Book cover of Apparitions of the Self: The Secret Autobiographies of a Tibetan Visionary

Book description

Apparitions of the Self is a groundbreaking investigation into what is known in Tibet as "secret autobiography," an exceptional, rarely studied literary genre that presents a personal exploration of intimate religious experiences. In this volume, Janet Gyatso translates and studies the outstanding pair of secret autobiographies by the famed Tibetan…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Apparitions of the Self as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Janet Gyatso is a national/global treasure to Buddhists and non-Buddhists everywhere who have interests in Buddhism, Buddhist teachers/lineages, texts, and biographies.

She spent years learning Tibetan and Tibetan culture so that she could translate not only the words but also the intent and meanings behind the texts. 

Gyatso does an amazing job here with very complicated and often contradictory pieces, putting them together in a uniquely brilliant way with many notes, references, and a great glossary. 

Unexpectedly funny, Jigme Lingpa was a unique individual who lived rather recently (compared to some who lived over 1000 years ago, for example). His…

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December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

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