Atisa Dipamkara: The Illuminator of the Awakened Mind

(Paperback)

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The first-ever biography with selected writings of one of the greatest Indian Buddhist masters in history. Monk, scholar, traveler, and devout follower of the female buddha Tara, Atia Dpakara (982-1054) was one of the most influential Buddhist teachers in India and Tibet. Originally from Bengal, he traveled extensively throughout India and Sumatra, and eventually spent the remaining twelve years of his life revitalizing Buddhism in Tibet. Atia's teachings laid the foundation for the major philosophic and monastic traditions in the Himalayan region, and he is considered to be the source for the Kadampa school, from which the Geluk tradition of the Dalai Lamas emerged. He is known particularly for his teachings on the stages of the Buddhist path (lam rim) and his instructions on mind training (lojong), which have inspired countless texts and generations of spiritual masters, from Tsongkhapa to Ch gyam Trungpa and His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Due to his influence in the Tibetan world, he is a necessary figure to study for any student or scholar of Tibetan Buddhism. James Apple, a widely published author and professor at the University of Calgary, is a leading expert on Atia's life and teachings. This book is sorely needed for both the academic field and for those interested in Buddhism and Buddhist history. As the second publication in the Lives of the Masters series, this will be the most comprehensive work available on this important Buddhist figure.

Author Bio

JAMES APPLE is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Calgary. His academic research interests include Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhist literature, and the development of early Mahayana Buddhism. He has published a number of articles and books concerning Indian and Tibetan Buddhist culture.