Lord of the Dance

I have no wings, but still I fly in the sky; I have no magical power, yet like magic I journey throughout realms of illusory display, here and there, in nine directions, exploring the connections of my karma. —Written in Mürren, Switzerland by Gargyi Wangkhyug (Chagdud Tulku), whose given name means “Powerful Lord of the Dance” Lord of the Dance is Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche’s memoir of his life in Tibet, his escape from the Chinese Communist invasion, his years as a refugee in India and Nepal, and his return visit to his homeland twenty-eight years later. His stories of his childhood capture the last sunlit moments, the 1930s and ‘40s, when the full array of the Buddhist teachings, and particularly the Tibetan Vajrayana, could be practiced freely in a rich culture that revered its spiritual adepts. “Chagdud Tulku’s story can be read on many levels—as a colorful, often humorous adventure story; as an inner, spiritual journey; and as a teaching on how one person attains the perspective of absolute truth amid life’s uncertainty. As such it is both inspiring and encouraging, and highly relevant to anyone who seeks ultimate meaning in this time of dire prediction.”—From the Foreword by Ken Wilber "This fascinating book is in essence a powerful lesson in impermanence and extraordinary compassion. Chagdud Rinpoche writes with compelling honesty about the experiences of a man who has lived many lifetimes, even in this one lifetime. A rare treasure, this is an important book that reveals the depth and resilience of the human spirit."—Joan Halifax