This book has been divided into four sections. Part One is an Introduction which places the position of the Buddhist Tantras within Mahayana Buddhism and recalls their early literary history, especially the Guhyasamajatantra. In Part Two the author discusses the foundations of the Buddhist Tantras. Part Three is devoted to Special Studies which are very rarely available to the general public, such as the nine orifices of the body and the Tantric teachings of the inner Zodiac; female energy and symbolism in the Buddhist Tantras; and the five-fold ritual symbolism of passion and Part Four is the Bibliographical Research which contains a correlation between the trantric portions of the Kanjur and the Tanjur. Alex Wayman, prof.of Sanskrit, is in the forefront of Western Buddhist Scholarship by his series of books in both tantric and non-tantric Buddhism based on over thrity years of researches. He employs both the Sanskrit and Tibetan languages in his books and articles. He has authored to numerous articles and honorary volumes in various countries.
