Illuminated Tibet: An Introduction To Tibetan Culture - CD ROM.

Mystic Fire. This multimedia learning package offers an accessible and easy to use introduction to the rich tradition of Tibet. Dr. Thurman is one of the most prominent Tibetan scholars in America and a close associate of His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama. His narration guides the user through the Kalachakra initiation which is central to the CD. He has written and edited all chapter text. This CD is an essential learning companion to anyone interested in exploring the Tibetan religion, society and culture. It is an easy-to-use product which runs on PC or Mac and contains hundreds of photographs of modern and pre-invasion Tibet as well as photos of Tibetans in exile, 8 chapters of informative text, a slide show, and a glossary with over 240 entries. "A former Tibetan Monk, co-founder of Tibet house and current holder of Columbia University?s first endowed chair in Buddhist Studies, Dr. Thurman brings special insight and a broad-based background to crafting this interactive tool that immerses the user in the sights, sounds, symbols, culture, art, people, and religion of Tibet. The focal attraction is the First Slide Show, a photographic journey to the ancient Tabo monastery, where monks prepare for and receive the Kalachakra Initiation from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Intimate photographs are interspersed with breathtaking Himalayan mountainscapes and complemented by narratives, captions, music, and mantras. With a click on an icon, users can access the eight chapters of informative text with links to the glossary, and enlarge the miniature photographs for closer inspection. Chapter titles describe content: "Land of the Snows"; "People of Tibet"; "Religious and Monastic Life"; History"; Religion and Philosophy"; "Evolutionary Art of Tibet"; :Lamas and bodhisattvas"; and "Tantras, Mandalas, and Buddhalands." Icons on the main menu screen link viewers to appendices with additional reading and an extensive glossary. The Second Slide Show is a pictorial review of all the images on the CD. This inspiring documentary exquisitely captures Dr. Thurman?s love for the living culture of Tibet he seeks to preserve. Easy to run on either Mac or PC, it makes exceptional use of the medium.