Ruthless Compassion. Wrathful Deities in Early Indo-Tibetan Esoteric Buddhist Art.
Boston, MA: Shambhala, 1999. First Edition. Hardcover. Folio. xii + 354pp. Blue cloth with gilt lettering to upper board and spine, illustrated in colour and b&w. Notes, afterword, bibliography & index. From the publisher: "Buddhists believe that the wrathful spirits represent inherent qualities of our own, and that meditating on them can transmute the otherwise malevolent sides of our own natures into positive qualities and actions. The wrathful deities also provide precious clues as to the early development of esoteric Buddhism in India, about which few early texts survive. Through careful examination of a large body of images as well as Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Indic texts, this lavishly illustrated volume traces the evolution of the forms and the unfolding significance of the wrathful deity in esoteric Buddhist sculpture." Ex-library copy with usual markings: inkstamps to lower edge and a number of pages, stickers on title page and rear blank, inner hinges reinforced with cloth binders tape. Covers chafed and bumped at edges and extremities, text clean. Overall a solid unmarked Good + copy in Good + dust jacket ( Dust jacket is rubbed overall, edges chafed and lightly chipped, a few chips at mid-spine, not clipped). NOTE: a large heavy book -will require additional shipping to any international destination and some domestic destinations. Item #57702
ISBN: 1570624399
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