The myth of Shangri-la originates in Tibetan Buddhist beliefs in beyul, or hidden lands, sacred sanctuaries that reveal themselves to devout pilgrims and in times of crisis. The more remote and inaccessible the beyul, the vaster its reputed qualities. Ancient Tibetan prophecies declare that the greatest of all hidden lands lies at the heart of the forbidding Tsangpo Gorge, deep in the Himalayas and veiled by a colossal waterfall. Nineteenth-century accounts of this fabled waterfall inspired a series of ill-fated European expeditions that ended prematurely in 1925 when the intrepid British plant collector Frank Kingdon-Ward penetrated all but a five-mile section of the Tsangpo’s innermost gorge and declared that the falls were no more than a “religious myth” and a “romance of geography.” The heart of the Tsangpo Gorge remained a blank spot on the map of world exploration until world-class climber and Buddhist scholar Ian Baker delved into the legends. Whatever cryptic Tibetan scrolls or past explorers had said about the Tsangpo’s innermost gorge, Baker determined, could be verified only by exploring the uncharted five-mile gap. After several years of encountering sheer cliffs, maelstroms of impassable white water, and dense leech-infested jungles, on the last of a series of extraordinary expeditions, Baker and his National Geographic–sponsored team reached the depths of the Tsangpo Gorge. They made news worldwide by finding there a 108-foot-high waterfall, the legendary grail of Western explorers and Tibetan seekers alike. The Heart of the World is one of the most captivating stories of exploration and discovery in recent memory—an extraordinary journey to one of the wildest and most inaccessible places on earth and a pilgrimage to the heart of the Tibetan Buddhist faith.

HEART OF THE WORLD

Religion & Spirituality

Ian A. Baker

Buddhism

Souvenir Press Ltd.

Originally published in a format over two feet tall, Romio Shrestha's beautiful art book is now available in a more standard size. Consisting of bold reinterpretations of age-old scroll painting, Celestial Gallery showcases intricately rendered Tibetan-style mandalas. In vivid detail and vibrant colors, master painter Shrestha and his team of artisan monks have created contemporary Nepalese versions of such deities as White Tara and the Medicine Buddha, as well as the Dakini mandala and other traditional Buddhist iconography. The Buddhas message Be a light unto yourself is echoed in these visionary works, many of which have been showcased in major collections and museums including the British Museum and the National Museum in Moscow. Together they give readers an opportunity to experience afresh a timeless tradition with much to offer the world.

Celestial Gallery

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Callaway

Himmlische Galerie: Celestial Gallery

romio-shrestha

Boldly reinterpreting an age-old Tibetan artistic tradition, this beautiful album offers gorgeously detailed representations of celestial spheres, known as mandalas. Merely gazing upon them is meant to inspire heightened states of intention and clarity. In Celestial Gallery, master painter Romio Shrestha and his team of artisan monks have rendered postmodern interpretations of these enlightened Buddha realms. Made from hand-ground malachite, lapis, marigolds, and more, and painted at times with three cat-tail hairs, these multifaceted scenes of otherworldly deities are produced with hauntingly powerful detail. Depictions of White Tara, Green Tara, the Medicine Buddha, and many other celestials invite and inspire meditation and reflection.

Arts & Photography

History & Criticism

OM Publications

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Books by Ian A. Baker