The Brilliance of Naked Mind: Secret Visions of Gesar, King of Ling - Paperback

by Douglas J. Penick (Author)

THE BRILLIANCE OF NAKED MIND tells of the secret visions of the legendary warrior, Gesar, King of Ling. It is a collection of stories and invocations that are the ground for Gesar, King of Ling's pursuit of enlightened society. The texts include vivid biographies of Tilopa, embodiment of lineage; Kukkuripa, embodiment of compassion; the sisters Mehkhala and Kanhala, essence of unified devotion and prajna; and King Indrabhuti, exemplar of enlightened sovereignty. These are followed by an extensive account of all the rulers of the Kingdom of Shambhala which concludes: "Shambhala opens, In the unchanging now of heart-light. To which you always return." The texts are loosely bound together in a retelling of Gesar's conquest of the Demon Lord, Satham, King of Jang. They are aspects of the myriad worlds he passes through. Each world contains its own wakefulness for Gesar and for us to discover.

Author Biography

Douglas Penick graduated from Princeton University, was a research associate at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, a chef at Gordon Matta Clark's Food, and has written and taught on Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian religion, history and culture. He wrote the National Film Board of Canada's prize winning two part series on the Tibetan Book of the Dead and the libretti for two operas: King Gesar (Sony CD w/ Ma, Serkin, Ax et. al.) and Ashoka's Dream (Santa Fe Opera) with composer, Peter Lieberson. I've also written pieces to music by Philip Glass and for choreographer Katsura Kan. He is the author of 'Crossings on a Bridge of Light', and the 'Warrior Song of King Gesar'.