Walt Anderson

KIRKUS REVIEW:
A splendid popular introduction to the vajrayana, the ""diamond vehicle"" of the Tantric tradition. Anderson, a Berkeley-based freelancer who contributes to Human Behavior, isn't a religious scholar; in fact, he's not even a Buddhist-which may have something to do with the step-by-step simplicity and unassuming tone of his exposition. In any case, he begins with a brief history of Buddhism, outlining the ""lesser vehicle"" (hinayana), the ""greater vehicle"" (mahayana), which includes Zen, and the ""diamond vehicle,"" the characteristic form practiced in Tibet. He explains the key concepts common to all forms of Buddhism--karma, samsara, nirvana--as well as two others central to both mahayana and Tibetan Buddhism: karuna (compassion), and shunyata (""no-thingness,"" the realization that the universe, and our minds as well, is not substantial, but a never-ending flux of ungraspable events). He reports on the Tibetan Buddhist way to ""relaxation, health, and healing,"" and gives directions for doing the kum nye exercises. He explores mandalas, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the Wheel of Life, methods of dream analysis, and other esoteric items. In all this Anderson is lucid, well-informed, and resolutely sensible. He concedes that Tibetan Buddhism will have to undergo a considerable metamorphosis in order to be acclimated in the U.S--but then Buddhism has always been a supremely adaptable school of thought. And in the last two decades it has made impressive gains here, especially on the West Coast--not least of all because, as Anderson says, it doesn't distinguish between therapy and religion. Anderson's book should make it more accessible to thousands of readers. An outstanding work of its kind.… (mer)