num_pages: 364
description: The story of Tibets notorious master of Buddhist sorcerytranslated for the first time into EnglishAn essential sacred text of Tibetan Buddhism The All-Pervading Melodious Drumbeat tells the wondrous story of Ra Lotsawa Dorj Drak. Though he was canonized as a saint and a fully enlightened buddha the eleventh-century Ra Lotsawas life story presents a darker path than those taken by Siddhartha Gautama and Milarepa. Viewed by some as a murderous villain and by others as a liberator of human suffering Ra Lotsawa used his formidable power and magical abilities to defeat his rivals accumulate wealth and amass a devoted following. His life offers a rare view into the often overlooked roles of magic and sorcery in the Buddhist tradition. Despite this sinister legacy his fame also rests on an illustrious career as a translator of Buddhist scriptures through which he helped spark a renaissance of Buddhism in Tibet. This spirited new translation gives readers in English their first opportunity to encounter one of the most colorful and memorable figures in Tibetan Buddhist history.For more than sixty-five years Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1500 titles Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
language: English
title: The All-Pervading Melodious Drumbeat: The Life of Ra Lotsawa
publisher: Penguin Classics