Tibet and Bhutan remains an awe-inspiring accomplishment.
King of the Empty Plain: The Tibetan Iron-Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo is a detailed study of the life and legacy of this great master. An extensive introduction discusses Tangtong Gyalpo's Dharma traditions, the question of his amazing longevity, his "crazy" activities manifested to enhance his own realization and to benefit others, and his astonishing engineering and architectural achievements. The book includes a complete translation of the most famous Tibetan biography of Tangtong Gyalpo, as well as the Tibetan text and English translation of a unique early manuscript describing his miraculous death. The text is further enriched with ten color plates and seventy-seven black and white illustrations.
"Tangtong Gyalpo was a unique figure in the deeply spiritual culture of Tibet. Not only was he an important spiritual master, a source of important meditation instruction lineages, he was also a master engineer who built over a hundred iron bridges across some of the deepest gorges in the world as well as a dramatist credited with the development of the classical Tibetan opera performance. In
King of the Empty Plain: The Tibetan Iron-Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo, Cyrus Stearns, one of the most respected translators of classical Tibetan texts, beautifully brings to life the story of one of Tibet's most inspiring and loved personalities. This book is a must for anyone who is interested in Tibetan culture and history, as well as those who wish to see how the altruistic ideals of the bodhisattva path can be concretely applied in socioeconomic and humanitarian action."--Thupten Jinpa, translator to H.H. the Dalai Lama and author of
Self, Reality and Reason in Tibetan Philosophy
"This represents the culmination of many years of patient scholarship and contemplation of the problems of meaningful translation into English...the author has selected a figure of enormous importance for the cultural context of Tibetan Buddhism. This is a book that will last."--E. Gene Smith, Executive Director, Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center
"Tangtong Gyalpo, the King of the Empty Plain, the famous and beloved wild engineer-saint of Tibet and Bhutan, is surely one of the most fascinating and brilliant characters ever to appear in Buddhist legend and literature. Even now he has a presence in nearly every household in Tibet.... Cyrus Stearns has been intimately involved with the life and teachings of this great adept for over thirty years.... This book embodies the fruition of that devotion, of masterful scholarship, and of an integrated understanding of the material. How fortunate that we all now have access to this great story in a worthy translation and illuminating commentary."--Sarah Harding, author of
Machik's Complete Explanation
"This most welcome publication provides a fascinating and erudite study of the life of the great Tibetan Buddhist adept and civic engineer Tangtong Gyalpo. The author has lucidly translated Tangtong's well-known biography, which recounts the master's exceptional life as an inspired Buddhist teacher, remarkable iron-chain suspension bridge-builder, and prototype for the later nonsectarian visionaries of Tibetan religion. The biography is filled as well with an abundance of material for discerning the social history of the intersection of Buddhism, lay patronage, and daily life during Tangtong's period, all mixed in with a heady dose of hagiographical flourish. The work stands as an excellent specimen of biographical writing in this classical period of Tibetan literature. The very learned introduction provides documentation of Tangtong Gyalpo's bridge-building projects, as well as his extremely long life, and his wide travels in South and East Asia. A wonderful introduction to Tibetan religion and society for students and scholars alike!"--Janet Gyatso, Hershey Professor of Buddhist Studies, Harvard Divinity School
"
King of the Empty Plain is a fascinating account of the life of Tangtong Gyalpo, one of the most innovative and eclectic Tibetan masters of all times. By translating and elucidating his biography in a very readable style and in great detail, Cyrus Stearns leads us through his wide-ranging achievements, from building iron-chain bridges and architectural masterpieces to mystical accomplishment in his personal life. [Stearns] unravels some of the historical mysteries that have surrounded this master for centuries, such as how he may have lived until he was 124, but keeps his discussion deeply informed by the Tibetan tradition. An excellent work of cultural translation!"--Hildegard Diemberger, Tibetan Programme Director, University of Cambridge
"Tangtong Gyalpo is one of the most intriguing figures of Tibetan history. Mad yogi, iron-bridge builder, founder of the first Tibetan drama troupe--it is hard to imagine a more colorful person. In this carefully researched study and translation, Cyrus Stearns finally puts the eccentric master on the historical map and even settles the controversy about his impossibly long life."--David Jackson, author of
Tibetan Thangka Painting and
A Saint in Seattle
"...filled with travels, adventures, miracles, and a wealth of instructions on Buddhist practice and bodhisattva conduct.... Stearns' masterful translation and erudite introductions assure this contribution a very long life."--
Buddhadharma
A
Tsadra Foundation Series book.
Cyrus Stearns is a scholar of Tibetan religion, literature, and history, with a Ph.D. in Buddhist studies from the University of Washington. He first began to study Buddhism with Dezhung Rinpoche (1906-87) in 1973 and has studied with and translated for numerous Tibetan teachers. Among his other publications are
The Buddha from Dolpo,
Hermit of Go Cliffs,
Luminous Lives, and
Taking the Result as the Path.
SNOW LION
11/09/2007
PAGES: 700
SIZE: 6 X 9
ISBN: 9781559392754
