Bodhisattvas, or "Enlightenment Beings," are dedicated to one thing: helping ordinary people on the path towards Enlightenment. The bodhisattvas know that they do not live alone; they are not apart from the rest of life. Seeking Enlightenment for themselves alone can never satisfy bodhisattvas as they witness the suffering that is all around. Their vision is to work endlessly in the service of living beings, helping them achieve Enlightenment.

This guide introduces a panoply of these figures, superheroes all, brilliant and beautiful, from the vast array that exists in the Buddhist tradition. Meet Tara, the rescuer; Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom; Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion; and others.

Guide to the Bodhisattvas, Vessantara, Windhorse Publications, Paperback, 117 pages, $18.95

Vessantara is a senior member of the Western Buddhist Order. Born Tony McMahon in London in 1950, he gained an MA in English at Cambridge University. He became interested in Buddhism in his teens, and first had direct contact with Buddhists in 1971. In 1974 he was ordained and given the name Vessantara, which means 'universe within'. In 1975 he gave up a career in social work to become more involved with the development of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order. Since then he has divided his time between meditating, studying, and assisting the development of several Buddhist centres, including retreat centres in England, Wales, and Spain. Vessantara is much in demand as a Buddhist teacher. For seven years he led three-month courses for people entering the Order and now gives talks and leads retreats and workshops throughout Europe and Australasia. He has written several books, including Tales of Freedom, The Mandala of the Five Buddhas, The Vajra and Bell, and Female Deities in Buddhism.

	Contents: A GUIDE TO THE BODHISATTVAS
	About the Author	v
One	For the Sake of All that Lives	1
Two	The Thousand Arms of Compassion	13
Three	The Soft-Voiced Prince and the Flaming Sword	27
Four	Vajrapani - the Path of Heroic Transformation	41
Five	Green Tara - the Quick Way to Wisdom	55
Six	White Tara - Cheating Death	71
Seven	The Eight Great Bodhisattvas	85
	Notes	95
	Illustration Credits	99
	Glossary	101
	Selected Reading	111
	Index	113