The Seven Siddhi Texts - (Treasury of the Buddhist Sciences) by Adam Krug (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This volume is a collection of early Indian Buddhist treatises on the topic of Mahåamudråa, including some of the most important discussions on the subject for the transmission of Buddhism into Tibet at the time. Included in the volume is an extensive introduction to the topic in academic literature, the context of the treatises themselves, including their intertextuality. The heavily annotated translations will be a boon to scholars working on related material"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

The first English-language translation (with rich historical introduction and extensive annotation) of a key group of Indian Buddhist tantric texts that have had profound influence on the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

The Seven Siddhi Texts is a key collection of Indian Buddhist tantric exegetical treatises that have shaped the interpretation of unexcelled yoga tantra and Mahamudra (Great Seal) practice in Tibet from the eighth century CE to the present. The scholar-yogi authors of these seven texts--drawing upon their scriptural knowledge and personal insight--clarify the intended meanings underlying cryptic, seemingly antinomian passages in root tantras such as the Esoteric Community Tantra (Guhyasamaja-tantra) pertaining to sex, violence, and magical powers, which have proved controversial for many traditional and modern scholars. These seven treatises come from the famed mahasiddha (great adept) tradition, which often defied the rigid social, religious, and gender norms of premodern India in quest of nondual wisdom. The translator's introduction places the collection in its Indian sociohistorical context, traces its reception in Tibetan Mahamudra practice lineages, and addresses modern misinterpretations. As a window into the earliest Indian Buddhist tantric communities, The Seven Siddhi Texts is a treasure for both practitioners and scholars of these increasingly popular subjects.

Review Quotes

"Adam Krug's study and translation of The Seven Siddhi Texts is an extraordinary achievement. Krug has studied the texts and contexts of The Seven Siddhi Texts with great care over many years and in bringing them fully to light here, he has performed an invaluable scholarly service. His insightful introduction, thorough annotations, and fluent translations are a joy to read, and add significantly to our appreciation of both the Indic roots of Tibetan Mahamudra and of how late Indian Buddhists understood and applied the profound, complex, and sometimes transgressive teachings of the Mahayoga and Yogini tantras. The Seven Siddhi Texts is a vital addition to the library of essential books on both Mahamudra and Buddhist tantra, and should be a cherished part of the collection of anyone concerned with understanding and/or practicing these traditions."--Roger R. Jackson, John W. Nason Professor of Asian Studies and Religion, Emeritus, Carleton College

"In The Seven Siddhi Texts, Adam Krug opens a window onto one of the most profound traditions of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, making a foundational set of Mahamudra teachings available in English for the first time. Accessible and thought-provoking, this is essential reading for anyone curious about meditation, tantra, or the deeper currents of Buddhist thought."--Klaus-Dieter Mathes, University of Hong Kong

"This volume is a pioneering foray into these intricate works that will prove to be an essential tome on the shelf of every scholar, student, and practitioner of tantric Buddhism. Krug achieves an ideal balance between readability and philological rigour, allowing the texts to speak for themselves while providing a most valuable and much-awaited contextualisation."--Péter-Dániel Szántó, department of Tibetan and Buddhist Studies and associate professor, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest

About the Author

Adam Krug, Ph.D. (UC Santa Barbara) serves as editor and translator for the non-profit organization 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha and has published widely on tantric Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism.