An essential collection of tantric texts on a meditation practice essential to one of the largest traditions of Buddhism in Tibet.

Yamantaka is the wrathful expression of the wisdom buddha Manjushri and was Tsongkhapa's foremost personal deity, from whom he received direct visions that were a constant source of empowerment, inspiration, instruction, and even personal advice.

The oral instructions on the practice of Yamantaka fall into two main streams. The quintessential instruction of both of these lineages, including both their generation- and completion-stage teachings, are contained in the two commentaries presented in this volume.

First, we have commentary from the great scholar, siddha, and lineage holder of the Gelug Mahamudra lineage, Ngulchu Dharmabhadra, on the Thirteen Deity practice. These texts contain a wellspring of oral instructions that provide rich and highly accessible details concerning the practice of Yamantaka that are equally applicable to the Solitary Hero practice, the practice of the second stream.

The second commentary, composed by the Fifth Ling Rinpoche, Losang Lungtog Tenzin Trinley, is concerned with the Solitary Hero practice and contains many extraordinary instructions that have not been written down in other texts but have been preserved through the oral lineage. This text is part of a highly secretive volume containing many texts on Solitary Hero Yamantaka entitled the Eighteen Steps of Solitary Hero.

The combination of these two texts gives the reader an unprecedented panoramic perspective on the entire spectrum of Yamantaka practice.

Also included in this amazing volume is the extensive sadhana of the Solitary Hero composed by Pabongkha Rinpoche that can be used as a reference to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the commentaries.
The Roar of Thunder: Yamantaka Practice and Commentary, David Gonsalez, Wisdom Publications, Hardcover, 376 pp, $59.95

David Gonsalez was the translator of numerous sadhanas and texts and served for many years as the personal translator and attendant for Gen Lobsang Chophel. He was the president of Dechen Ling, a nonprofit organization that works with the Tibetan community in exile to establish their monasteries and traditions.