Shamanism and Tantra in the Himalayas
Product DescriptionThe first comprehensive guide to the shamans and tantrikas of Nepal 605 color and black-and-white illustrations, including 135 color thangkas. *Includes more than 20 psychoactives never before documented. *The result of 18 years of field research. The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal may be the only culture in the world where both shamanic and tantric techniques are still alive and in full practice today. The result of eighteen years of field research, Shamanism and . . . More >>
The book is just wonderful and it was shipped very quickly. Thank you!
Rating: 5 / 5
I recently attended a semi- private workshop in Chicago with Matthew Wiley on plant magic and shamanism. During the day course he frequently sited passages from this book. I ordered it the following day and can’t put it down! It is an all inclusive, must have for every student and teacher of shamanism and tantra-you wont be disappointed.
Happy reading
Paul
Rating: 5 / 5
I wish I could find more books like it is: Full of pictures, details, showing the beauty of Tibet, before it desapears completely. . .
Rating: 5 / 5
Im afraid The austhors have gone beyond their calling on this oneI was truly amazed by the lavish colour of the book and the volume of topics coveredI do recommend it but i also recommend a thorough study of the topics with other resources before taking anything to heartThe few issues i have with this book are seriousFirstly is the issue of Botanical misrepresentation. Christian was involved in re-editing ‘Plants of the gods’ and made the same errors there in my opinion ruining what was a cornerstone book with loose scholarship. Beware some pictures are misleading and shouldnt be used as ID. Secondly there are a lot of lists of plants, many of which are presented as if to confirm psychoactivity whilst they remain in reality unconfirmed. There are also several areas where references are used in a very sloppy manner to appear to prop up paragraphs of pure conjecture (i know these because i own the source documents in question) Much of this could have been clarified easily by the people christian knows, that is to say I KNOW he knows people who could have peered his editing better becuase i know one of them and that person knows many more. This book was released far too early, it needs quite a bit ore review and editing. In contrast we are all still waiting on the English version of the encyclopaedia. . . . Thirdly the word of the shamans is taken too seriously. Musch of what they say is true but having spent some time making local contacts and chasing similar herbal and cultural connections (the similarities are striking in the interactions with an interested foreigner relayed between Nepalese villagers and Balinese villagers). The word of the shamans is taken too literally even when contradictions arise. the weakness doesnt lie in that necessarily rather that the information was presented based on this secondary view of reality and seemingly not on the primary view which would have need quite a bit more investigation to elute what the shamns thought, felt , did and really understood to themselves. Without this there i the danger you are being told what you want to hear and what you ellicit even by non verbal cuesA specialist researcher going into this situation runs into real danger unless they are trained properly to be the quiet yet interactive observer and not be ask questions that might ‘lead the witness’. Its strange – i love this book for its beauty and enjoyment and yet i do not hold it in high regard as a refernce text for anything id write. Its simply got too many holes and glaring errors to be trusted enough. And thats it all, Trust. Its a function of the sum quality of the scholars work and without that what might have been a great book is converted to something half true and potentially very dangerous to the truthGreat coffee table book though i think the more concise books, the original Plants of the gods by Schultes and hoffman as well as the stunning work, Great books of Hashish vol 2 is of a much higher standard.
Rating: 3 / 5
The scientific, factual, and succinct data and information listed in Shamanism and Tantra in the Himalayas exhibits a sense of point blank poignancy and excitement as it reveals the lush mental and psychic worlds that developed in the cultures of regions within the Himalayan landscapes. The facts serve as foundation for the knowledge presented in monologues, essays, and dialogues between the three authors and various shamen (and women!!). For example, nestled among complete writings on Shamanism, Tantrika, Vajra Mantra, Yantra, Mandala, Chakra, Gods, Hallucinogens, Healing, Thangkas, Henbane, Yeti, and the cycle of time one, finds musings of the following nature, and I quote:”I am sitting at the computer, gazing out at the cloud draped Himalayas, listening to the CD Spiritual Dark Dimensions (1999) by the Norwegian black metal band Dimmu Borgir. My gaze follows the crows, eagles, and vultures that circle and screech in front of our house. I don’t know why, but memories well up in me about my encounter with the Jesuit “Father” Caspar Miller, a white-haired old man from some place . . . “What Christian Ratsch goes on to reveal about the effects of the Jesuit virus within the Social and Spiritual realities of people living in the Himalayan region is astonishing. Oh, and the pictures. Yes, the pictures. The photographs and dense illustrations really exist beyond words. Even without words, and for the pictures and art alone, this book is worth the somewhat hefty price. And it is encyclopedic. The authors take the time to explain various facets and concepts of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Shamanism from the point of view of at least three different religious sects of the region. Also one can find numerous listings of uses and preparations for hallucinogenic ritual plants and fungi from the region, along with prayers to Ganesha and verbatim accounts of animal sacrifice rituals performed in cemeteries. They even have the “Smoking Recipe for the Ceremony of Conjuring the Dead. ” Can you possibly think of anything more useful than that? This book is big, broad, bold, and very, very beautiful, literally and metaphorically, my favorite and most functional book in my entire collection. It’s certainly not something I sat down and read cover to cover when I first received it.
Rating: 5 / 5