Among them, "Encyclopedia - Tantric Symbols and Patterns" is the most complete and best-known publication by Robert Beer. The book not only systematizes images in Buddhist art, but also provides historical and cultural context surrounding each theme, summarizing the origin and development process in form and meaning.
The work is considered a classic not only for those interested in Vajrayana Buddhism and Tibetan culture, but also for artists, designers and anyone who is looking to the East to find the meaning of life.
The 12 book chapters are presented according to different topics. Opening with elements of landscape, flowers, animals and narrative themes – the first four chapters introduce the background composition of Buddhist thangka painting.
Chapter V discusses the cosmology and the last part of the chapter is the Buddhist chakra meridians system. Chapters VI to IX describe mudras, treasures of the Holy Wheel-Turning King (chakravartin), auspicious symbol groups, offerings and ritual objects associated with the peaceful deity.
Chapter X discusses religious instruments and weapons. Most of Chapter border.
This research on Tibetan spiritual art is the result of 8 years of diligent painting, of a lifetime of contemplation about the origin and meaning hidden in every line of artist Robert Beer.
Most illustrations are reproduced by the author in their original size. All are drawn with small brush strokes and Chinese ink on fine art paper, the artist only uses technical pens for straight lines and circles. Each painting takes fifty to two hundred hours to complete.
Author Robert Beer says, “In contrast to the many years spent on illustrations, the words in the book were written in a much shorter period of time…
Most of the information in the book is filtered from four research sources including: Based on the aspect of knowledge, drawn after reading a large number of little-known texts; based on the visual image aspect after studying thousands of Tibetan thangkas; based on the intuitive aspect, obtained after drawing and redrawing symbols; based on the spiritual aspect, after truly understanding that these symbols are the purest expression of Buddha.
The Vietnamese version was translated and annotated by translator Jigme. Although the book has been translated into many languages, the Vietnamese edition of Dong A published by Dan Tri Publishing House is the only translation with 3 new contents, after agreement with the author, such as: Appendix , legend and index.
