Book Description
About the Author : Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche is a renowned lama of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism and a master of the Dzogchen tradition. Besides giving instruction in Dzogchen meditation and leading retreats in the West he held the position of Professor at the University of Naples. Where he taught Tibetan language and cultural history.
About the Book
Drung Deu and Bon
Drung Deu and Bon offers a rare opportunity to explore pre-Buddhist Tibetan culture presented within the three categories commonly described as the foundation of the kingdom of Tibet— drung (narrations) deu (symbolic languages) and the Ban tradition.
In this important work Professor Namkhai Norbu begins by investigating the epic poems and legends of Tibet’s secular culture. He then turns his attention to the mysteries of the ancient symbolic languages that conveyed wisdom inexpressible in conventional terms; and he concludes by elucidating the complexities of the Pre-Buddhist Bon religion in the context of its 12 ‘lore’s’ or ‘sciences’.
This fascinating book sheds new light on the ancient and authentic wisdom of Tibet in the process revealing its influence upon the historical and cultural continuity of the Tibetan people.
Foreword
It gives us great pleasure to publish this erudite and fascinating account of the origins of Tibetan culture by Professor Namkhai Norbu one of the finest lama scholars of the century. Drung Deu and Bon contains rare and valuable information on pre-Buddhist Tibetan culture from the time of Tibet’s first King Nyatri Tsenpo to the 28th King Lhathothori Nyentsen. This is presented within the three categories commonly described as the foundation of the kingdom of Tibet namely drung (narrations) deu (symbolic languages) and the Ban tradition.
Professor Norbu’s fine intellect and compassionate mind are evident throughout the book He investigates in turn the epic poems and legends of Tibet’s secular culture the mysteries of the ancient symbolic languages that conveyed wisdom inexpressible in conventional terms or the complexities of the pre-Buddhist Bon religion in the context of its 12 ‘lore’s’ or ‘sciences’. In all three sections of the book he seeks to uncover and preserve knowledge of the authentic roots of the present-day Tibetan culture.
The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives particularly welcomes scholarly works which shed light on the ancient wisdom of Tibet and reveal its influence upon the historical and cultural continuity of the Tibetan people today. Thus we celebrate the emergence of this book and are confident that its contents will be of benefit to scholars and students of Tibetan culture around the world.
We are grateful to Don Eisenberg who devoted much time to the computer formatting of the book we trust that this great work will continue to be esteemed far into the future.