Product Description

"This deck is not just about Buddha. It is about us and about things in our culture that we may have forgotten. It is about how much our mystical heritage is like Buddhism. It is about why we can find Buddha in the Tarot, and a demonstration that the Tarot is a sacred tool, a mandala."
-Robert M. Place, creator of The Buddha Tarot


The combination of Buddhism and Tarot might seem strange at first, but the underlying archetypal pattern reveals stunning similarities. The story in the Tarot's major arcana parallels the story of Siddhartha's journey to enlightenment. This sequence of twenty-two cards has been interpreted by many as an allegorical description of the soul's journey to enlightenment, beginning with the naive Fool and culminating in the universal consciousness represented by the World card.

The Buddha Tarot includes a 79-card Tarot deck designed and created by artist Robert M. Place, acclaimed for his distinctive style and artwork with religious and sacred themes. Also included is a booklet exploring the parallels between the Tarot and Buddhism, the life of Buddha, and interpretations for each card.

Perfect for divination, meditation, and unlocking one's inner wisdom, The Buddha Tarot awaits you as a gentle guide on your journey toward enlightenment.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #596530 in Books
• Published on: 2004-02-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 72 pages

About the Author
Robert M. Place is an internationally known visionary artist and illustrator. He is recognized as an expert on the Western mystical tradition and the history and philosophy of the Tarot, and his work has appeared in many books and publications. Place is also the designer, illustrator, and coauthor of the highly acclaimed Alchemical Tarot and The Angels Tarot. He has appeared on The Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel and has conducted lectures and workshops throughout the country, including the Open Center and the Omega Institute in New York and the International Tarot Congress in Chicago. Place's work in precious metals have been displayed in museums such as the New York State Museum, the American Craft Museum, and the White House.

Customer Reviews

Robert Place does it again! Another Amazing Deck from this brilliant illustrator and Tarot Scholar
The nuances and subtleties of any deck by Robert Place take them beyond "quick lust, purchase, then into a drawer" syndrome (typical of many tarot collectors. His decks run deep. They still give the thrill of "quick lust" which prompts you to buy every deck he creates, but there's staying power too. His Alchemical deck was like that. The Buddha Tarot is his best yet. You don't have to be a Buddhist to appreciate the stunning artwork or timeless archetypal symbolism he's create. And he is famous for creating "spiritually significant" art, everything from Angels to Saints to Buddhas. It shows a level of spiritual maturity that he can cross from Christian gnostic themes to Buddhist. But there's something utterly captivating about each and every card. What takes this beyond ordinary is that Robert is a scholar of Tarot, not a pretender. Others might create gorgeous art decks (there are many) and themed decks that are fun for play (there are many), but Robert shows he knows Tarot from the depths of archetypal symbolism and rich history out to the nuances of color and symbolism. This is a treasure, and may it always stay in print. Even more of a wonder is the Companion book, but I'll make that a separate review. For those traditionalists in the tarot world, there is one extra Major Arcana card, significant in Buddhism since it's Buddha's paranirvana. All the rest of the cards have new names relevant to Buddha's journey to enlightenment, in place of the journey of the Fool (which some say has its roots in Buddha's life... Place makes a good case for this!). In place of Swords we have Vajras (Tibetan symbol), Lotuses in place of wands, double dorjes (viswa vajras) in place of Cups and the Buddhist Jewel in place of coins -- all perfectly matched up to the Cosmic Buddhist correspondences. Brilliant work, whether you're Buddhist or not. For the Buddhist, there is no other Tarot deck.

Dont Cross The Streams!!!
This was a very special moment in my life being a Buddist and Tarot reader for many years as well. I anticipated this set for months. I was waiting for the missing link in the clouded history of the Tarot. I was sure this was going to be it! Wrong was I. Or maybe the Fool again.

Overall this is a well done set with a lot of careful research into both histories eastern and western. The cards were very nice to handle as well as the size. The majors carefully and accurately depict the life of the Buddha. The similarities were uncanny. This is where my facination ended.

The greatest hurdle with this deck is reading for others. Most Tarots leave out religious references. The original images dating from the middle ages perhaps were giving some sort of dramatic lesson that has been clouded by time. This is irrelevant to modern Tarot therapist. The Buddhas enlightenment is not to be used as an example for divination. My Buddist clients likes the pictures, but couldnt relate to traditional interpretations. I wouldnt consider using this deck for non-Buddist practioners. There is just too much confusion and a lot of explaining.

This Tarot is an important study deck for many this art develops. Maybe in the future there will be a clearer depiction of these two important esoteric schools!

The Buddha Tarot Book Companion : A Review
Renowned artist and tarot scholar/writer Robert M. Place has produced a masterpiece in his new tarot 384 page companion book, The Buddha Tarot Companion: A Mandala of Cards. This book affords a rich unique perspective of the Tarot through the lens of the Buddhist paradigm. The companion deck comes in a beautifully illustrated box containing exquisitely designed cards that fit perfectly in my hand, a tiny black gossamer bag plus a bordered little white box with the instructions, "Embellish this box with protective and/or empowering symbols." Other suggestions that greet you as you begin your journey with the Buddha cards include: "Smudge with sage to cleanse and re-energize the cards after a reading." and "Store your deck with stones or crystals that absorb negative energy, promote healing, or provide protective energy." Also included in the box is a mini-book with guidelines on reading these particular cards. Both items are published by Llewellyn, who as always, have taken great care to ensure quality and aesthetics in the way the cards are packaged and presented.

Robert has done an amazing job in correlating the life of the Buddha with the Tarot journey through the cards. He describes how the Major Arcana fits perfectly with the life of Siddhartha and his journey of enlightenment. Each of the tarot trumps is a stage on the mystic's journey to enlightenment. In fact, it is Mr. Place's belief that the creators of the Tarot were directly influenced by the life of the Buddha, and incorporated archetypes into the Major Arcana based on his journey. He teaches that the ancient wisdoms were not isolated from one another. Instead, "the classical world maintained communications with India and the ancient Western philosophers were familar with Indian philosophies." As well, the Islamic world introduced the Christians to the life of the Buddha during the Middle Ages. "The European Christians were enamored with the story, and they transformed him into a Christian saint - St. Josaphat."

I was fascinated by the titles given to the Major Arcana cards. Each of the 23 cards reflect an important aspect of the Siddhartha's personal journey to become the enlightened one, the Buddha.

Robert Place has created a deck and book that not only meets the needs of people who practice Eastern beliefs. He also acts as a mediator to help people of the Western world learn about and appreciate the noble tenets of Buddhism and its teachings for life. I highly recommend this deck - I found it very easy to follow, the graphics are amazingly detailed and artistically rendered and the companion book clearly helps you to learn to "read" using a Buddhist world view.