The stories in this book are based on ancient tales recounted in many years of spiritual teachings by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. Born in Tibet in 1938, he received the traditional education of a high-ranking reincarnate lama. Having shown an extraordinary learning ability, he was considered a scholar already at a young age. Most of the stories collated in this book were narrated by my Teacher during hundreds of retreats or public talks. He often said that all these stories, some of them amusing, form a part of a large trove of tales told in Tibet for many centuries. I remember many situations where the audience laughed heartily as the Master recounted these stories in different accents, facial expressions and with amazing mimicry. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu passed away in Italy in 2018. I feel extremely fortunate to have met and become his student in 1977 when he visited Austria for the first time. Deeply touched by his explanation and instructions centered on the essential nature of the human being given in a direct, clear, and frequently humorous way, I dedicate this compilation of the tales he recounted as a humble expression of my immense gratitude.
Oliver Leick
This book has been published with the generous support of the Ka-Ter Translation Project
Book with numerous full color illustrations
