A Forward to The Buddha Tarot

by Robert O'Neill, Tarot historian and author of Tarot Symbolism

I finished reading the book and I sat back and closed my eyes. I was expecting a vision of the Buddha with maybe a hint of a smile or frown. Instead I saw Siddhartha/Gautama/Buddha doing cartwheels on mountain tops and laughing so hard that he had to stop and catch his breath! Even the middle path allows joy. You are about to begin a magical journey - reading what may well be the most significant book ever written about the Tarot. Grab Toto really tight cause you might wake up in Moria with a glowing ring on your finger or find yourself as catcher in a game of quidditch. You will place yourself in the hands of a true magus - just as Dante - Virgil, Frodo - Gandalf, Luke - Yoda. You will experience the history of human response to suffering flash by in a fascinating kaleidoscope of violet and rose. History here is scholarly but psychedelic, fascinating and addictive.

The basic premise might strike one as strange. A Fundamental parallelism between the Tarot and Buddhism? The Journey of the Fool taking a path similar to the enlightenment of Siddhartha? If there is only one path, one life experience, then we must not be surprised to meet Buddha on the road. The Western and Eastern experience must necessarily converge since we are al voyaging to the top of the same sacred mountain.

Robert Place will introduce you to the legend of Siddhartha. He will instruct you painlessly in the detailed history of the Tarot. He will illustrate artistically the surprising parallels between the life of Buddha and the Tarot. He will introduce you to the Tarot trumps as stages on the mystic's journey to enlightenment. He will show you another culture that has expressed the same spiritual experience with different symbols. The symbols may seem strange at first, but they will become hauntingly familiar before you finish reading.

The scope of vision in this book has never been attempted before. Nothing like this has been written before - and you will never see the Tarot the same again, never read the cards the same again, never be the same again. I recommend some Chamomile tea, maybe some incense and a candle – definitely a long bubble bath. When you emerge from THIS tunnel you won't be the same ever again.

artwork copyright Robert M. Place 2004


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