The Circle of Bliss. Buddhist Meditational Art

Chicago: Serindia Publications, 2003. First edition. Hardcover. Near fine to fine condition. Folio. 560pp. Original orange cloth with gilt lettering on cover and spine in original illustrated dustjacket, white lettering on spine. Brown endpapers. Color frontispiece. Title page printed in white to brown glossy paper.

The exhibition "The Circle of Bliss" Buddhist Meditational Art was shown at the Los Angeles Museum of Art from October 5, 2003-January 4, 2004. 16 centuries of extraordinary art. Tibet, Nepal, India and China. A printed flyer for this exhibition laid in, printed in color on stiff paper.

"The exhibition catalogue for The Circle of Bliss" points the way to an entirely new direction for the study of the visual representation of the Chakrasamvara Tantra and other key Buddhist Tantras. The texts of the Chakrasamvara Tantra offer profound meditational techniques to practitioners to enable them to experience the increased awareness necessary for reaching the ultimate state of human perfection, or Enlightenment. Here, for the first time in Himalayan art historical scholarship, the works of art are presented in their socio-religious context, with details about how their symbolic visual language expresses the attainment of that path. The study focuses on the esoteric meditations related to Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi, which are regarded as among the principal meditational practices throughout the Himalayan Buddhist world." (Publisher).

Profusely illustrated with a multitude of color as well as b/w illustrations throughout. Contains nine appendices, an extensive glossary, a bibliography, a listing of the Chinese sources, photo credits and an index at rear. The Circle of Bliss is dedicated to the late Lain Singh Bangdel (1924-2002) and contains a foreword by Robert A. F. Thurman. Dustjacket with very light wear along edges. Else in fine condition.