Songs of Love, Poems of Sadness: The Erotic Verse of the Sixth Dalai Lama [Hardcover]

Paul D. Williams (Author)

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Product Details

Hardcover: 200 pages
Publisher: I. B. Tauris; 1 edition (May 19 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1850434794
ISBN-13: 978-1850434795
Product Dimensions: 22.3 x 16.1 x 2.4 cm
Shipping Weight: 481 g
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #466,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #79 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Love Poems
- #81 in Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Eastern > Buddhism > Dalai Lama
- #82 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism > Dalai Lama

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"[This is] a veritable gem for those who continue to find Tibetan Buddhism, and in particular the figure of the Dalai Lama, a source of fascination."--Thupten Jinpa, principal English-language translator to H.H. the Dalai Lama

Product Description

The Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso (1683-1706), refused to take full monastic vows, returned the vows that he had already taken, and loved alcohol, archery, and women with a passion that perhaps suggests he had a premonition of his early death at the age of twenty-four. He also wrote a remarkable collection of love poetry. In this book, the author offers a completely new translation of the erotic poems attributed to the Sixth Dalai Lama. With hints on how to read the verses, as well as explanations of obscure points or allusions, the author makes this extraordinary Dalai Lama and his verses accessible to those with no background in the study of Buddhism or Tibet. This first translation to be based on the latest critical edition will be of great interest to those eager to learn more about Eastern religion and spirituality.

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Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
Above eastern mountains Shone forth the moon, bright white. Read the first page

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Amazon.com: 5.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Poetry, April 14 2009

By Smarth Bali "Smarth" - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Songs of Love, Poems of Sadness: The Erotic Verse of the Sixth Dalai Lama (Hardcover)

Now, this is NOT the edition I have read. I actually picked up my copy from the Tibetan Library - a small book priced at under $2! However, the content is the same - the love songs of the Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso (1683-1706).

The 'Sixth', as he is popularly known, remains a venerated enigma in the history of Tibet - he was a profligate, a `debauch' and a touching poet...Gyantsang Gyatso ("ocean of melodious songs") has gone down in the memory of the Tibetans as one who will never enable them to reconcile the awe they have for the institution (and person) of the Dalai Lama and the character of the Sixth.

He wrote several love songs, most dedicated to lovers he had by the number...he sang, was a passionate archer and an inveterate lover of chang (local wine)... over the years he has captivated the imagination of Tibetans and students of Tibetan Buddhism so much that they have forgotten that he never accepted his monastic vows and while he did remain in the Potala palace as the resident Dalai Lama, he was not the spiritual head...fantastically irreverent, spiritually advanced in his own way and a tender poet...

Does anyone see similarities between this and Sufi poetry? Write.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating book and excellent translation, Jan 16 2009

By O.G - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Songs of Love, Poems of Sadness: The Erotic Verse of the Sixth Dalai Lama (Hardcover)

This book is excellent for those who want to be able to read the poetry of the VIth Dalai Lama in clear and simple english. However what is especially good about this translation is that the poetry does not lose its haunting beauty in translation. Also this book offers a fascinating overview of the VIth Dalai Lamas life and times placing the poems in context. Explanatry notes are also offered for each poem, which assist with understanding the more obscure verses. All in all this is an excellent book that I highly recommend!

› Go to Amazon.com to see both reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars