Mountain Dharma: Meditative Retreat and the Tibetan Ascetic Self

An emphasis on practicing meditation in yearslong retreats—whether in a cave or a cloister, alone or with a small number of peers—has been a defining feature of Tibetan Buddhism throughout its entire history. Although the life stories and writings of the Himalaya’s most famous hermits are well known, the history of this tradition and the details of its practice have largely remained a mystery.

A groundbreaking exploration of individual long-term meditative retreat in Tibetan Buddhism, Mounta...