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When John Crook of Bristol Universtiy began research in the Zangskar valley of Ladakh in 1977 is prime intention was to investigate the social anthropology of the area through studies of village life.

In 1986 Crook returned to Ladakh with Tibetologist James Low to enquire fully into the social organization, history, Meditational practices and philosophy of the yogins who still lived and practiced in the remote parts of the area. This book is a record of the author's adventurous journeys to meet some remarkable men.

The yogins were often generous, providing accounts of their training, one of them allowing Crook to photograph a previously unknown text-instructions on Mahamudra by the eminent Tipun Padma Chosgal. James Low's brilliant translation of this difficult work together with that of a biography of the great woman yogin Machig Labdron provides the basis for extensive and original discussions of the meaning of Tibetan Buddhism and its significance in our time