Dakini’s Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism

Description

The primary emblem of the feminine in Tibetan Buddhism is the dakini, a semi-wrathful spirit-woman who manifests in visions, dreams and meditation experiences. According to Simmer-Brown, in the spiritual journey of the meditator, the dakini symbolises levels of personal realization: the sacredness of the body, both female and male; the profound meeting point of body and mind in meditation; the visionary realm of rural practice; and the empty, spacious qualities of mind itself. This work is a comprehensive inquiry into the symbolism of the most powerful deity in Tibetan Buddhism.