First Thought, Best Thought

Here is a unique contribution to the field of poetry: a new collection of works by America's foremost Buddhist meditation master, Chö gyam Trungpa. These poems and songs-- most of which were written since his arrival in the United States in 1970-- combine a background in classical Tibetan poetry with Trungpa's intuitive insight into the spirit of America, a spirit that is powerfully evoked in his use of colloquial metaphor and contemporary imagery. Most of the poems were originally written in English-- clearly the result of the author's own perceptions of new forms and media offered to him by a different culture. Each poem has its own insight and power, which come from a skillful blend of traditional Asian subtlety and precision combined with a thoroughly modern vernacular. Several of the author's calligraphies accompany the collection.