Tantra: The Indian Cult of Ecstasy

by Philip Rawson

Book Overview

Tantra is a set of beliefs and practices that originates in India and combines eroticism, magic, and metaphysics. Its goals are the universal ones of self-knowledge and liberated joy. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500810486
• ISBN13: 9780500810484
• Release Date: November 2012
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Very concise explanation for "what is Tantra"

It's really, really hard to put any religion into words that someone can understand and read in one evening. Philip Rawson succeeds in this task. Part of his success is the heavy use of pictures and illustrations, which makes the essence of Tantra easily understandable to the visual learner.

A fascinating survey of a fascinating subject

How does time function? What is ecstasy? What is illusion? How does the kundalini work? These questions and more are answered in the amazing work. In the first half, the author gives a clear and concise explanation of tantrik cosmology, explaining exactly how tantra perceives, men, women and indeed, perception itself. This is followed by a lengthy treatment of the tantrik path of spiritual illumination/transformation which dissolves the world of illusion; the second half of the book features page after page of beautiful tantrik painting & sculpture from India, Nepal and China. I cannot recommend this book too highly.