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 accomplished female practitioners are merely symbolic representations of the "feminine principle." In some cases they portray real spiritual leaders.

This volume includes the thirteen works that have been attributed to Niguma in the Tibetan Buddhist canon. These collected works form the basis of an ancient lineage, Shangpa, which continues 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.

Niguma: Lady of Illusion, Sarah Harding, Snow Lion, Hardcover, 418 pages, $39.95

Sarah Harding has been a Tibetan Buddhist translator and practitioner since 1974. She became a student of the late master Kalu Rinpoche and in 1980 she completed a traditional three-year retreat under his guidance. Her publications include Machik's Complete Explanation; The Treasury of Knowledge, Book Eight, Part Four: Esoteric Instrucions; Creation and Completion; and The Life and Revelations of Pema Lingpa. She is a fellow at the Tsadra Foundation and has been on the faculty of Naropa University for nearly twenty years.

	Contents: Niguma, Lady of Illusion
	Prayer to the Gurus of the Shangpa Lineage by Tenga Tulku Rinpoche	ix
	Preface	xi
	Acknowledgments	xv
	Technical Notes	xvii
	Introduction	1
	Niguma, the Dakini of Timeless Awareness	1
	Stories of Niguma	16
	The Textual Tradition	22
	The Shangpa Tradition	27
1.	STAGES IN THE PATH OF ILLUSION	37
	Introduction	37
	Stages in the Path of Illusion	54
	Outline of the Commentary	85
	Stages in the Path of Illusion: The Commentary	86
2.	THE SIX DHARMAS OF NIGUMA	135
	Introduction	135
	Vajra Lines of the Six Dharmas	139
3.	MAHAMUDRA	143
	Introduction	143
	Vajra Lines of the Amulet Mahamudra	145
	Vajra Lines of the Amulet Mahamudra (with Notes)	147
	Naturally Free Mahamudra	150
4.	THE THREE INTEGRATIONS	153
	Introduction	153
	Three Dharmas to Integrate on the Path	155
5.	IMMORTAL AND INFALLIBLE	161
	Introduction	161
	Glorious Immortal Great Timeless Awareness	163
6.	CHAKRASAMVARA	167
	Introduction	167
	Mandala Ritual of Glorious Chakrasamvara	170
	Swift Accomplishment of Glorious Chakrasamvara	173
7.	HEVAJRA	177
	Introduction	177
	Mandala Ritual of Glorious Hevajra	178
8.	THE DAKINI'S PERSONAL INSTRUCTIONS: FIVE SHORT TEXTS ON YOGIC TECHNIQUES	183
	Introduction	183
	Esoteric Instructions on Opening the Channel	185
	Meditation on Channels, Prana, and Such	186
	Meditation on Inner Heat in the Path of Methods	187
	Yoga of Meditation in the Path of Methods	189
	Channel Chakras of One's Body	191
9.	NIGUMA'S ASPIRATION PRAYER	193
	Aspiration Prayer of the Sealed Word ("Kagyama")	193
	Appendix 1. "The Basis of Everything" by Khyabje Kalu Rinpoche	199
	Appendix 2. The Tibetan Text of Stages in the Path of Illusion and the Commentray	201
	Notes	257
	Abbreviations	307
	Bibliography of Works Cited by the Author	311
	Reference Bibliography	319
	Index	351