Niguma, lady of illusion (Shambhala Publications Inc)

Providing a rare glimpse of feminine Buddhist history, Niguma, Lady of Illusion brings to the forefront the life and teachings of a mysterious eleventh-century Kashmiri woman who became the source of a major Tibetan Buddhist practice lineage. More than an historical presentation, Niguma's story challenges the view that images of women in Buddhism are merely symbolic representations of the feminine principle. This volume includes the thirteen works that have been attributed to Niguma in the Tibetan Buddhist canon. These collected works, which form the basis of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage, continue to be actively studied and practiced today. These works include the source verses for such esoteric practices as the Six Yogas, the Great Seal, and the Chakrasamvara and Hevajra tantric practices that are widespread in Tibetan traditions.