Shambhala Publications is pleased to announce the release of the The
Epic of Gesar. This large volume consists of the first three volumes
of the Epic: Gesar's Magical Birth, Early Years, and Coronation as
King.
This translation began with the late Robin Kornman and was completed
by Sangye Khandro and Lama Chonam. A video of the latter two
discussing it, can be found here: https://vimeo.com/64089749.
Tibet's great national literary treasure, the epic of Gesar, is the
equivalent of the Iliad or the Odyssey in the West. It arose out of a
comparable oral tradition, beginning in the eleventh century, and is
now considered the longest single work in the world literary
canon. King Gesar's exploits are full of magic and high adventure, and
are also models of Buddhist teaching: Gesar came to be widely regarded
as an embodiment of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or of
Padmasambhava, the figure who brought Buddhism to Tibet. His bravery
and heroism demonstrate how the best human qualities, such as loyalty,
compassion, and virtue, ultimately triumph over evil, deception, and
self-interest. This long-awaited translation of the first three
volumes of the vast work is a landmark in the transmission of Tibetan
Buddhist culture to the West.
From the foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama:
"The Gesar story is one of the Tibetan people's most popular epics,
its stories being enacted and sung at festivals and on important
ceremonial occasions. By making the epic of Gesar available in
English, the translators are offering the modern reader a chance to
experience the particular character of this Tibetan tradition that has
brought hope and fortitude to many generations across the
Tibetan-speaking world."
There is a discount of 30% for those on this list who use the code
GESAR813 when purchasing it from Shambhala.com (http://bit.ly/11vGEmC)
where it is available exclusively until July when it will be available
through all the normal outlets.
Those desiring desk/exam copies can go to
http://www.randomhouse.com/acmart/requests/.
Nikko Odiseos
President
Shambhala Publications
300 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
o: 617-424-0030 x238
nodiseos@shambhala.com
